First Class

*posted by Kayd

This train ride was much different that our previous train rides to and from Puri.

For one thing, we were in first class. That means we have a little compartment to ourselves, complete with two bunk-beds. Another huge difference was: there was food! Apparently this train line offers food to all the passengers.

First we were greeted by the 'manager' and were each given a rose to welcome us.

Then we got cheese sandwichs, tea, samosas, and some desserts. We thought we were in heaven. Our bunk mate Priya told us this was just the snack, and that dinner would come in a few hours.

I don't know what it is about trains, or maybe it was the fact that I had only eaten brownies and ice cream on very little sleep, but I didn't feel good the rest of the trip so I laid down and slept.

For dinner, we were given soup, a choice of veg or non veg, and a dessert. The boys said the food wasn't that great (what mass produced travel food ever is?) but it was good to have something in the stomach for the 10 hour train ride. 

Despite the crappy food we were lucky to have an awesome bunk mate. Priya was from South India, where things are generally much more orthodox than other parts of the country, but she herself was really chill. It turned out she was also a follower of Ramakrishna, whose mission we had visited in Kolkata at the beginning of the trip. We told her about our adventures thus far and the various places we had been to. She was very down to earth, and we were happy to hear that she felt the same way as we did about Akshardham (the government sponsored temple in Delhi). She was also a big fan of bhang, and told us it's best to drink on hot summer days. Thank goodness for good conversation!