I got up at 3 am. That was unnecessarily early, in retrospect. Took an autorickshaw to the Hostel at 4.30 am. Then a bus to the airport with all the others travelling with me from the Hostel, after loading our luggage in a tractor trailer at 6.15 am. Our chartered aircraft, the Airbus 320 VT-ESH pictured above, arrived at 8.30 am. The airport experience was similar to private jet boarding - only a stamping of passes, that's all.
Waiting at the Sri Sathya Sai Airport
I sat on seat 13A, which was on the left wing. Boarded by walking up to the plane, 15 minutes after it arrived. You arrived at 9:30 or 9:35, boarded via a truck-based lift. You came down the aisle once before going back to Your seat in the front, and we took off at 9.45. The takeoff seemed to happen very quickly. Perhaps because the load was so light, the aircraft was less than half-full. The landing at Madurai was at 10:45; that took longer, with more low altitude flying and taxiing. I noted some statistics - A320 flying at 36,000 feet, 43,000 kg empty weight, 73,000 kg full max.
Prof. Venkataraman describes the journey much more eloquently in his articles on radiosai.org - history of Kodai, departure from Parthi, arrival at Madurai, and the TAFE visit.
Photo courtesy www.jetphotos.com/photo/5982400
The first time You came down the aisle in the aircraft was in Your wheeled chair - that was too tight for the aisle. The second time You came down the aisle was after the food service, walking, with airline staff swarming around You! You gave a ring or chain or something to an airline man near my seat. The "fasten your seat belts" sign came on when You were at the rear of the plane! You were back in Your seat seconds before the plane touched down.
From Madurai airport, You travelled by Porte car to Sai Ananda Nilayam, the temple set up by the Chettiar family of Padhuga festival fame. Our bus reached there only at 12. There was a 20 minute delay as Sai sir had to distribute fruits to all the cars. Just as we reached there, You left for TAFE! Scrambled to TAFE after a bathroom break. It became 1 pm due to a delay for the ladies, who had thought lunch was to be at the Chettiars' place. At TAFE, there was an elaborate meal waiting, 25 courses I think, arranged in the garden. Photos of the TAFE visit can be seen on the radiosai website, here. The meal was after Swami went around the ultra-clean tractor factory floor, with all of us trailing behind. You left at 2 and reached Kodai by 3.50 in the Benz. We reached only at 5.20 by the AC bus, Parveen travels.
From Madurai airport, You travelled by Porte car to Sai Ananda Nilayam, the temple set up by the Chettiar family of Padhuga festival fame. Our bus reached there only at 12. There was a 20 minute delay as Sai sir had to distribute fruits to all the cars. Just as we reached there, You left for TAFE! Scrambled to TAFE after a bathroom break. It became 1 pm due to a delay for the ladies, who had thought lunch was to be at the Chettiars' place. At TAFE, there was an elaborate meal waiting, 25 courses I think, arranged in the garden. Photos of the TAFE visit can be seen on the radiosai website, here. The meal was after Swami went around the ultra-clean tractor factory floor, with all of us trailing behind. You left at 2 and reached Kodai by 3.50 in the Benz. We reached only at 5.20 by the AC bus, Parveen travels.
By the time we reached, You had already inaugurated the new complex next door - the 'cafeteria' as described by Prof. Venkataraman in his article. We were to go straight to the dining hall in Sai Shruti for "tea", passing by You in the front hall one by one. While we ate after Brahmarpanam, You entered, and went around in the folding wheelchair pushed by Devayya the cook. Some ladies were there too - Mrs. Popat, some relatives. You just said a few words in a hoarse voice. Something like "Did you all get food on the way?" and so on.
Then, it was time for the blanket distribution. Red SSSIHMS "Korean quilts" for all of us. We carried our luggage up. There was a meeting in the dining hall - dinner for us at 7.45 in the "Canteen" which had been newly inaugurated, as sent word through Satyajit. Also in an apologetic tone, You sent word, 'Please manage for today, I will arrange everything tomorrow!'
I slept by 9 pm downstairs. Some, who would not snore, were upstairs, in the landing above the stairs which has a door to Your bedroom. There were 2+2 bathrooms and toilets upstairs, 4+4 downstairs, with entry from the dining hall. One more upstairs and one downstairs for guests. A lift is now in place, which goes directly to Your bedroom. The places where we sleep are quite comfortable, since the interior of the building is not very cold and not hot either. Rathnakar garu, Mr. Narasimhamurthy, Mr. Balram Nichani, Prof Venkataraman, Paramahamsa garu and others were in the new guest house next door. Prof. Venkataraman in room no. 4. I would probably be meeting him there during the trip. Aravind's blog has a post dedicated to him.
Next: The first 24 hours at Kodai
Next: The first 24 hours at Kodai
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