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Published: March 2nd 2012
So it's out of the Cottage Yes Please to head off for the train to Bikaner. I walk for the last time down the bazaar and over to the station. Delhi has more then one station and Paul is at the wrong one. After scanning the info board i realise that I should be at Old Delhi (DLI)station not New Delhi station (NDLS). I go outside to take a taxi or ricky to Old Delhi time is short due to a earlier problem now sorted. The taxi driver asked me when is your train can't tell him that, the price will shoot up and he already wants 450 rups, i will take a bicycle rick I say - the game commences. The price falls to 350 but I have 1 hour to catch the train but how long to Old Delhi I do not know. i move to a ricky 300 he says - I don't have it - i have plenty of time I will walk. You pay he says - 200 my reply . I am in the rick and on my way. Round Old Delhi we go as DLi is in the north of Old Delhi I arrive
with 20 Minutes to catch the train. In chaos 20 minutes is not a long time and I cannot see the train on the board. Indian stations are a nightmare for foreign tourists you cannot find a soul to help. I walk/ run over the footbridge looking at the electronic boards over the platforms (and there are 18 of them) I have to wait as they change from Hindi to English. The announcments charge from Hindi to English but it just sounds the same. 16.25 the departure time its 16.20. If its here I am going to miss it . Then I here 15609 called, train numbers are ALL important in India, I listen as it's repeated platform 10 off we go.
AC 3rd Class Coach B1. I see a railway train employee I can tell by the uniform I have seen on trains before. No use he asking I show him my reservation , he looks and waves his hand to go forwaed. I find the coach and hop aboard. Find berth Lower 31 and dump my bags.
I am in a side lower berth in 3AC the carraige has 6 berths on one side and 2
on the other. The six berth facing me is full with Indian passengers. I check that they are too going to Lalgarh Junction some 5 kilometres fron Bikaner yes they reply. all is good.
I even have time to take a photo of my name on the reservation sheet that is pinned to the side of all Indian trains with reserved coaches.
Off we go at 16.45. 20 minutes late not bad for a train that has already been on the rails for 25 hours from Assam.
I am starving and soon the pantry car attendant comes round. He speaks Hindi and I say Yes my fellow travellers tell me that it's Veg I don't mind.
I am given my pillow a sheet and a blanket. You need the blanket AC is always cold on an Indian train.
Whoopee dinner arrives, A Paneer (cheese) curry - a DAL - a veg something - 2 chapatties and rice with water. It dissapears all for 70 Rups (0.90p)
I make my bed and curl up as we head off into the darkness that is Rajastan.
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Declan Evans
non-member comment
Ciao Papa, sounds like you're having a great time. I can handle the spelling mistakes but speaking about yourself in third person is a bit weird. Apologies for missing your call last night, was out at a school event with Soph. All is well and send us a text to let us know when your phoning. Dinner looks great for 90p! Spoke with the parent of the lad who speaks Malayalam in my class this week. Showed him your text that you were at the Jama Masjid. He proceeded to tell me all about it for 10 minutes and I showed him your journey map. He explained that his home city is Kochi and that you'll be passing through his local town which is 35miles from Kochi. I can't remember exactly what he said it was but will find out next week. I'll ask him if he's heading back over Easter and see if I can join him :-) Look after yourself. Dec