A Train ride to Varanasi

Day 131 -- 26th Mar 2009 -- Kushinagar to Gorakpur to Varanasi

Kushinigar is a small town and I only came to pay my respects to Buddha, so I only stay one night and moved on the next morning.
Stopped the bus to Gorakpur along the high way and made my way to the railway station. Couldn't make up my mind whether to bus down or train down to Varanasi at first, but decided that if not now to start the tain journey, then when?

So I wandered into the train station, found the tourist window and told them I want a train ticket to Varanasi. The lady told me there are two trains, one leaves at 2 and reach Varanasi at 9.30pm, another one leaves at 4.30pm but will reach Varanasi at 9.30pm too. I decided to take the cheaper aka slower train since 2 hours doesnt make much of a difference if I'm going to arrive at the same time. Ticket price was 33 INR for a 2nd class unreserved seat, too cheap too be true. Little did I know what I've got myself into.

I got on the train at 12, found myself a decent seat and waited paitently. This was to be my first encounter with the Indian rail and i was looking forward to it. Since I was very much early, the carriage was prety much empty, I did a quick scan around and admit I didn't really like what I see. The chairs were dusty and in desperate need of a major 大掃除,but c'mon, I've seen much worst in China

The train got off to a slow start after a very long wait and that got me worrying. Thank god it sped up soon enough and I relaxed in my big wooden uncushioned seat.

We whizzed past countryside of golden wheat fields. The golden sort of shimmers into my eyes as I try greedily to take in everything, from the sari- clad women busy with daily chores to the naked little boys playing by the rivers to the occasional rickshaw trying to compete. The guy opposite treated me to cucumber which was refreshing. The locals stare good- naturedly and I basked secretly in the attention.

And the train kept going steadily. At every stop, vendors would hop on the train and with their food which are very Indian, a stark contrast from China, where you always see people going to and forth with their tea and maggi mee.

The first train passed by us and I saw it! Scenes you would normally see in movies portraying India, men hanging out from the doors, faces poking out of the windows. I felt a sense of adrenalin rush, for this is the India I had imagined, pulsating with life.

2 hrs later, I have decided to conclude that the Indian train is better than the Chinese one. When....
the train arrived at a who-know-what station, and OMG! the influx of people squeezing up the carriage, I thought I would faint for a second!!

Quickly, all available seats or space were taken up and filled by people. I watched in fascination at the transformation of a quiet carriage to a noisy boisterous one. A rough hand grip mine, jerking me out of the daydream amd plomb! an elderly twice my seat force herself on my seat, tactful, I mused.

Arriving Varanasi at the touch of midnight and 4 hours behind schedule, I was all weary eye as I tugged my luggage out of the station to much exhaustion. Then I heard a greeting "Namaste! Welcome to Varansi, the land of Lord Shiva. do you have a hotel ma'am?"
Aha, the touts, I thougght as I braced m,yself for the bargain war that is about to erupt.