The Train Game

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Saturday 3-5
After a quick trip to Varanasi, we headed to Jodhpur, via Delhi, on an overnight train. From Varanasi to Delhi, we got our first taste of A/C 1st class train cars. Very nice! Too bad we couldn’t book these seats for all our trains! Instead of sharing a bunk with 6 people, we got a private room for two, where we could actually lock the door and not worry about strapping our luggage down! I immediately crawled into my bunk to nurse a headache, while Nick appeared to be enjoying himself immensely every time someone opened the door and offered food. If there’s one food both of us love (and there are not many), it’s chai tea and India is the land of plenty! Each time someone came to the door saying “chai? chai?,” I could hear Nick happily jump up and grab a glass of chai. It was very cute. ;o)

A 16 hour layover in New Delhi allowed us to get a small taste of the city. We took the metro (as mentioned before, a very uncomfortable experience!) to Connaught Place (English art deco shopping center built in 1931) and Nick stuffed himself with thali like a true maharaja! :o) We also indulged in some Micky D’s French fries. I love that McDonalds takes on the flavor of whatever country it’s in. I think everyone’s familiar with the Royale w/ Cheese, but here in India (since they don’t eat cow), all the burgers are chicken or veggie burgers and the Big Mac is the Chicken Maharaja Mac. They even have masala flavored burgers. At some point, we should really break down and try some. But we’ll save that for later. So far the Indian food has been too good to pass up and Nick’s been in vegetarian heaven! With no cow products on the menu and restaurants serving 90%!v(MISSING)egetarian food anyway, he has his pick of great tastes and the Indian food has been delicious! Crack rice and endless baskets of naan are fabulous! I’ve decided that I will try a new Indian dish everyday, even if I don’t really know what it is. Since they’re mostly vegetables, what could go wrong, right? Fortunately, all most all the mystery dishes I’ve tried have been really good – so it’s a fun game!

Out of Delhi and on our way to Jodhpur, we got a taste of the downside to Indian train travel. We were waitlisted to get on the train and, fortunately, there were enough cancellations that we got a seat. A seat. One seat. For two people. I was pissed. How the hell am I supposed to be comfortable on an overnight train with a giant 6’4” person trying to share a foldout bed with me?! Frankly, I’m not. So while Mr. Giant Legs decided to make himself comfortable and lay down, inevitably pushing me out of the cramped seat, I walked around to find an empty birth. [Nick Note: Reminds me of a time I had to share a double bed with my bro, William, when traveling. He pushed me out of the bed and when I got up and looks up Will was a spread out as possible, like he was in the middle of a jumping jack.] I laid down to get some sleep and each time the attendant came by with a disgruntled passenger (whose seat I assume I took), I feigned sleep and was able to stay there for the remainder of the train ride. Stupid waitlisted ticketing system. Fortunately, we don’t have anymore waitlists to deal with, so Nick I shouldn’t have to try and share a seat again – thank diety!

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Photos

Nick & Cat's Knee on the Train
That's how uncomfortably close we were sitting!

Comments

[Kathy]

Nick fat?
So does eating all that food mean Nick is getting fat? It cannot be!!