We decided to visit Ladakh, in the western himalayas (north-western India, in between Kashmir and Nepal). This means going back to fly from Delhi, and despite our previous experience, we opted to get the train back, this time the slightly quicker (21 hour) Rajdhani express.
It could not be more different than before. Despite being in the same class (2AC) we actually have some privacy and a big window through which to enjoy fantastic glimpses of rural india as it goes by. From women riding exhausted-looking bicycles on dirt paths, to children playing in lakes, villages of straw houses, strange men just staring into space, and all manner of dogs/cows/goats just milling about. Even if populations are skewed towards the railway lines, the number of people scattered far from the cities, across the fields and byways is astonishing.
Speaking of astonishment, imagine our surprise to find that rather than just a squat-hole directly onto the track, this train actually has a western style toilet, with toilet paper. King of the castle!
Addendum:
Turns out the train was not perfect after all, 3 hours late getting into Delhi and that toilet roll didn't last long! Also some dude thought 5:50am was a perfectly reasonable time to start playing his music for everyone. 46 degrees in Delhi today, pretty unpleasant but we are getting out tomorrow again!
It could not be more different than before. Despite being in the same class (2AC) we actually have some privacy and a big window through which to enjoy fantastic glimpses of rural india as it goes by. From women riding exhausted-looking bicycles on dirt paths, to children playing in lakes, villages of straw houses, strange men just staring into space, and all manner of dogs/cows/goats just milling about. Even if populations are skewed towards the railway lines, the number of people scattered far from the cities, across the fields and byways is astonishing.
Speaking of astonishment, imagine our surprise to find that rather than just a squat-hole directly onto the track, this train actually has a western style toilet, with toilet paper. King of the castle!
Addendum:
Turns out the train was not perfect after all, 3 hours late getting into Delhi and that toilet roll didn't last long! Also some dude thought 5:50am was a perfectly reasonable time to start playing his music for everyone. 46 degrees in Delhi today, pretty unpleasant but we are getting out tomorrow again!
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