Day 7 – Monday 27th April

Today we woke at around 6.30am to get ready for Manoa to pick us up at 7.30am and take us to the airport for our 9am flight to Bangalore.

As I woke early I spoke to Mark on the phone and then thought I would lie in bed another 15 minutes then get up and shower. But the next thing I knew I was being woken up by a banging on the door and there was Mark ready to go saying its gone 7am and Manoa was downstairs. Ooops. I was already packed, so I had to skip a shower and leg it down to catch up.

Luckily after that early morning hold up we managed to get to the airport on time as traffic seemed a bit less crazy for once. Getting our tickets and luggage checked was also smooth. The fun began when we went through security for the departure lounge with our bags. Once through they asked Mark if he had any liquids in his bag – ‘no’ he replied, but then remembered he did have some whiskey left over (only once the security guy had taken it out of the bag and waved it infront of him!!). This was not a major problem and Mark just had to pour it away. The security guard then asked if there was anymore liquid in there, to which Mark again replied ‘no’.
We were both surprised then when the guard pulled out another bottle of whiskey (a full one this time) which switched on a lightbulb in Mark's head prompting a reply of ‘ah that’s my duty free I cant pour that away!!’ I was at this point trying desperately not to laugh as he was sent back through security to go and check the bag with the bottle in it.

Mark then returned and there is me laughing as we walked off until I opened my bag and found a full bottle of coke they had missed also!! I think its fair to say that had we been in the states we would probably be halfway on our way to Guantanamo bay right now for trying to sneak liquids on board an aircraft.

After all that hullabaloo we eventually made it through to the the flight which was fantastic, with great service and comfort. It was Kingfisher airlines which we just found out started only a couple of years ago following Kingfisher beer. Upon arrival we were met immediately by a gentleman heavily armed with a suit and a smile who took our bags to the car which brought us to the hotel.

Our immediate impressions of Bangalore were that it seems far more developed and modernised then Mumbai. There were far less (if any) signs of poverty or pollution on the 40min drive, compared to the high levels we would see driving in Mumbai. The roads were new and actually had lane markings on them (a luxury Mumbai did not have in most parts) and the traffic was far more controlled. Also, the airport is only 10months old and is very impressive indeed.

After the journey we checked in and explored the hotel which is in a different league to the club in Mumbai.

Following some chill time and a quick walk around we met Santosh from New Directions Overseas Education Company. The meeting lasted around 2 hours and we told him about the school and what we have to offer. He was very encouraging about what he can do for us in terms of recruiting students.
Again, he sees great potential in MSc Psychology and MSc Health and Nutrition. He also was very impressed with the work of TELLS and Second life. We also explained to him about the Elite Sports Squad which he believes will also attract many further students. He also has a student interested in studying MSc Sports Coaching and tried to get him here for us to talk to but the student is currently in Chennai. So we will await progress on this.

There is plenty more on this meeting to feedback on and a busy and potentially fruitful schedule for us tomorrow so I will leave that there for now.

Mark is swimming, im blogging and skyping, then we are having free cocktails at 7pm and an Indian barbecue to round of our first day in Bangalore.
Not bad eh!!!