I just had to cancel my first ever India trip

dltucker88

Right now I am supposed to be on a plane on my way to Delhi.
But I'm not.

I had a family emergency--only the family member is my cat. She was rushed into emergency surgery on the 23rd and now is home to recover.
I can't even talk about the cost and time involved in this decision.

That means...my partner and I had to cancel our plane tickets and our tour tickets with Intrepid.
The flight was frequent flier miles (but flying on Singapore Airlines--ouch it hurt to cancel that flight), so at least we are only out $100 (to re-deposit the miles back into the account).
I spent two days at the NYC Indian consulate walking 70 blocks during a transportation strike for two visas at $60 USD each.

But we had paid entirely for the Intrepid trip--22 days/$875 USD each.
There's no refund.
That hurts.
We can't give it to someone else or get a credit or anything.
I had purchased travel insurance...which covers emergencies, but not for your furry family members.

I'm not looking for answers.
But I just spent $2000 and planned for six months for this trip.
I don't know that I'll have a month off again to do this. It was totally right time (in grad school), right place.

I'm sad that's all.
And I'm really having a moral dilemma on if I did the right thing b/c we still don't know if our kitty will pull through this.
But I guess we'll do the best we can.

I just wanted to vent a little, that's all. No one else wants to hear it so I thought I'd turn to the internet.

Thanks for listening.

lotus blossom

well, all i can say is that is some love and devotion. obviously you did what you felt you had to. india will be there waiting for you when you're able to go. in the meantime your cat is quite a fortunate creature to have a home with someone so caring.

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Not all who wander are lost

TracyB

Awe..that is too bad..But i know how you feel..I had a bird for 10 years, it eventually died, but if it would have became deadly ill before one of my trips, i would have done the same thing..

But yes, your cat was sure lucky to find someone like you! Hope you still get a chance to go to India though...Hope your cat is feeling better!!

jarman_ah

I think you are a noble person who embodies the Christmas spirit all year round.... and I think that your travel insurance company, seeing it's Christmas and all that, are finks!

How about you give us all their email address and EVERYBODY at indiamike sends them emails demanding that they allow you to claim in this special case and at this special time of year. Just remember.... the boss at Interpid may be re-born as a cat next time! If he hears that message ten thouand times from ten thousand different people in 100 countries, maybe he'll think things through again!

(If you ever want to holiday in Australia, as a consolation for India, there's a free room for you at my home; sorry I can't help with air fare).

thirdreel

That's too bad. I hope there's some time you can work out your India adventure once again.

Nick-H

dltucker... hats off to you for your true devotion to your cat, and many, many comiserations for your missed trip.

I've been so close ---twice. On the first occasion she made a miraculous recovery from an acident that the vet didn't expect her to recover from at all, and, second time a long-lasting anti-biotic injection came to our rescue.

jarman_ah

By the way, have you checked www.fodors.com/forums under the "Asia" forum lately? If you do, you will encounter Lindsey, who is in much the same situation as yourself. I bet you two would have a lot to say to each other.

dltucker88

Thank you all for your kind words!

We actually have FOUR cats and yes, this is a labour of love.
There's no way I could have 'put her to sleep' just because I had a holiday coming up....no way I would ever be able to enjoy myself or forgive myself for that.

The kitty has to be fed through a tube every three hours, in addition to shots, meds, etc.
I think that the universe is testing us to see if we're ready for children!
We are seriously sleep deprived, but hopeful.

We have hope.

My dad's are talking to Intrepid right now for us. They took a trip with them last year to India and another family friend has taken multiple trips with them...I don't know if it will make a difference or not, but it can't hurt.
I would like to at least get a credit, you know? I'm not asking for my money back, I understand their limitations as a business as well.

It would figure that the ONE time I decide to go on an organized tour, something like this would happen! I have always been an independent traveller but wanted to take some of the 'hassle' out of India.
It didn't work!!

As for Australia...I have miles now!! Maybe I'll take you up on that!

Peace everyone--

randomviolins

The way I look at this kind of turn of fate is that it is surely a blessing in disguise. Be happy you didn't go on that trip and sit on the runway for 24 hours due to bad weather and mechanical problems with the plane, get robbed on your first night in India, eat or drink the wrong thing and come down with vomiting and bloody diarrhea that sends you to hospital, be hit by a falling piano and have your legs crushed ... (you get the idea) That trip just wasn't meant to happen for you right now.

But the good news, as others have said, is that India will still be there when the next opportunity arises (heck, she's been there for thousands of years) ...

As for kitty, even if the kitty doesn't survive (and we won't even think about that), you will still have had a few more days with her. That's got to be worth something.

LavieQ

dltucker,

Sorry to hear about missing your first trip ever. Looks like Murphy's law hit at the worst moment. On the other hand, it's not as if all's lost - you'll surely rise again and be flying to India (or another place you want to see) eventually. Money comes and money goes. And if it flowed out this time, be sure it'll flow in the next time around.

Most important: that you'd do this for your cat indicates that you're a kind, compassionate human being, which means a hell of a lot more than whether you've been to India or not (or any other exotic locale you can think of, for that matter).

Keep on truckin'

LaVieQ

belkin_wonder_boy

That is a tough decision but bless your heart for taking such good care of your cat!

jyotirmoy

OP I admire you. Yes India will be there & welcome you.

PRIYA

Of course you did the right thing!!! India will be waiting for you and your partner and you have shown great compassion and caring for your cat, irrespective of the cost, for which I'm sure you'll be blessed. Good for you and I hope your kitty recovers soon.

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IndeGuru

Sorry to learn about your cat, but you've just put some good karma in motion by being compassionate towards a living being ( your cat ) and am sure universe will present the right moment to you when you are ready (as per the design) for India

pantelis

but it had to happen that way Don`t worry .I believe in the law of karma and i am sure that you will find another month to do the trip and have a perfect time patience and courage is the best

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