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!

I have to go to the bathroom in what?

This photo should accompany our last train ride post explaining what the toiled on the train looked like. (actually what Indian style toilets look like)

Mind you: This was a first class toilet, the one I used earlier was not as glamorous, to say the least.

Train Ride

*posted by Kayd

We traveled to Puri by train from Kolkata. Being my first train ride I didn’t know what to expect and asked the boys if it was going to be anything like Harry Potter… Abhrajeet said “yes”, Arny said “bring your wand.” Let it be known: it is nothing like Harry Potter. Traveling by train is very common – India has the biggest railway system in the world.

Seating in the train is quite divided. To begin, there is first, second and third tier. We were in 2^nd tier which means the seating/sleeping area is bunk bed like. Each person gets their own place to lay down complete with sheets, pillow and blanket. The train is also divided into AC and Non AC, thank goodness we had air conditioning. Travelers can also be in the seating section (bus-like), standing or traveling via roof.

Since it was so late at night when we arrived at the train we made our beds and fell asleep right away hoping that the 8 hour trip would quickly pass. Note to self: next time bring some febreeze to mask the musky curtain smell.

I woke up in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom. I woke Abhrajeet up and he escorted me to the toilet… or to be more descriptive, a hole. Yes that’s right, a hole in which someone would have to squat to relieve themselves. (I wish I took a photo but the smell around the bathrooms was enough to choke a horse and at the moment it wasn’t something I wanted to remember.)  Here’s how I can best describe it: There are elevated places to place your feet which are on the sides of a large metal bowl that has a hole in the center leading to the tracks below. The hole looks much bigger than it is and I was scared my flip flop would fall down into the poo-riden tracks to be lost forever. To help keep your balance there is a handle to hold onto in front of you when you’re in squatting position. 

We later learned that there was also a Western toilet in the room over.

Oh well, I did it, I peed in a hole! (mom aren’t you proud?)

After the sun rose we opened one of the doors in the train so we could get a clear view of the outside. I would never have guessed India would have been so green. It’s amazing! We rode past many small villages, people washing their clothes in the river and workers in the rice paddies.