There are many ways of crossing this wide world. Of them, I prefer the train. Due to this preference, India has been a fabulous place for me to travel in. Trains run nearly everywhere with remarkable frequency.
From Kolkata, I've traveled to India's southernmost state by train. I spent some nights in Bhubaneswar and Chennai, b ut my goal was to reach Puducherry via rail and I succeeded.
The longest stretch was the twenty hour journey from Bhubaneswar to Chennai. I bought a second class sleeper ticket - my preferred class - and boarded the train around midnight. Each second class sleeper car holds 81 people, in groups of nine, three bunks high - two opposite each other and one along the aisle.
I was in bed number 11 - I believe - an upper berth. I found the well marked space without problem, stored my pack, removed my shoes - which is customary in a surprising amount of places: shops, internet cafes... - and shimmied up to my narrow platform before the train sounded its last whistle and rolled out of the city.
As with most of my Indian train trips, this one proved very pleasant. Throughout the day men carrying hot sweet milk chai walked the aisles loudly advertising their product. Lunch and dinner were served on trays and the three occupants of one "buck", fold down the middle man's berth and eat together on the lower, mixing, dipping, and scooping rice and dhal into their mouths with their hands.
My hand eating has vastly improved since my arrival, though I still feel rather sloppy. It is quite fun though. As is the fundamental lack of safety regulations that allows one to lean for hours on end out a moving train's open door. This, though, is also frightening - for a number of reasons. Picturesque none the less - India scrolls by.
As always, downsides do exist. I thought - until my most recent trip - that the roaches aboard the trains was the worst of them. From Chennai to Puducherry, however, I found that mice were - squeamishly - worse. The bathrooms are also not so grand as you can see the railroad ties through the hole below you as you do your business. On some trains a sign "kindly requests" that the facilities not be used while the train is in motion. I think to spare those brave souls that I've seen sometimes pass below train cars the ick of an unwanted shower.
Overall, however, I like the trains and still prefer them. And, as they seem to connect nearly every place in India, I foresee many travels on the rails in my future.
From Kolkata, I've traveled to India's southernmost state by train. I spent some nights in Bhubaneswar and Chennai, b ut my goal was to reach Puducherry via rail and I succeeded.
The longest stretch was the twenty hour journey from Bhubaneswar to Chennai. I bought a second class sleeper ticket - my preferred class - and boarded the train around midnight. Each second class sleeper car holds 81 people, in groups of nine, three bunks high - two opposite each other and one along the aisle.
I was in bed number 11 - I believe - an upper berth. I found the well marked space without problem, stored my pack, removed my shoes - which is customary in a surprising amount of places: shops, internet cafes... - and shimmied up to my narrow platform before the train sounded its last whistle and rolled out of the city.
As with most of my Indian train trips, this one proved very pleasant. Throughout the day men carrying hot sweet milk chai walked the aisles loudly advertising their product. Lunch and dinner were served on trays and the three occupants of one "buck", fold down the middle man's berth and eat together on the lower, mixing, dipping, and scooping rice and dhal into their mouths with their hands.
My hand eating has vastly improved since my arrival, though I still feel rather sloppy. It is quite fun though. As is the fundamental lack of safety regulations that allows one to lean for hours on end out a moving train's open door. This, though, is also frightening - for a number of reasons. Picturesque none the less - India scrolls by.
As always, downsides do exist. I thought - until my most recent trip - that the roaches aboard the trains was the worst of them. From Chennai to Puducherry, however, I found that mice were - squeamishly - worse. The bathrooms are also not so grand as you can see the railroad ties through the hole below you as you do your business. On some trains a sign "kindly requests" that the facilities not be used while the train is in motion. I think to spare those brave souls that I've seen sometimes pass below train cars the ick of an unwanted shower.
Overall, however, I like the trains and still prefer them. And, as they seem to connect nearly every place in India, I foresee many travels on the rails in my future.
2 comments:
Brianna -
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope that you are enjoying your ongoing journey. I work with 2 physicians that grew up in India and they are wonderful people who have discribed their childhood to me over the years. Both were from some wealth - the one's father was in government and was not a political figure so he stayed in his role for many years. I haven't traveled with either of them recently - but will soon and plan to write down information of the places you have traveled.
According to the calendar, it won't be terribly long before you come home to beautiful Washington State, USA. I can't wait to hear more about your travels then.
Continue to enjoy the trains - they take people to wonderful places and even better, to people they love. And just think, sometimes people are mooned along the way!
Much love to you!
Aunt Pat
PS - our email has changed to vogels3@verizon.net
Post a Comment