Dec 1 2013, Jodhpur express 3AC
compartment. We were searching our wallets and backpacks for some left out
money and managed to get a ten rupee note and 20 bucks worth of coins. Next
Station arrived, and two of us got down with the 30 bucks and headed towards a
snack counter and ordered few vadas. #Tip1 do not hesitate to use coins even if
you have to use only coins ;-) We were staring at the vadas the shopkeeper
picked. We both wanted him to pick the bigger ones though they were oily #Tip2
when a vada is all that you can have for a day, be wise to pick the big and
oily one:-P Finally we got our vadas and moved towards the train. At
that time we were not aware that we were being noticed. We got back and had the
vadas and filled the hungry tummies. Last proper meal we had was around 18
hours ago in Dandeli. We were so much into having fun that we did not have
enough time to have food. #Tip3 Eating is part of travelling J do not skip that.
So why were we sitting there with
no money, forced to eat just a vada? Because we were a bunch of idiots.
#tip4 you may be a stupid, but make sure at least one of your friends is not!
;-) So after spending 4 good days of rambling and gambling in and
around Goa and Dandeli, 5th day we decided to go for some water
sports in Dandeli and then head towards Hubli to catch our train @ 2pm on Dec 1
2013. So after having some good amount of off-road adventures in Dandeli, we
started our journey in a Jeep without knowing we were going to have some on-road
adventures as well. Yeah we were already late for the train and the driver had
to do lots of stunts and finally we reached the station at 1 50 pm. We got into
the train and were shocked to see our seats already taken. #Tip5 be prepared for surprises so we started arguing with the people in our
seats showing the ticket in our mobile. Just then I realized that our tickets
were booked for Jan 1 and not Dec 1 and the train started to move already. We hurried
ourselves out of the train and then sat in the platform thinking what to do next.
So we decided to talk to the TTEs
of other trains to get seats. After few failed attempts in few trains, we
managed to get 4 seats in Jodhpur express. #Tip6 you will meet wonderful people in
your journey, and some of them could be greedy TTEs. He gave us the
seats on a deal that he would not give receipts for the tickets but instead
would give a missed call to alert us in case if there was a squad in train.
With no option left out, we signed up for the deal. Just then we realized we
were running out of money to pay the TTE and asked a friend of mine to get money
from the ATM as there was enough time for train’s departure. He got the money
and we paid 2500 bucks to TTE. Train departed and the catering people were selling
food items. We were all very hungry. We asked the guy who came from the ATM to buy
food packets and he gave us this puzzled look .That idiot had withdrawn money
only for the tickets. #Tip7 you may realize all your friends are
stupid as well. And so we were sitting there with still hungry tummies,
trying different ways to sleep.
The train was about to reach the
next station. A man appeared in front of us. We all were able to recognize him.
We had just met him while talking to the TTE. We even exchanged couple of words
with him before getting into the train. But now we were puzzled why he was
there. He told that he had been noticing us from the time we got into the train
and was asking us affectionately why we were not asking for help. And then he
took one of our friends with him and they both returned with 4 food packets and
gave us 500 bucks and insisted to take it saying we could return it once we
reach Bangalore. #Tip8 Look for a Mangalam sir, when you need help:-P
So he introduced himself as
Devraj, working as an electrical engineer in the Indian Army. He had been
travelling in train for almost two days already. We introduced ourselves. He
was happy to know that we were all maintaining our friendship from school days.
He felt bad that he was not able to be in touch with such friends. He also
mentioned that he was going to meet his pregnant wife. It was so inspiring and fascinating
to listen to those small stories from back home and why he chose that career
and all #Tip9 be all ears to people you meet in your travel. Listen to their
stories.
Soon we reached Bangalore. He
introduced us to his big gang of Army people and they advised us to take
General compartment in Lal Bagh express as that would be the fastest way to
reach Chennai. They also suggested we would all get into the train through the
emergency exit even before the train comes to the platform. So Devraj found the
train and we all jumped into the train through the emergency exit and were
sitting inside the train expecting it to start and move towards the platform. #Tip10 Shit happens!! ;-) Suddenly there was an announcement that lal bagh
express was arriving towards so and so platform and we see another train going
towards that platform. Apparently we were sitting in the wrong train after
doing so many stunts. #Tip11 Sometimes even the people you meet on
travel can be stupid ;-)
So now we all were hopping from
train to train and finally entered the right lal bagh express. But all seats
were occupied by the time we got there. #Tip12 Be calm and believe in Mangalam Sir.
Train departed, Devraj started talking to the passengers sitting in the train
and he made sure to get us some space to sit before he got down at the next
station. He even called us all individually and checked if we had reached home
safely.
Now we do not know where he is.
We are not in touch with him nor do we have his contact details. But he added
more value and memories to the entire trip than all the places we saw and all
the fun we had in the previous days. #Tip13 If you don’t want yourself writing
blogs about people you meet or friends you make, stay in touch ;-)
This trip, especially the return
journey brought in a big change in our perspective towards travelling. Travelling
is not just about visiting places, doing adventurous stuffs, having fun with
friends etc. But it is also about the people you meet and the stories you
hear. Travelling is an experience. It does not matter where you go nor with
whom you go, but you need to experience it. There could be few let downs in
your plans. But it all adds up as a good experience. You will learn a lot of
life lessons in that small vacation you spend on travelling than what you learn
throughout the rest of the year. Happy travelling.
