I think i am terriblyjinxed with trains... But how i love the train journeys themselves. The multicoloured landscape rolliing past you. Differnt shades at differnet times of the year... And you get to meet wide variety of people co-travelling with you. Some grumpy, some their noses deeply burried in their own business, some looking for the slightest reason to get cranky like a year-old who is teething,some over friendly-making you yearn for some quiet time, but a few others who respect your space but at the same time is friendly enough for those few hours span.....
In mid-2009 i had to travel home coz chech and the girls were home and i just couldnt miss being here when the girls were ripping the house apart :-). So got into a train in general compartament (!!!!!!) confident that i will be home early morn and can cathc some sleep before the kids are up... Only if i knew that, i plan in great detail, only to be a victim of the exact reverse .. The co-passengers were a nightmare. Quarelling with each other for God-knows what. And people were literally pushing me to get space on the rack i was perched upon... I composed myself saying that i would be home soon...well, in the middle of the night the train stopped somewhere... And it remained put.. It was rainign heavily which saved us from the terrible heat that would build up when a few hundred human bodies are packed like sardines. THe train didnt move an inch. By early morning we heard that there is a land slide at few kilometers from where we were stuck and it would take hous for the trains to start moving...I couldnt afford to waste time waiting on a train, when all i wanted is to play silly with the girls.. SO i stepped out from the familiarity of the train,into pouring rain and marched out of a tiny station which housed as much as a staion-masters office. Managed to manouver my way into the nearest town after changing two local buses. The town was steaming with people from various trains that were stranded in the nearby places, having the very smae brain-wave as mine. To cut a long story short, i managed to board a bus for the 4 hour journey home. And all was well, when a very tired, ragged aunt walked into the house to the glee of 2 surprised yet, happily grinning nieces and to the wondering-look of the tiny one... Though i dont want to remember or mention the details of that highly disturbing and tiring bus journy
But todays journey was most disturbing. An uncle had passed away and in the name of a dumb "project issue" my boss in Netherlands wanted me to send condolances and stay back at office.. Yeah, dream on!!!!!!!... And i walked out of office,blowing his protest in the air,fully assured that now i have G to fall back on,even if they chuck me out !!!!!! Got into train, happy that i will be home in the wee hours of mornign. But when the train chugged into a station which is about 6hours away from the station i was supposed to get down, at the scheduled arrival time; i sensed things were BAD.. This time it was a goods train which was derailed that made my day a nightmare... Though initially a bugging,over-interfering guy tried to befirend me, i was lucky to get the company of a very nice lady. She made my day with small talks and a happy time.WE were drenched in the summer sun for a whole day and the horrible experience ofthe yester-years bus journey after the train being stuck, made me sink deep into the seats ignoring the sun... And 24 hours after i started i reached home, also with a 14 hour delay from the scheduled arrival...But i was lucky enough to bid the beloved uncle goodbye. Aunt MA was not so lucky.. SHe was stuck at some place even farther from home and had to finally take a taxi to get home before the next day's train she has to catch back home..
In mid-2009 i had to travel home coz chech and the girls were home and i just couldnt miss being here when the girls were ripping the house apart :-). So got into a train in general compartament (!!!!!!) confident that i will be home early morn and can cathc some sleep before the kids are up... Only if i knew that, i plan in great detail, only to be a victim of the exact reverse .. The co-passengers were a nightmare. Quarelling with each other for God-knows what. And people were literally pushing me to get space on the rack i was perched upon... I composed myself saying that i would be home soon...well, in the middle of the night the train stopped somewhere... And it remained put.. It was rainign heavily which saved us from the terrible heat that would build up when a few hundred human bodies are packed like sardines. THe train didnt move an inch. By early morning we heard that there is a land slide at few kilometers from where we were stuck and it would take hous for the trains to start moving...I couldnt afford to waste time waiting on a train, when all i wanted is to play silly with the girls.. SO i stepped out from the familiarity of the train,into pouring rain and marched out of a tiny station which housed as much as a staion-masters office. Managed to manouver my way into the nearest town after changing two local buses. The town was steaming with people from various trains that were stranded in the nearby places, having the very smae brain-wave as mine. To cut a long story short, i managed to board a bus for the 4 hour journey home. And all was well, when a very tired, ragged aunt walked into the house to the glee of 2 surprised yet, happily grinning nieces and to the wondering-look of the tiny one... Though i dont want to remember or mention the details of that highly disturbing and tiring bus journy
But todays journey was most disturbing. An uncle had passed away and in the name of a dumb "project issue" my boss in Netherlands wanted me to send condolances and stay back at office.. Yeah, dream on!!!!!!!... And i walked out of office,blowing his protest in the air,fully assured that now i have G to fall back on,even if they chuck me out !!!!!! Got into train, happy that i will be home in the wee hours of mornign. But when the train chugged into a station which is about 6hours away from the station i was supposed to get down, at the scheduled arrival time; i sensed things were BAD.. This time it was a goods train which was derailed that made my day a nightmare... Though initially a bugging,over-interfering guy tried to befirend me, i was lucky to get the company of a very nice lady. She made my day with small talks and a happy time.WE were drenched in the summer sun for a whole day and the horrible experience ofthe yester-years bus journey after the train being stuck, made me sink deep into the seats ignoring the sun... And 24 hours after i started i reached home, also with a 14 hour delay from the scheduled arrival...But i was lucky enough to bid the beloved uncle goodbye. Aunt MA was not so lucky.. SHe was stuck at some place even farther from home and had to finally take a taxi to get home before the next day's train she has to catch back home..
Leaving with the pics of the happy time i came to after train-chucking and bus hopping last year....
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