I was going for a one day conference, so not much packing to do. But for a diabetic the meds are crucial so that I checked two days in advance. All tabs in place -- five different kinds and once the vial in the insulin injection was done, I would fit in the new vial.

The rest was easy, especially if you have a beautiful new branded Swiss gear back pack, from the makers of the famous Swiss army knife. A gift from my son Andrew my laptop and chargers besides sweets for my old school chums who lived in Delhi all went in very comfortably.

Since I was flying domestic, a handbag was allowed as well as a back pack, so in went the cash and all the crazy things we women fill our bags with including pens and heaps of tissues. Always carry moisturizer as for some reason my lips will feel dry in a 'plane and some dry plums or gum to munch on while reading a book and waiting at the designated gate.

Luckily I was early enough and got a nice aisle seat right up in front. Not that a short 2 1/2 hour flight needs much racing to the toilet, but for me the aisle makes me feel less hemmed in.

The flight was uneventful and the food dreadful as always. Just the little carton of yogurt made me feel good. I love that yogurt that you can spoon into your mouth and that was the only saving grace of the meal. Because of terrible turbulence going into Delhi they could not serve coffee or tea which was sad as I could not have the icecream that everyone else enjoyed.
Delhi is very well organised with radio cabs waiting to take you in. Delhi Habitat Centre Lodhi Road, I said and a bill for Rs 400 was made. In Bangalore a cab costs Rs 1000 to go to the airport as there is a toll tax also. which has to be paid. A bus is far cheaper at Rs 220 for the ride which is very comfortable and safe as well. But this time I splurged.

Once I paid for my cab in Delhi it trundled off to Lodhi Road and when the man said where? I said Indian Habitat Centre. He took me to the International Habitat Centre and that was very annoying as I had to find my way to the IHC on foot, trundling my bag on the pavement. Lucky it was just 500 metres away but it was annoying.

The Indian Habitat Centre is a massive building covering a huge property. I had to walk another 500km in the building, just to find the rooms through the labryinth of strange plazas and passage ways. Every plaza had a big sculpture erected in the middle or a beautiful water body and some of them even had beautiful pink lilies all open in the sunshine.

Pulling my case past a line of fresh and luxuriant fire bushes, I reached the 'rooms' as that part of the building is called and went in to claim my room. 402 was assigned to me and off I went with staff to show me the way. However later that night I had to literally beg for a change of room as the restaurants on top were rolling and shifting gas cylinders and cleaning up way into the wee hours of the morning.

The room I was shifted to was 412 which was a suite of rooms and really quite posh and far too big for single me, but it was silent and I slept for the rest of the night! Breakfast was on the 6th floor in Delhi O Delhi which was a colonial style restaurant with water-colours and pictures of all the dignitaries who had visited - from Nehru and Edwina to Lalbahadur Shastry and Dr Radhakrishna.