sleep at Mumbai (BOM) Airport

Noodle

Well, it's not much different in Frankfurt International Airport, for example. When I arrived there was absolutely nobody standing at customs and I just walked through the green channel. Have had the same experience in Heathrow, although nowadays the UK might be more strict.

__________________
If in hole
stop digging.

Indian saying

ba9rn

There may not be any visible presence, but be sure you are being monitored! Not sure about Germany (certainly not the case in USA, anyway), but in UK you can have bags checked through to the final destination airport (as long as it has international capability - ie. customs people on site). It's a great system, which saves lugging bags around a busy London airport. I use Newcastle airport for instance, and fly via Heathrow. Even though my bags arrive on a Domestic carousel, customs are well aware of the presence of international baggage. I have seen them swoop from nowhere (not for my bags, thankfully!).

As there is no such thing as Red, Green or Blue Channels for Domestic, I guess one could claim that you would have used the red channel (if you had items to declare). Not put to the test yet though!

Anyway - I think the "can they really do that?" question was aimed at the con/bribe though. If so - yes, they can. Bribery goes a long way up the chain of command!

__________________
"After the battle, many new ghosts cry. The solitary old man murmurs in his grief." Du Fu

Noodle

Oh, I see.

aadil

Yes, they are watching you with hidden eyes and specially marked indicators on bags that they suspect to have contraband stuff when they are checked after which they swoop down on you if you go through green channel. You think they are not watching but then you can be proved wrong.

Cheers,
Aadil.

__________________
Climb high; climb far;
Your goal, the sky,
Your aim, the stars!!!

Chinadolly

Hi
Was thinking of booking the Hotel Residency for Jan next year,could you tell me how long it took in a taxi to the hotel and how much. Also what was the surrounding area like, as we plan to walk a lot of the time. It,s our first time to Mumbai and am a bit worried we're in for a culture shock. Especially my husband has he's only been to Goa. Any info will be appreciated. Thanks

aadil

Well, it all depends on what time you are travelling to the hotel. It takes about an hour and a half (maybe slightly more too) if you are going in the day and after midnight it may take about an hour. January is peak season time so please book well in advance and do not take their offer of hotel transfers as they are pretty expensive at Rs800 for the trip which can be easily done in Rs350 if you take a prepaid taxi from the airport.

The area is the Central Business District and it is in South Mumbai where all the touristy places are located including the museum, art galleries, heritage structures, monuments, etc. Also the Elephanta caves are easily accessible from Apollo Bunder which is nearby and the shopping areas of Colaba and Fashion Street are nearby too. There are a lot of good restaurants in the vicinity as well so no problems about getting good food too. Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Aadil.

mairangi_vice

One time the Frankfurt immigration guys (note: Immigration control, not customs) let my gf through with an expired visa! Immigration is usually stricter than customs, so I can believe that you just walked through!

Noodle

They didn't seem very sharp when I went through. The guy looked at my passport and asked Are you coming from India right now? I said, yes. He: With the plane?

Eh, no, officer I came by boat and train and then immediately rushed to Frankfurt Airport to report that I arrived safely! (I didn't say that, of course)

Lacha

LOL....Blonde guy

__________________
LACHA

shashank.aggarwal

Oh Noodle .. you should have shown your worn out sandals and told him that you walked all the way !!

__________________
Travelogue - Around India
Random Reviews