Back in the U.S.A

We checked out of the O by Tamara around 12:30 am and headed to the Trivandrum airport for our Qatar Airways 3:50 a.m. flight to Doha.



The view from the flight was amazing.  I know I was looking at a desert but was still blown away by it.  It was so barren and desolate. This view is landing in Qatar.


We were able to see the sunrise over the Persian Gulf.

Qatar Airways was excellent.  Our flight to Doha was only 4 hours.  The Doha airport is excellent.

Then we boarded our long flight...14 hours.  Marshall and I were in the Q-Suite.  We were able to lower the wall between us so we were in a pod together basically.  We both watched movies and slept.  We had dinner and a breakfast.  Overall the flight was not bad at all because of the comfort of the space we were in.



Sunrise over Philadelphia

We were both happy to be back in the USA

It was strange being in a place where we didn’t stand out.  We were seeing other Caucasians.  It really changes your perspective and outlook on life. I will say this experience will have a lasting impression on both of us.


We changed my flight to go to Indianapolis so I could see Maggie and Marshall was to go to Wilmington.  I left around 5:00 pm. I checked my 2 bags to go to Indianapolis.  Marshall's flight was canceled and he had to spend the night in a hotel, without his luggage. Hurricane Idalia was causing lots of rain and wind in Wilmington. He left early in the morning but American Airlines sent his luggage to Indianapolis instead of Wilmington.

On Thursday, at 10:00 AM, I am at the Indianapolis airport asking them to send Marshall's 3 bags back to Wilmington. I was told not to touch the bags because it might create a liability.  Marshall landed in Wilmington without his bags and he had to ask them to send his luggage to him.  After he initiated this, the Indianapolis crew could send the luggage.

I slept on Maggie's couch, which was more comfortable than our bed in India.  When I woke up in the morning, it was so quiet.  I was not hearing all of the strange animal sounds, airplanes, the temple call to worship, cows mooing, roosters crowing and scooters.  I drove Maggie's car and the traffic was so much calmer in the US than India.  Maggie and I had hamburgers at Five Guys and it was so good.  I enjoyed walking Ripple and Ripple led me straight to the dog park in Maggie's apartment complex.

Meanwhile, Marshall was happy to be sleeping in our bed at home.  He enjoyed a meal with our neighbors, Alan and Jeannine Efting.

It will take us a little while to process all that we encountered.  What an adventure!

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