Thursday, March 31

Thursday, March 31

We have departed Thrissur to Mumbai by way of a 22 1/2 hour overnight train ride. We are currently on board and into hour number one. We are in an air conditioned sleeper car and will not get kicked out because our names were posted on a dot matrix printer list at the entry door. We have five sleeper bunks, numbers 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15. They've already passed out our two sheets, blanket, and pillow. I've already put on my PJ bottoms so I'm set. I told Heather that I have actually looked forward to this train ride even before I left for the trip. Let's see how I feel in 21 1/2 hours.

The time leading up to bed was pretty much just sitting talking, the girls reading tarot cards, I was plugged in to my iPod and generally eating non-stop. Heather and I went to a local market and picked up bananas, oranges, almonds, pistachios, mangoes, and an assortment of biscuits and sweets so we had plenty to eat.

Well we've made it through the overnight part of the train ride. We were awoken by "chai chaiee, chai chaiee" followed by "coffee coffee coffee". It's around 7am and Shauna and I are up, Heather, Genny, and Yurie are still sleeping. I feel like I was awake off and on all night but feel rested and alert. The rocking and swaying of the train at times felt like someone was pushing me trying to wake me up. The second coffee walla passed by and I ordered two cups. The coffee and chai are served in small paper cups and is served very hot. Both come pre-mixed with milk and sugar (lots of sugar). Delicious.

Breakfast has just been delivered. I'm having a bread omelet which as it sounds is an omelet between two slices of plain white bread. I also ordered a masala dosa which consists of a filling of potatoes and spices wrapped in a round tortilla-like bread, kind of like a burrito.

I guess I should say something about the toilets on the train. There are two for each train car. There is a squat over type which have pedestals shaped like shoe soles so you position yourself correctly for the eight inch hole that empties directly onto the train tracks below. And there is also a Western style that also empties directly on the tracks below. They didn't smell like roses but they served us well.

Our cabin was swept and mopped once, swept again, and the trash was collected twice. The toilets were cleaned at least twice. Overall the overnight train ride was actually very enjoyable. Clean conditions, good food, plenty of chai and coffee, and once the lights went out the railway car we were in was pretty quiet. I have no complaints.

We're back in Mumbai at the Welcome Hotel. I hear it is close to where the final between India and Sri Lanka will be held for the World Cricket Cup starting tomorrow at 2:30 pm. It's like the Super Bowl, but 1 billion Indians will be watching this event. We're going to be picked up at 8 am for our visit to the Dharavi slum. My guess is that traffic here tomorrow will be a nightmare. I'll let you know. Also I have wifi in my room so there will not be a repeat of earlier this week of going to an internet and be told they have wifi only to show the next and be told they don't have wifi. Oh that Mother India.