Here are a few photos from India.

 Early morning in Calcutta.  Little did we know that we were heading towards the Black Hole of airport bureaucracy.

Ben and Peter with Mr Karati of the Indian Customs at Calcutta Airport.  I will post at more length about the thievery and obstruction we encountered there, and how it took SEVEN hours before departure to go through ATC briefing, terminal manager approval, customs approval, immigration approval (for a domestic flight), security clearance etc.   A certain Mr Bannerjee of the Customs, scowling at us and sporting a very large diamond ring, took it upon himself to create as much mischief as possible; this was not just regarding Customs matters but also raising objections with the Immigration personnel about their processes and complaining constantly about our paperwork and alleged regulatory infractions.  A flavour of the issues may be be given by the fact we charged some 70 cents per litre tax on the fuel remaining in the aircraft's tanks when we arrived at Calcutta.  There was also talk of charging tax on the oil in the engine. This sort of thing is unheard of elsewhere and contrary to India's international air traffic obligations.  Our refusal of a Bangladesh landing permit which caused our diversion to Calcutta, and the hostile treatment at Calcutta, are conceivably related circumstances that was and is most concerning and we would like to get to the bottom of what was going on ......

When we eventually were released to go to our aircraft and refuel for departure, our fuelling hand pump broke, so the aircraft had to be refuelled very slowly using siphons.  This added to the troubles of a nightmare day.

Then a storm came, airport traffic was stopped for a while, and delayed everything again.

Here is the pump in use, before its shaft broke.

Finally on our way, we were so late that after some hours night fell.  Turbulence and storms were around, which we flew through.  Lightning at night is spectacular and rather concerning.  I hoped that Faraday had not made any mistake about safety inside his cage.

The weather cleared eventually, this was passing over the city of Bhopal.

We landed at Ahmedabad, where our treatment could not have been more different than Calcutta.

Pleasant people, quick refuelling, good hotel beside the airport, quick getaway in the morning;  what else could one wish for?!

Early morning takeoff from Ahmedabad, bound for Karachi.