Sleep Class Train

This isn't the cheapest class, but it's the Sleep Class, which is a non-air-conditioned sleeper car. Most backpackers choose this option because it's significantly cheaper than the air-conditioned sleeper cars, which cost more than double the price. More importantly, if you want to experience the natural environment, the roadside smells, the chaotic crowds, and the real India without being too overwhelmed, the Sleeper Class is the best option. If you want to experience even more chaos, I recommend the Second Class, which is incredibly chaotic, with both ticketed and non-ticketed passengers vying for seats. It's a passenger car with no aisle, as everyone crowds in and sits or lies down wherever there's space (as shown in Figure 1.1 below).


Figure 1.1 (Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienman/23048522626... ) From Varanasi to Bodh Gaya

My first experience began in Varanasi. The small auto rickshaw I had booked with the hostel was waiting for me at the agreed time. At 2 pm, I left StopHostel for Varanasi Junction railway station (Varanasi JN). The standard fare was 50 rupees per person. The train that would take me to Gaya was scheduled to depart at 4 pm and arrive at Gaya station around 10:30 pm according to the ticket. At 2 pm, the atmosphere in Varanasi was chaotic, with dust, smoke, and loud horns that pierced my eardrums. The condition of the roads was as if I were driving on the moon.

Varanasi Junction (Varanasi JN)

Varanasi Junction: A Traveler's Nightmare

Varanasi Junction (Varanasi JN), the city's largest railway station, was teeming with people. The crowd was so dense that it was almost suffocating. It was nearing four o'clock, and I hurried through the throngs to check the train schedule. And there it was! Another delay! The train was now scheduled to depart an hour later, at five o'clock.

My friend Joy had once told me about her experience with a train delay in India that lasted a whole day—24 hours! According to her, the Indian Railways kept announcing one-hour delays. An hour would pass, and the train wouldn't arrive. Then, another announcement: "One more hour delay, please." This cycle continued until the train finally showed up. It was a cruel way to keep passengers waiting.

The most common reasons for delays are fog and heavy rain, which reduce visibility. Some people have even protested and demanded refunds from the Indian Railways. However, the Railways have responded by saying that they are not responsible for the weather and that passengers should take it up with the fog and rain instead.

I'd rather return to the fight against the one-hour train delay. Now I'm sitting in front of the train schedule screen, surrounded by small and large figures lying, sitting, and standing all over the station. I suspect they've been waiting for several hours.


With only 15 minutes left before 5 pm, the train schedule remained unchanged. I rushed to platform 9, but upon arrival, there was no sign of the train. After waiting for a while, a train arrived, and I was confident it was the right one. However, uncertainty prevailed as this train was not the one bound for Gaya. The officer requested to see my ticket before boarding, and it turned out that my train had been moved to platform 4. I was furious and immediately started running, feeling like I was in a scene from The Maze Runner. I rushed to platform 4 and waited anxiously, fearing I might miss the train. Missing an Indian train can be disastrous, especially the Varanasi-Gaya train, which runs only once a week. If I missed it, I would be in deep trouble. After 30 minutes of running back and forth, the train still hadn't arrived. I rushed back to the screen to check the schedule, and it had changed again, this time to platform 7. I kept running, and if I were to compete in the Olympics now, I'm sure I could beat Usain Bolt. Oh, Shiva, I almost cried when I finally found the A70411 train that would take me to Gaya. Although it was two hours late, it had finally arrived. At this rate, I estimate I will reach Gaya around midnight. Oh, Shiva!

Note: All stations on Indian trains will have announcements of train changes at all times. The announcements are also in English, but the point is that I can't understand them! T. Turtle R. Ship is very fast. So, if you want to be sure, it's a bit tiring to run to see the parking time.^^ Warning with good intentions

Note: The most torturous thing right now is that I can't sleep or I'll miss my station. Also, if I'm going to sleep, I have to take turns sleeping with Jay, or my stuff will definitely be gone.




Green Line Train (Sleeper Class)

Finally, I boarded the Sleeper Class train. Oh, it's so comfortable! The train slowly pulled out of platform seven. As the train moved, an unpleasant smell filled the air. The atmosphere on the train was chaotic as a group of people in orange uniforms crowded into the same carriage as me. As soon as they found their seats, the music started. They sang and danced with great enthusiasm. After listening to the music for a while, I started to smell something like cigarettes, but it wasn't quite right. I remembered smelling this last time when I was in the high school bathroom and some kids were secretly smoking marijuana. It was clear that the people in the orange uniforms were feeling artistic and needed to smoke something. They passed the joint around the group, and before long, they started to get high. They sang with gusto, and I almost floated away with the smell of smoke that hit my nose. I was dizzy. The green train.

Green Line train (I'm about to fly, help me pull down a bit)

The smell was so strong that I felt like I was floating in a train car filled with marijuana smoke. If we were sausages in an oven instead of people, it would be a delicious sight. Soon, the ticket inspector came by. I thought he would definitely kick out the people who were smoking marijuana, but the unexpected happened. The ticket inspector sat down in the middle of the circle and started smoking, sniffing, and inhaling. Judging by his expression, he must have already floated to Mars. As for me, I must have floated to the moon. I guess I'll just have to keep inhaling it until I reach Mars. I'm tired, but there's nothing I can do about it.

(The green line in the orange uniform is sitting in another channel, do you see?)

I have already bought a ticket and can sit in the Sleeper Class.

Traveling in the Sleep class of Indian trains exposes you to a diverse range of people from various social backgrounds. Unlike the stricter regulations of the 3A class, there is no stringent screening process, resulting in a somewhat chaotic mix of passengers (just ask yourself how chaotic it can get; people even openly smoke cannabis). As time passed, Jay (my travel companion whom I met in Darjeeling—I'll share Jay's story later, but for now, let's focus on this auntie) excused himself to use the restroom. Shortly after Jay left, an auntie walked up and sat down in Jay's spot without bothering to check if it was occupied. I informed the auntie, and a conversation ensued between me and the Indian auntie.

Excuse me, this seat is occupied.

Aunt Kaek ........(silent...not looking at me...not interested...I'm not air, auntie)....

"Hey!" I exclaimed, but Aunt Kaek ignored me, gazing out the train window, oblivious to my outburst.

(And then Jay walked back.)

Who is Jay Zen?

My relative asked me a strange question! I don't know who they are, and they didn't respond when I spoke to them.

It's okay, I can sit here. He might be the owner of the place...

(I forgot to mention that my seat and Jay's are not in the same row. I saw that no one was sitting in my seat, so I invited Jay to sit with me.)

After several hours, the ticket inspector sobered up from the marijuana and got back to work. He meticulously checked tickets, eventually reaching the aunt sitting next to me. The aunt rummaged through her underwear and pulled out a ticket. The ticket was so old and worn that it was almost falling apart. I couldn't help but wonder when she bought it and why it was in such a state.

The ticket inspector said, "This is an old ticket, it's no longer valid. Get off at the next station." (I don't understand Hindi, so I just listened to the feeling.) The ticket inspector walked away. The Indian lady looked unhappy and continued to look at the scenery outside. When the next station arrived, the Indian lady got up and walked off the train. Jay moved back to sit next to me... It's not over yet... When the next station arrived, the lady!!!! How did you get here? You got off, didn't you? Yes, the Indian lady came back to her original seat, but Jay was sitting there, so she went to sit in another row. And the seat where the lady moved to was the seat of the Indian uncle who had just gone down to buy food. When the Indian uncle walked back, the war of words began.

Uncle Khaek, Aunt Luk, I'm here.

Aunt Khek (motionless) ... (Aunt Khek didn't even glance at the uncle who was about to lose his temper).

Uncle Khek, this... is... my... seat!!!!

"This is my seat," Aunt Kaek said, looking up at Uncle Kaek.

Uncle Khek asks to see the ticket.

Aun Khek showed the same ticket.

"This ticket is too old and no longer valid. Please leave immediately!" said Uncle Khaek angrily.

Aunt Kaek left and never came back.

...The End...

Aunt Kaek probably won't move to another booth.

Beggars between parked cars

The sound of "rupees, rupees" drifted into my left ear, which was pressed against the open window of the train. There was only an iron railing that allowed me to extend my arm. I turned my face towards the source of the sound. A small child was standing by the barred window, his face a mixture of sadness and a hint of blackness. "Ten rupees, please…" he said, his voice trailing off. Oh, how tiring… He asks for money at almost every station. But the ironclad rule is not to give, otherwise a swarm of begging children will descend upon us, asking for money.

Mice

The sentence refers to the Karni Mata Temple in India, also known as the "Temple of Rats." The temple is home to over 20,000 rats, which are considered sacred by the local people. Visitors to the temple are expected to treat the rats with respect and avoid harming them.


#india
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