The morning greeted me but I certainly did not greet her. I spent the last 40 hours on the train trying not to get sick, wiping sweat from my brow, sleeping in 2-day old clothing, and clicking my heels together chanting "there's no place like home, there's no place like home..." Luckily I had a berth of guys all looking out for me and insisting on feeding me bananas, and chai, and rice but the thought just made me want to... well, never mind. It all started Saturday night, I was off to visit an Aunty whom I've never met before. But being sick seemed to foreshadow everything. By sunday night I managed to eat a cucumber filled with salt and masala... that was heaven so I thought for sure I must be cured. So I went for a full meal for the night time... not so good. Occassionaly I sat by the door of the car and watched the landscape go by and catch some fresh air (being on the upper bunk not so much fresh air gets to you). But I could only handle so much scripted conversation in my sickly state. It went much like this:
- Madam, what's your name?
- What country from?
- Are you married?
- Hindi?
And when I would say no that would shake their head in such a way as if to say that's too bad we cannot talk anymore and turn back to the view of the landscape.

I arrived in Bangalore by 2pm Monday. Hot, tired and hungry (that must be a good sign) I went in search of an autorickshaw. There's really no need to search as they're right under your nose, practically grabbing you..."madam, rickshaw?"... "madam, hotel?". I managed to grab one for 20rs (half the price of what the others where charging) but that's because there are no rooms available and so he figured he'd get another bit of rupees from me trying to find a hotel. I should have known, you see the boys in my berth were all heading to Bangalore to write their college entrance exams. Apparently most of the (resonably priced) rooms are taken by boys heading to college!

Aargh. So there I was stuck in Bangalore, trying not to be sick, no room at the Inn, and then it began to rain. The one good thing was that the temperature was quite a bit cooler than the 45 degree celsius in Delhi. But I digress... After walking up and down alley ways and visiting about 10 different hotels I went back to the first who did offer me a room in the 300Rs range... I took it! It's not much different from what I normally get but it did have towels and soap (that's a bonus!). And this morning, to my wonderful surprise, I had a HOT bucket shower. I forgot the joys of a warm shower. I just sat there splashing water all over me.

I almost forgot my reason for being here in the South. Aunty. I had called her last night and found out that there is no access to where she lives right now. Something about trenches and flooding... so she advised me to move on and so I am. Being sick doesn't make me want to stay where I am so I'm off in a couple of hours to Panaji, Goa. This time it is only a 15hours bus ride. Hopefully I can handle that. Though I still get the odd queesy feeling. And I've decided that I don't like dosas... they seem to add to the ol' queesy feeling.