I have never experienced so many modes of transport in such a short period of time. For the first nine days we travelled by coach. This took us around Delhi and then to Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur and back to Delhi. I was constantly amazed at the way the driver was able to guide it through the astonishing Indian traffic narrowly missing pedestrians, cycles, bicycle rickshaws, motorbikes (some with women in Saris perched side-saddle on the back cradling babies!), lorries, tuk-tuks (3 wheeled taxis), ox carts, camels, elephants (yes, elephants) – think of a mode of transport and you’ll find it somewhere on the roads of India. During that first part of the tour we were also given the opportunity to ride up to the Amber Fort on an elephant (very enjoyable) and around the streets of Jaipur on a cycle rickshaw (very scary).
To travel from Delhi to Amritsar we took the train. We arrived at the station at about half-past six in the morning. It was total chaos. Vehicles jammed every which way in the car park, all trying to disgorge passengers and luggage. Eventually our cases were loaded on to a trolley five high and two porters staggered off towards the station. The train journey itself was quite pleasant. First of all we were given a newspaper and a bottle of water each, followed by coffee and biscuits, then later a breakfast of vegetable chops and tomato ketchup. The seats were reasonably comfortable and we were able to watch the Indian plain roll by.
When we arrived in Amritsar the same palaver occurred with the cases but this time the porters appeared to be eighty-year old Sikhs. I think this is a career waiting for me in about ten years time.
From now on we travelled by car, four passengers in each. I’d thought that the coach driving was a little scary but travelling by car is terrifying at times. All drivers seem to assume that if they blow their horn it immediately makes it safe to overtake – and this includes blind bends!
Somehow we all arrived in Shimla unscathed but at times it was a close thing!
Only the toy train, a jeep ride and the Shatabdi Express are left. I wait with bated breath!
2 comments:
Keith, I would agree with you that you would make an excellent porter at Delhi or Amritsar railway station. Just in case you fail to find an opening in that field I would like to suggest a number of alternative careers that I am sure you would manage just as well:
1 Honorary Treasurer, Sheffield Wednesday FC Supporters Club (there probably should be an apostrophe in there somewhere).
2 Volunteer adviser for people who have one leg two inches shorter than the other.
3 Volunteer consultant on correct punctuation.
4 Writer of pamphlets explaining to atheists occasional positive features of world religions.
5 Lollipop man near local primary school.
Stephen
Thanks for the suggestions Stephen. I must admit that I'm at a loss about what alternative careers to suggest for a retired clinical psychologist with an obsession for lost villages. I haven't really got beyond suggesting you as number 3,000,005 on the Hindu god list. However, I'm sure that after you've been to see Dylan you'll be devoting your energies to catching up on all the wonderful songs you've missed out on by not being a devoted fan for the past forty years.
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