So we are in the train station. And we’re exhausted. Fully fatigued from the day’s journey. But we need food for the next day’s trip because we were told that the food on the train is sometimes contaminated or intentionally drugged. Father told a story of a whole bogey being drugged from the chai vendor who put sleeping pills in his chai. Great. So we decided to bring our own food to dissolve this potential problem. So we bought 2 of about everything in the case at the sandwich shop at the station. I felt like I was in Harry Potter, trying one of everything out of sheer curiosity. Like most of the time we are in public, someone came up to us and did the hand-to-mouth please feed me motion. This is a very common occurrence and never before have we wavered in keeping our food to ourselves. But it was time. Time for my good Samaritan act. I bought the lady a veg puff pastry. She scurried off without a thank you, but looked at me once, very confused. I felt good about it.
So we got around 5 or so pieces of food each, chicken internet, chicken puff, mutton flake, veg sandwich. They all looked fried and flakey. W.e beats dying. So we sit down on a curb and these Indians kept staring at us, coming over to us. Mary Ellen was obviously becoming uncomfortable. I assured her we were ok and kept shooing the people away. Finally, the guy got in my face. And as patient as I am, this crossed my line. So I stood up, squared my shoulders and told him in Hindi we don’t need help. We can carry our own bag. I was obviously not happy with him. His buddy start laughing and pulled him away from us. It could have turned ugly. I don’t like to be told what to do, I don’t like to be bothered repetitively. IF you push to hard, there is an issue, and I don’t mind a good fight now and then… I always carry a knife; it gives me an extra sense of security, even thou I doubt it will ever be used on anything but a mango. Still. Its always on my hip.
We board the train. Get situated. Its 12:05 am and the train is full. Luckily it was only a 2 tier, but I still got the top bunk. I locked up my luggage and made up my bed. We ate one more sandwich and hunkered down for the long night ahead of us.
I woke around 7 and was cramping hard, sheets off my bed. I went to the bathroom, luckily the floor had not yet been covered in human bi-products. I returned to bed, but couldn’t sleep so I just thought. India has been the best trip I have ever been on. Last summer’s was beautiful in its own way, but this, this trip has been rewarding in so many ways.
People started rising around 830 or so. I tried the chai. Very good. Only 5 rs. Ate another sandwich, 2 left. Really didn’t do much. Read a paper I bought the night before. More bombings in Mumbai. Its hard to understand, but very easy to believe how these thing occur. The safety isn’t the greatest in all these areas. Its impossible to secure every inch of India. If something bad is designed to happen, it very well may happen. I always pray I am not near these troubling events.
Another family on the train, a bunk past ours, bought every food item that went past. So vendors walk up and down the train selling water and snacks, chai and veggies. The pantry workers came and took lunch orders, but we passed because we didn’t trust it… The day progressed we slept, relaxed, used the bathroom. Average India stuff. I managed to use a hole in the floor toilet without falling backwards and getting stuck. That was a huge accomplishment on a moving, rocking, shaking train! I found how to open the train door while its moving. I kinda hung out it while taking pictures. I got some neat shots, and the fresh air was well needed. They asked if we wanted dinner, and I said screw it… sure. So I ordered veg something or another. He asked if I wanted 2 of something. Sounded like bread so I said sure. So he took my order. An hour or later he comes back with 2 full trays of food. Ahhh shit. Oopps I dint want this much food. Mary Ellen is laughing. Im confused. The family next to me looked at me like I had 3 eyes. Well, I guess I ordered 2 plates so I started eating… I was full after about half. So I gave it to Mary Ellen she ate a little bit. I hate wasting food. So we finished it. It was sooo good. And only like 100Rs total I was stoked I tried train food. The day ended with sleep. My computer was dead. No internet. The phones dead, can’t find the charger. Let’s hope we don’t get lost…
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