catching the train south.......november 18...in the afternoon...

after the ceremony...said our goodbyes at the internet cafe ....... into a rickshaw...destination...the station.....funny feeeling we really felt sad to leave...we had made good friends........waited at the station for ages.......rain....rain.....finally the train arrived on time as they do in india....where are our seats...non of the rail staff seemed to know...however we helped by a fellow traveller....we bumped and banged our way in the train....through various carriages....the kitchen area...great smells....finally our bunks....stowed the bags and within minutes the samosa wallah was there....fantastic food....5 rs....followed by the tea wallah.....followed by the pakora wallah.........sat back and enjoyed the view and read my jackdaw magazine....this is the longest train that i have ever been on ...we walked almost the full length of it looking for our seats.....whenever the train stops men get out and stand by the side of the track stretching their legs...the engine toots and they get back on board as the train moves away gathering speed rapidly........i spent a lot of time standing at the end of the carriage with door wide open enjoying the wind hitting my face....i chatted happily with other travellers................3 more stops to go........2 more stops to go........the train slows....we get the bags ready....the train stops......so i hang out off the open door ..the station is a few hundred yards away....a fellow passenger suggests we get out and walk along the track....luckily someone advises not to.....very sensible as it turned out ....it wasnt our station.......a false alarm.....we continued for a further 45 miles.....at last we are there.....bags out....hustle and bustle....negotiate a rickshaw and off to the ashby hotel, which proved to be quite elusive....finally we find it and sign in...more forms......a lovely old lady showed us our room.....the proprietor asked if we had eaten.....no......he advised us to go next door....a simple street cafe, which turned out to be owned by the hotel....dosa served on a palm leaf....all the food was cooked in the street, and very tasty it was.....the signing in and eating all seemed to happen in 10 minutes....we took a quick walk to spy the lie of the land....bought three cakes...eat them....bed....an amazing day...a puja...a train ride.....another part of the adventure unfurls........