April 24, 1:57 am, train between Vellore and Kerala
What is it about trains? I just love them. I'm not sure why.
Especially here, because it's not like there is really that much to
love about it. But there is just something magical to me about riding
trains.
We're currently on an overnight train, heading towards Kochi in
Kerala, over on the southwest side of India. We left Vellore at about
10:00 pm and will arrive sometime early in the morning... maybe six or
seven? I can't remember exactly how long it is.
I told myself I would be surprised if everything went smoothly on our
first train ride here. But I have to say I am, so far, surprised. We
figured out the little sign that told us where our coach would be,
down at number 14, and when it arrived it was only a little ways off.
We found our coach, S1, without any problem and came straight to our
seats. There are a number of different classes and we are travelling
sleeper class. It is non AC, and each little section has six beds that
face into the middle (stacked 3 high) and then another 3 that are
across the aisle. It's kind of confusing until you actually see it.
But the middle bed on each side folds up and down so that you can
either have people sitting in a row or else bring up the bed and
everyone can lay down. It's not the lap of luxury by any means, but
it's not bad. It's pretty roomy, except for head room when all the
beds are out. It's probably about 2 ft height wise. The windows are
just open an have bars on them, so you get the breeze and also the
view, though you can't see too much at night. We all agree though that
this is the way to travel in India. It is much much better than a bus
or even an AC taxi. Really, I'm quite impressed by their rail system.
I'd probably be even more impressed if I was in an AC coach. Haha.
It's fun though, watching the nighttime landscape of India roll by
with the stars overhead. It feels like this is some sort of dream and
I'm not really here.
So yeah, about yesterday and today, just to finish up... the golden
temple was sweet. It was pretty crazy the amount of security they had
though. We went through three separate checkpoints and each time they
found something it cost more and more to store it. Aurora had managed
to keep her camera on her until the third checkpoint and then it cost
like 20 rupees I think to store it. I had to leave my camera, video
camera, pocket knife, and for some reason my flash light. Go figure.
They didn't want me shining it on Amma I guess. Apparently the light
shines from him. That's what happened when he was like 17 and was on a
bus, a beacon of light went from him up into heaven and that is when
he came to embody Narayani. At least that's what Aurora read in her
book that she bought there. I can't remember, did I mention how the
ground was so hot in some places that it was scorching our feet? Oh
man, so painful. Yet they would not let you take your shoes on the walk.
Like I said, today (well, yesterday now) there was some strike. No
buses were running and apparently the drivers at CHAD were included in
the strike. This meant that there was no one to drive us out to the
villages for doctor run clinic today... so we basically had the day
off. We went to the computer lab, and I should have written my paper
for this rotation but I just couldn't get around to it. I started
getting kind of anxious about our 2 weeks of travel after the rotation
because we hadn't really planned it all out yet and got train tickets
and stuff. But Katherine informed us today that she isn't going to
travel with us. Her dad is going to come and they are going to travel
together. So I guess Aurora and I will just do our own thing, unless
she decides to leave early to go home. Really I wouldn't mind just
travelling by myself if she decided to do that. I actually think it
would be kind of fun.
But I know we are at least going to Ooty together. We went to Angel
travel agent today and asked him to get us tickets on Sunday when
tatkal opens. We'll leave Friday night, May 1, and do another
overnight out there. Ooty is this town up in the mountains that is
supposed to be really nice. And it's supposed to be a lot cooler up
there, temperature wise. That will be nice. Anyway, we're excited for
that. I still need to figure out the rest of the journey though.
Okay, well I'm going to try to get a little shut eye. Later.
4:16 am, still on the train
Every time someone on this train coughs I swear I'm going to get TB.
There is this one guy on the other side of the train from us that
keeps coughing. I'm convinced he's either got TB or cancer. Sadly, I'm
hoping he has cancer for our sakes. Or maybe he just has a cold. Ha,
right.
The non AC is getting to me a little now. It's getting less
comfortable the longer this train ride goes. I just feel so sticky and
my skin sticks to the seat.
10:12 pm, Fort Kochi
Ah, what a day. What a super day. This place is great, even better
than Mamallapuram or Pondicherry. It feels so great to be here and not
in Vellore. We made it off the train at the right stop, and
immediately found ourselves at the mercy of the rickshaw drivers. I
hate not knowing a town because I think they take advantage. Oh well,
we probably didn't get ripped off too bad. We took two rickshaws over
from ernakulam.
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