If you gotta go

Having gone to sleep thinking I would never get to sleep. I awoke with a thud literally, as I threw myself off my bunk onto the floor and heard an Indian woman saying “slowly, slowly” as I tried to work out what I was doing on the floor of the carriage. I felt slightly embarrassed as I stumbled back onto my bunk which fortunately was the lower and not the upper one. Decided that as I was awake, I was up, and watched the dawn break. 

By now I had mastered the art of nipping off the train when it stopped at a suitable station, which involved running in the right direction (for this you had to look out for the nearest vendor to where your carriage had stopped) then picking whatever you wanted, then thrusting a note or two at the vendor ( along with twenty other passengers all trying to do the same thing) and then sprinting along the platform to jump back on the train before it sets off, making sure that you jump back on the right coach as you can’t change carriages once it’s moving - its a good job I’m fit that’s all I can say

You may be slightly hindered in leaving the carriage by a tea or coffee waller. These daring young chaps will run alongside carrying an urn full of tea or coffee and then leap on board as the train slows down. They will then move quickly down the carriage shouting ” ‘offee, ‘offee” and dispensing at speed paper cups of an already sugared, already milked coffee or tea. They will then leap off the carriage before the train departs.

Finally after 27 hours the “Chennai Express” trundled into the station. I was met by the usual band of taxi pimps all trying to get me to use their services. OK you will do. How much ? R600 ( €10) sounds a lot. As it turns out it was, but all I wanted was to get to a room with a shower and a bed.

My room was probably the best I’ve had so far with an interesting view which to one side looked over a sort of river with sort of cows grazing, but in the background a flyover and on the left some excavations. I suddenly realised I was hungry and ordered a Fish Tikka expecting the worst - it was excellent - the best so far.

I ventured out for a walk avoiding bikes, trickshaws, carts, buses , oxen and taxis. Sometimes there was a pavement, sometimes it was the road. Nowhere to stop and have a drink. That’s something I’ve noticed in the cities - there aren’t really any cafes to sit in -everything is outside and standing up. And no sign of a restaurant. Looking at a map I realised I was out of town, which doesn’t really exist anyway - I mean there is no recognised town centre or square or park. So in spite of good accommodation the location of the hotel wasn’t too good. I tested the hotel restaurant for the second time and yet again they did a very authentic and tasty kofta. Dilemma - nice room, great food, lousy location.

I’ll sleep on it

Challenged in Chennai

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at 8:53 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.