Finished work at 4.15, showered, kissed Marie goodbye at the station, and got on the train. The walk from Wolli Creek was actually very nice and too easy. Got on the flight after walking very slowly passed the $50 a litre Aus gin. Entertainment screens were busted, a guff thing as I slept a lot more.
Travelling solo is great. Meet one fellow on the sky bridge, then chatted to the guy seated next to me. He is a Sydney and a cement truck driver. He gets paid a lot and hasd a few at the airport bar. I felt obliged to have one. Dinner was a huge shot of whiskey and a packet of crunchy corn. I think the alco lady is trying to make people forget that the scene aren't working. Cattle class is a bit run down. Hallelujah there's food! Breakfast was 4 hours later, then 4 hours more sleep, more food.
Landed, customs lady was barely verbal, panicked at the baggage carousel, finally hit out then furiously tired to make an earlier train. QR code did bit work. I got the wrong station, paid more, but given another ticket going backwards to the selected start. Just as the train going the wrong way left, I thought I should have gone the out and back in again, to make it legit, but the next one was a mind looking 17 mins so chanced it to Delhi. Of course the QR code wouldn't work on the correct destination, but they kindly have me another ticket that cost the balance of the trip.
Getting out at the stain was a rude shock. Heaps of people, care rolling over the path honking as they exit the car park.
Waited for a while, asked the info man if there was an earlier one, the info man in the other building said no seats available.
After waiting 3 hours on the wrong platform, the train came onto the screen, so could go to the right one. Found a seat but it's thick metal. Eventually it warms up. A blind man who appears to have burned his face comes round along for money. I hands him a ten. Then he takes a step closer and again asks me for money. I can't explain that I gave him some. Then had to walk off.
After lapping the platform, I saw someone with a printed QR ticket. Mine had no QR, no seat number. I had the sinking feeling that my ticket was not confirmed. Also the platform is 200m long and i had no idea where to stand to get the correct carriage. I started thinking about back up plans like attempting to find a bus, going to the airport to get wifi. An employee helps but it takes a customer to look up my seat number. Crazily I have no internet. My co passenger is very friendly, a helicopter pilot with the Indian armed forces. He mainly patrols the Himalayas. Their choppers go up to 7000m.
On train, the views are amazing as we go through the outskirts of Delhi. Ac boasts the cabin with super cold air.
An thinking hard about how to handle the squat toilet. Pants right down or stop at the knees? Chandigarh next stop! I ask my friend his name. It's Lieutenant Colonel something. Obviously a very successful guy.
On the platform I don't know where to go, go with the flow, can see where the Tuk Tuks are, and then we're in.
These things are awesome. The view is unhindered, you feel every bump. You could easily shake hands with the adjacent petiole in the traffic.
The hotel is top class. My bike is here, a huge relief. 2 guys bring it up, so i to them both. I'm missing a nut, which means i can't go anywhere. A sure was walk and the local bike shop hero give me one for free. I love the place. Walking after dark feels safe. There's aMerc, Audi, and Porsche dealers on the same street. Odd country. Dinner here was perfect, potato cauliflower nut lumps in gravy with about 5 naans.
