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Published: January 11th 2009
Time for an update as it has been a whole 5 days since the last one....well, it's been a mixed bag since we left Varanasi and apologies if this one is a bit dull but this is as much a diary for us to look back on and not everyday is an adventure. However, this next entry will be entertaining in a comedy of errors kind of way...
5th January 2009
We had a long walk along the Ghats in Varanasi one final time, before heading to the train station to catch our overnight train to Bhopal, a city in central(ish) India. We caught the train at 1600 no problem, and were in a compartment with a german girl and her indian friend, and lots of Indian guys who seemed very interested in us....our bed was third tier i.e. up with the ceiling fans, and both our rucksacks came to bed with us - Hayley was squashed so enjoy picturing how cramped Daniel was! The main reason for this was safety, which proved wise as during the night a shoe thief struck and many pairs went missing. Fortunately the train was freezing - we were both wearing almost everything we
Sanchi
Daniel and Buddha!had packed - including our shoes - so we weren't getting robbed!
6th January 2009
We finally arrived in Bhopal at 1200ish, only 5 hours late this time, and started our search for accomodation. We eventually found somewhere at the 6-7th time of asking and......oh lordy it was a mess! But, it was a well needed bed after 20 sleepless hours on a train. We immediatley set about making plans to leave Bhopal (you can't like everywhere!) but unbelievably all trains were fully booked - and there were actually waiting lists for seats.....so.....we succumbed to buying an internal flight to Mumbai. We'd never planned to fly overland, but with a) the trains being full, and b) at least 3 days travel when we DID book a train, we would have lost just too much time waiting. Add in how tiring over-night trains are, and the flight was the only option. Mind you, £21 isn't too bad for a 1.5hr flight! Due to lack of sleep we were asleep by 7.30pm.
7th January 2009
Waking up after a good sleep makes such a huge difference in India. We got up early, had breakfast (toast and choc-chip ice cream naturally) and went to find the bus station. The real reason we were in Bhopal was to visit a tiny town around 30miles NE, called Sanchi where Buddhism first appeared in India. The bus journey was great fun and the locals on the bus - paticularly the older ladies - seemed thrilled to see us. Sanchi is a hill top settlement containing remains of Stupas, monuments and temples, mostly in ruin now, dating from 8BC. Comparing the tranquility of this place to everywhere else...it was like heaven to stroll at our own pace taking it all in. We still got stared at, asked for photos and followed a little bit, but it was a nice break!
8th January 2009
What a traumatic day!! This is how travelling should not be done:
- Woke and packed up. Grabbed a rickshaw to a cafe for breakfast.
Decided to head back and check out. Fine so far.
- Our return rickshaw driver, however, decided to then get lost and we
had to direct him back - having been in the town for 1.5 days!
- Checked out and went online to find some accomodation in Mumbai -
everywhere appeared full!
- Left to get to the airport, and arrived to an empty airport which is
incredibly unsettling.
- 2 hours later airport lights turn on and staff start arriving! We then
find a bed for the night...but...
- On checking in we are told that all the morning flights had been
cancelled and ours may not arrive. (which is very scary as we are at
least 30 hours away from Mumbai by land - with no mode of transport!)
- Our plane does arrive (yay!) and is the only plane to take off from
Bhopal that day.
- Arrive in Mumbai in the midst of a fuel strike - meaning mayhem in the
taxi forecourt.
- Taxi driver then gets lost finding our hotel. Despair!
On reaching Mumbai, despite the chaos, we were both met by a settling feeling. It was warm, big and the first real shower in 4 days was awaiting us...
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Steve & Amy
non-member comment
Hey! :-)
Hi you two, looks like you are having a 'fun' time mostly!!! It's like a history and geography lesson rolled in to one! You'll need this blog at the end of it just to help you remember as you're seeing soooooo much! I chuckled at the thought of Danielson rowing in cirlces on the Ganges......bless! All that talk of Indian food has reminded me that I'm meeting Harry Enfield and his mum at the Savoy this week.........hehe! Take care you crazy kids, but most of all have a fab time! x