Nearly lift off!

Bit of early start 3:30am but Air India check-in went without a hitch, now to see what the state of the plane is like!

Just seen the forecast for when we land...20degrees at night! 35 in the day! Going to be bit of a shock from the cold and rain we're leaving behind, not that I'm complaining at all.

Next step Mumbai:)

6 days to go...and counting!

Now what have I forgotten to get?

Seems everything is coming together just in time, even with a couple of last minute panics over not being able to take Rupees into India, and noticing that the trains I had booked weren't all confirmed seats. Not a problem though it seems with the trains, as friends have said just board them anyway, definitely need to get myself into the local way of thinking as soon as possible.

Only four more days of work to survive, a potentially interesting Air India flight, hoping it's not as bad as some of  the reviews I've seen, an overnight train on the Radjani Express to Delhi and it'll be the opening day of the Hockey World Cup.

It's interesting reading the local press suggesting India are aiming for a semi-final place but with only the top two teams from the group going through it really could be anyone's, only Australia stand out, leaving five other teams potentially looking for that second spot, not an easy one to predict.

Considering England are the European Champions after their win in August last year over the more fancied Germany, we may be an outside bet but I don't think the crowds or the heat will favour us too much.

13 days to go

So everything's booked although there seems complete confusion about where to pick up tickets for the hockey games, why when one has an e-ticket it needs to be exchanged for a real ticket before the games still hasn't been explained.


Apparently the ticket booths at the new Dhyan Chand stadium in Delhi haven't been built yet, I guess this is just a sign of things to come on our trip and it'll just be a case of going with the flow.

What would Major Dhyan 'Chand' Singh think of the whole state of affairs?  Gone are the days on the 1930s and 40s when India ruled the hockey world, will this tournament help reignite local interest in a game that doesn't carry the money and television coverage of the dominate sport of the day, cricket.


Unfortunately I have my doubts but would like to remain hopeful, no one realistically expects the local team to get very far in the tournament, with Australia and Germany being the favourites, but I'm hoping for large passionate crowds to create an event one will always remember....that is if the ticket situation gets sorted out!