Then, our bad luck looms...
First, we realised the platform to board our train has been changed. Argh!! Have to carry all our bags to the next platform.
Second, it was 1 hour late.
The consolation. More photos from the platform. haa haa
We have to keep checking with the local that we are indeed at the correct platform and the train we are waiting for is going to Varanasi. We saw some caucasian and confirmed that they are going to Varanasi too..
In fact, our train are 1.5 hour late.. Nevermind... on we board the train.
We settled quickly but we soon found that the non-aircon sleeper is much dirtier. Well, only 3 hours of ride.. Not going to kill us.
We realised that the train stopped a lot along the way. After the train has travelled for 3 hrs+, I can't stop asking:
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
Haa haa.. hope I didn't drive them crazy with this.
We have a long stop at an unknown place for quite a while.. I begin to grow impatient.. I know. I know.. Patience is a photographer greatest virtue but I really can't help it..
Checking with a young man, who happened to work for the Indian Railway, show us some light.
One, we took the longer train route from Allahabad to Varanasi. There is infact a shorter route... Why didn't the ticket person told us?
Two, there is some repair on the rail and our train are delayed because it's only a one-track rail.
Even the local grew restless.
A 3 hours fun ride quickly became a 7 hrs hell ride.. L has motion sickness, R was hungry, Z seem rather cool about it while I curse the low batt of my PSP..
Hawkers board the train at different place to sell stuff.. Tea, samosa, tibits, peanuts and so on.
It is on this trains that I tried the roast nut and R tried the sliced carrot in some sauce.
When we reached Varanasi, it's already 6pm+. We are further delayed while waiting to move into the station. There is some pungent smell coming from the area and we have no where to escape, trapped in the train. Later, we found that there is a diesel plant in that area.. Think Z and L become sick after breathing in too much of this.
Varanasi has a good tourist office but much smaller than the one in Delhi. We immediately booked our train ticket to Agra but, more bad luck, there is only places in non-aircon sleeper class. We had no choice.
The "make-shift" tourist table in the station is quite helpful. Telling us the "correct" fare to pay for rickshaw to the main ghats of Varanasi. As usual, we bargain a while before we got the "correct" fare to ride on the rickshaw.
When we reached the hotel (the 1st hotel that we wanted was fully booked!, how unlucky can u get?), we can't do much but to have our dinner. L was so sick that she has to stay in the hotel.
3 of us guy pigged out at a nearby resturant chalking up Sing$30+ (which is a lot by the standard there).
We are not heartless. We tabao "Singaporean" fried rice for L and it was packed with those red plastic bag, they dun have those plastic container that we are so used too .. Poor L.
First, we realised the platform to board our train has been changed. Argh!! Have to carry all our bags to the next platform.
Second, it was 1 hour late.
The consolation. More photos from the platform. haa haa
We have to keep checking with the local that we are indeed at the correct platform and the train we are waiting for is going to Varanasi. We saw some caucasian and confirmed that they are going to Varanasi too..
In fact, our train are 1.5 hour late.. Nevermind... on we board the train.
We settled quickly but we soon found that the non-aircon sleeper is much dirtier. Well, only 3 hours of ride.. Not going to kill us.
We realised that the train stopped a lot along the way. After the train has travelled for 3 hrs+, I can't stop asking:
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
"Are we there yet?"
Haa haa.. hope I didn't drive them crazy with this.
We have a long stop at an unknown place for quite a while.. I begin to grow impatient.. I know. I know.. Patience is a photographer greatest virtue but I really can't help it..
Checking with a young man, who happened to work for the Indian Railway, show us some light.
One, we took the longer train route from Allahabad to Varanasi. There is infact a shorter route... Why didn't the ticket person told us?
Two, there is some repair on the rail and our train are delayed because it's only a one-track rail.
Even the local grew restless.
A 3 hours fun ride quickly became a 7 hrs hell ride.. L has motion sickness, R was hungry, Z seem rather cool about it while I curse the low batt of my PSP..
Hawkers board the train at different place to sell stuff.. Tea, samosa, tibits, peanuts and so on.
It is on this trains that I tried the roast nut and R tried the sliced carrot in some sauce.
When we reached Varanasi, it's already 6pm+. We are further delayed while waiting to move into the station. There is some pungent smell coming from the area and we have no where to escape, trapped in the train. Later, we found that there is a diesel plant in that area.. Think Z and L become sick after breathing in too much of this.
Varanasi has a good tourist office but much smaller than the one in Delhi. We immediately booked our train ticket to Agra but, more bad luck, there is only places in non-aircon sleeper class. We had no choice.
The "make-shift" tourist table in the station is quite helpful. Telling us the "correct" fare to pay for rickshaw to the main ghats of Varanasi. As usual, we bargain a while before we got the "correct" fare to ride on the rickshaw.
When we reached the hotel (the 1st hotel that we wanted was fully booked!, how unlucky can u get?), we can't do much but to have our dinner. L was so sick that she has to stay in the hotel.
3 of us guy pigged out at a nearby resturant chalking up Sing$30+ (which is a lot by the standard there).
We are not heartless. We tabao "Singaporean" fried rice for L and it was packed with those red plastic bag, they dun have those plastic container that we are so used too .. Poor L.
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