My support team in Sydney told me that I'm on! Thank you Saurabh. My website view stayed on 4th on the list. Who knows.
This is a massive relief. I was planning on going to the bus stop to ask around if they could pack a bike.
Train is the answer to how I do the next 650km ( edit: 714, or another 300 on the train). This way I get there overnight.
Today I'm going to cycle in circles around the city until 2pm to celebrate!!!!
I had a fairly good wash. The diverter does not budge to the shower, so the only option is the bucket and scoop via the lower tap. If you fill it with hot, use 1 or two scoops, then soap up, then slowly pour the rest, it works OK. Don't get undressed until the bucket is full with hot water. Otherwise you'll freeze.
Breakfast was a bit late. Rice like a bryani, potato mix but like a dahl and the bread was puri. I really like puri now, and the other two were delish as well. Got a lassifrom across the street. This lassi is correct, v good.
I biked it through the alleys, down to Gobindgarh Fort
ਗੋਬਿੰਦਗੜ ਕਿਲਾ
This is an impressive regular sized fort, with a massive moat. Some other tourists tried to speak to me in language. I answered in English, unsure too much was understood.
The Magic man did a little show for me, making balls appear under the bronze cups, he was good. He made my 200 disappear and after I gave him that. Smart people should never leave home without smaller change or it will disappear like magic.
The brickwork is intricate and would have taken a lot of work to lay. Interesting that a military thing can be so pretty. A quick lap and I'm out.
Did a pee, checked out of the hotel at midday, did a few laps of the shopping district, moving closer to the station. Tried to check in the bike for Jaipur. The parcel man said show me a ticket to Jaipur. It's only at this time that I realised the ticket is for Jodhpur, an easy error to make? Another giant leap for adventure. Sat and waited at the station. Now I'm on the train to Rajasthan. I'll be there tomorrow. And close (300km) to Jaisalmer. My mistake: I accidentally picked Jodhpur not Jaipur, . Now I'm more aware that these are 2 separate cities.
I've ordered a dinner from a bryani restaurant in Jalandhar. You do this on the train website. Let's see how it goes!
They have power plugs so I can charge my phone, pillow, blankets, a bench to sleep on. Just gotta write junk, and watch the scenery. This is real luxury.
The food is handed to me at my seat in a paper bag. Lucknow Paneer subs bryani, skimmed mint buttermilk and Shahi Tukda were great except I spilled buttermilk and custard on my pants and in my jumper sleeve. Eating train food is a skill yet to be mastered.
I took a pee in the squat toilet, which is another competence which I lack. Hope I didn't get pee on the back of my pants. Seriously how is this done.
I'm speaking with an advocate (lawyer) named Saurabh, lovely guy, who works not far from Jalandhar and Chandigarh in the family steel business. I've seen his wedding and new house move-in-day videos.
He ordered a veg burger from KFC delivered to platform 2, but received chicken, so had to give it away to someone. KFC has 2 separate kitchens for veg and non veg so it's a wonder that this can happen. The ticket must have gone to the wrong one. The main problem is that he still hungry and has to wait 2 more stops for another "restaurant".
Now it's 3am, a phone alarm is chiming. I'm worried the guy will miss his stop. I carefully wandered out, listening, found the man, so him awake, walked away, but the alarm continues. Oh well, I did my bit.
The train is rocking a bit too much for sleeping well. I used the European loo this time. It was surprisingly clean. There was soap in the dispenser, albeit a bit watery.
I'll post more news as it happens.
It's been excellent! I slept well.
30 minutes to go.
Eating the sweets I packed yesterday for breakfast. One ball has disintegrated in transit!
The bike is waiting for me when I get to the parcels office. This had to be the fastest service ever.
Jodhpur is a really beautiful place, tonnes to see. I'm glad I got here.
I was trying to go to the fort, which is hard to miss, but the GPS put me up many dead ends. During an hour I remained 1km away as I walked up then down the hillside alleys.
I got side tracked reading a poster. The lady, Nanda, who runs this place has just arrived. She explained it's for widows. I got a beautiful Mehendi done, while she told me more. So ended up spending all my time there. Lucky I have one more night.
I had a home cooked lunch at a lady's place. The idea is I pay whatever and the lady can make a little income. Her husband hits the booze apparently, spends everything on that, and she doesn't want to beg him/he won't give her any. He is a clean looking drunk, and it's past midday. I've been told to not let him see me pay, to secretly pass the money. Afterwards Nanda says let's go, come with me! And asked, did you see how he was watching us? Seems he is suspicious that she is making money on the side. I give 1000 to Nanda back at her office/shop.
At lunch, there is incense nearby and is making me feel really sick. I don't want to eat now. They offer more food. I say please no, so she gives me more dahl. I'm not sure if I'm going to have to use a pot plant to give back all the food I just ate.
The NGO is right next door. I helped Nanda by adding photos and videos on Google maps, and give a 5 star review. The images are of the handicrafts. In the video, Nanda explained how the NGO works for women.
Check it out:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vYwfz4TB1gezQApKA
I get back home because I'm sick and want to lay down. I feel like puking and really wished it would come. The diarrhoea is coming though, but in small batches.
Last night for dinner I had Ciprofloxacin 750 mg and water. I think I am through the worst of the gastro today but my stomach is sore.
Looking back, I've had rice at 5pm on the train. It came in a paper box.
Then I had 3 sweets, 50mm baked flour/sugar balls, at 8.30am the next day, still on the train. I'd had these in store for 2 days before I ate them.
And home made Sabz lunch at 1pm, same day. I felt quite sick just before then, so I feel the most likely culprit was the sweets, given the timing. I've gotten gastro from bird's nest at a Chinese restaurant and think there was something crunchy like that on one of the balls.
I got back at 3.10pm, and probs started business around 5 through to about 7.30 but there will be more.
No food today!! Thank the lord for an amazing hotel room and the luxury of a bum gun. Today I'm going to watch some movies.
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