From Bhopal, via Delhi, to Chandigarh

My translator Sanjay’s principles for living are (among others) “make people laugh, at any cost”, “good people get good people”, and “do not say goodbye”. So we didn’t, but had a quick dinner, then made our way to the train station on his bike, only stopping for Sanjay to give his bag with leftover delicious food to a man sleeping on the sidewalk. You should see me on these bike rides we’ve had the last two weeks, in the crazy Bhopal traffic! (Well, mom and dad shouldn’t see – they would have a heart attack). Me, completely lacking nerves, have been enjoying them like roller coaster rides, only now and then with screams and shrieks of fear.

So we put me on the late night train, and I got the bunk that’s the top of three, almost in the ceiling, where you can’t even sit up straight, but have to lay down for 11 hours on your way to Delhi. Started out reading my book on interpreting dreams, but traveling Indians enjoy their good night’s sleep, and shut off all the lights at 22.30. Being blessed with unbelievable ability to sleep, and after listening to Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman, Enya, U2 and the Shins until my Ipod died, I crashed like a baby and didn’t wake up until we were about to reach the capital at 8 in the morning.

Delhi, it’s tourist touts and rickshaw drivers can be a shock when coming from anywhere else. Left my luggage at the station, walked over to Connaught Place and was half dead from heat and hazzling when at last I nearly stormed into Mc Donald’s, desperate for a free space. And there I was, having breakfast at Mc Donald’s, laughing at myself! The day improved as I bumped into someone I met on my last visit to the capital, then spent the midday chilling in some gardens and having lunch.

My 5 hour ride from Delhi to Chandigarh went by like nothing, sitting with a Sikh 18 year old guy who was doing his very first journey alone, visiting relatives. Lots of fascinating discussions! This guy was entitled “Master of Disaster” in high school, and is now staying off meat for a year, hoping it’ll bring him luck for getting accepted to engineer studies.

Staying in a sweet hotel, no AC, but a huge room, and the water in the shower actually comes out ABOVE your head. Had dinner in the restaurant, that is a toast plus cucumber and onions (which I usually don’t eat but now do for vitamin purposes), and ended up being the only guest left, having some fun watching the humble waiters, waiting for me to finish up.

Tomorrow is a new day, excited to see what the temperature will be here in Chandigarh, if I find it to still be too warm, I might just escape closer to the mountains some time tomorrow! Though very interested in this city, lot’s of great pics to be taken, I believe. Stay happy!

Oh, yes, the malaria medicine has this intriguing side effect: it gives you really intense dreams! Almost didn’t believe it when Sarah the US doctor told me, but after taking my second dose, it’s kicking in. My book on dreams purchased on Dalai Lama road in Mc Leod Ganj is coming in handy=)