We were up reasonably early again ready for our flight back to Delhi. I dispensed Imodium to both Craig and Riketh as both were still suffering. I also had electrolyte stuff which was also passed around. I feel like a travelling pharmacist and am glad of my visit to the doctor before leaving home.

Our trip to the airport was uneventful. Even when travelling domestically we have to show our passports and ticket information to enter the terminal. The locals show their booking info and identity cards. Then you go through about 2 different screening machines and have a body search. Women in one line and men in one of the multiple other lines. Everywhere you go there are at least twice as many men as women. There is also security screening at the hotels and at many temples and museums, although more often than not no one actually looks at the machine.

Our flight was on time and we boarded a different airline: Indigo Air. Bhagi pointed out signage on the ramp at the front of the plane: “the ramp supermodels love to use”. I was very envious when Pamodi and Prasha got to use the supermodel ramp when they disembarked ?. Pamodi also pointed out the little badges on the flight attendants’ sleeves that say “girl power”. It’s a genuine campaign over here but seems rather patronising to us.

I had taken a full bottle of water in my backpack and my security tray containing pack and coat was diverted for searching on our exit. The security man was completely disengaged and one of the other attendants had to shout to get his attention so he could check it. I’m pretty sure it was diverted because my eyebrow tweezers looked like scissors on the screen but he decided it was the water. I pointed out that everyone coming through had water (both from our group and others) but he said I had to drink it. I had about 2 mouthfuls and then he lost interest so gathered up my bits and my water and walked off.

We had 3 vehicles to transport us back to the Jaypee hotel and had to make our way through the usual barrage of women with small babies begging along with their toddlers and older children variously begging, doing tricks and trying to sell stuff. The disparity between the haves and have nots is stunning but you know that giving food or rupees will only perpetuate the situation and to be honest the street dwellers all look reasonably well fed and healthy. They are always filthy when begging but when you go past the camps there is always washing out on park railings and signs so I suspect there is not only a roster for begging, there is a certain image to go with it. Goodness only knows what they do to the babies as they are always quiet and often asleep.

Gamini was determined to get a king bed at the Jaypee as had always had single beds when there before. That prompted a discussion as Mike and I always had single beds but some of the kids had had kings or queens. Bhagi obviously got busy to sort it out (he is nothing short of amazing) and both the Kodikaras and us got visited by room service to fix the beds – which amounted to moving the central drawer unit and pushing the beds together. They were still made up as single beds but the thought was there.

Craig and Riki were looking better by dinner and ok to come to the group final dinner. We had it at the same restaurant as we went to on the first night with Sarah, Ian and Elli. The food was good although I’m feeling totally full with so much carbohydrate at every meal.

Craig did a thank you speech for Bhagi on behalf of the group and we had collated all our tips into an envelope that we gave him. I think everyone tipped at the higher end of the suggested range 400-600 Rp per person per day (6000Rp for the 10 days being NZ$120 per person). His attention to detail and continued service to arrange transport etc was outstanding.

We never saw him flustered or annoyed (even when talking to his very upset wife from a phone charging outside a fireworks store) and we seemed to travel everywhere without queuing or difficulties. He also helped ensure we had a driver to pick us up at the Pantnagar airport when going to Nainital. Despite Pervinder and I phoning the hotel from NZ there was nothing arranged and we were glad to know Bhagi got it sorted. He also arranged transport to the airport for everyone and additional tours for Sarah, Ian and Elenor as they are staying on in Delhi for another day.

After dinner we had a final walk back to the hotel down the street.

After 2 weeks it didn’t seem nearly as nerve wracking, although Ian forgot the ‘walk slowly like you are in a park’ rule and narrowly missed being taken out by a bike as he darted across the road to the hotel.