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Don't you just love technology. I got into my cab to get to the airport this morning at 07:45. As is now second nature, I immediately checked my email via my GPRS enabled phone. The first thing that caught my eye was an email from the organisers at the conference I was on my way to (in Jamshedpur) that my Calcutta - Jamshedpur flight was cancelled. They had instead in the email recommended I catch a flight to Ranchi (yeah..wtf) and then drive from Ranchi to Jamshedpur (wtf!!! again).

About 5 years ago if this had happened to me, I would have been lost with no recourse but standing in airport counter lines, checking with airlines about connections or on the phone with my travel agent figuring next steps, possibly resulting in long delays to my destination of choice.

However, we are in 2009.

What I could in fact do, while still on my way to the airport (Bangalore airport that is) in the cab is take out my laptop, plug in my internet data card and log on to the internet. I then proceeded to check train options to Jamshedpur from Calcutta, identified the right train in under 2 minutes, took out my credit card and booked myself on the evening train to reach Jamshedpur well in time for the conference tomorrow. All this in under 10 minutes of knowing that my flight was cancelled.

The only thing I wasn't able to do was to take a print out of my train ticket. I do however have an SMS from the booking agency with my booking reference number and I dare say if I boarded the train with ID and this SMS, I'd be allowed to travel without too much hassle. However I AM heading to Commie country so better not take any risks. Getting a printout in Calcutta will be an adventure but hey at least I am not flying to Calcutta wondering what to do next.

I love technology.

On a side note, ever wondered why people crowd the boarding queue at departure gates like ants swarming toward sugar the moment a flight is announced? Hmmm.