Adventure before Dementia India 2012

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08.00 Wednesday 07 March , 2012



Planning, Forward thinking, Horizon scanning all go into the mix when you plan a journey. Unfortunately none of the above is aces in my pack. Jaisalmer to Jodhpur is 220 miles and most of it is through the desert, so what happens when a train speeds through the desert. Yep DUST and not just any old dust SANDY DUST. Sleeper class is not AC, and on the back of that is not a sealed carriage. It has an outer grill and an inner window – none of which are tight. In fact the draught is like a dyson exhaust. We have all been on the beach on holiday somewhere and someone has walked passed half pissed and kicked sand in the air and your sandwiches and you got covered. Well go with the flow and imagine 3 or 4 hours of same. Anyway sleeper class is 2.20 for the journey, so shut up and get on with it. The pictures you see inside the train are sleeper class.



Just to add that in my thinking that sleeper class would be ok for this journey as it was cooling down after 5. I did not take into account that the sits on the platform for 5 hours before departure say no more.



Just when you think that your photo opportunity for a colorful turban have got two turn at once. (Notice the dog under the seat trying to catch forty). A cow walks along the platform and empties the bins.



Off we go, me 4 business men a soldier and a few others. You know it’s dusty when the Indians cover their face. It just gets worst at every station they pile on. In a berth for six we have fourteen and they stand in the walkway. The Chinese looking soldier gets covered in baggage and still smiles. My fellow passengers feed me nuts and get me Chai in a station we are in for an eternity.



I arrive inJodhpurover an hour late at 22.40 and jump a rick an all my dirt to the guesthouse.



We have been waiting for you I am told. Go take a shower and have some food.

There is a table of 12/14 people who have been volunteering inJodhpurand I join them , I am given a beer and some chicken curry rice and chapattis. Goes down a bomb. Followed by a glass of red.



That’s me done in. 01.20



Goodnight

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Comments

[Kate]

The long and dusty trail..........oops meant train!
Well what can I say……….not a bit envious that I’ve missed out on this one! Hopefully now that you have experienced that one, you won’t have too again, on your travels! As you say, go with the flow…………

[gary]

hi paul
hi paul , Glad the trips going well , i hope ur after tryin a vindaloo!!! hope ur climatising to the dusty conditions!! we'r all enjoying your blog... everyone says hello!! mind urself , gary