Not quite the Orient Express
Left Kalimpong yesterday morning and headed for the overnight sleeper train to Kolkata. From the moment I arrived at the station i knew it was going to be an interesting journey.
The train was huge, must have been around 30 carriages. I think we were travelling first class, although difficult to tell.
As we settled down into our bunks (of which each carriage had many) there was a constant stream of beggers, hawkers and even transvestite prostitutes offering services in the privacy of our bunks!
Cockroaches ran along the carriage and up and down the walls; didnt make for a healthy sleeping environment.
Didnt get much sleep during the 12 hour journey; there was constant activity in the carriage. At one point the train had to be stopped as one of my fellow cyclists thought he was having a heart attack. A doctor was rushed to the meet the train and was able to diagnose indigestion.
After what seemed like a never ending journey, we pulled into Kolkata at around 6am and were transferred to yet another dump they call a hotel for our final night in India.
February 28, 2010 at 7:32 am
Richard,
This is the most hilarious piece of writing I’ve read for awhile!!!!! Thx!
Jon and I are in Kolkata until we depart 2/3; hotel ain’t bad – has a pool we are lounging by and a TV that works – and a bar that sells draught Kingfisher! Shame no tranny hookers about!!!!! ha ha ha….glad you both got back ok.
Ken