Not keen to stay in Mangalore after Medikeri, we decided to try our luck and head straight Kochi (Cochin) via train. Understanding the train ticketing system in India was really challenging for us as the staff over at the counter spoke limited English. We made two SOS calls to Robyn (our Singapore friend in Mumbai)!!
It was a frantic hour as we got to 1st train station and was told that we are unable to get reserved tickets(meaning sleepers w seat number) as the booking for the train is closed. We were told to get 2nd class ordinary ticket (no seat number with normal seating) and check with the train conductor on availability for sleepers when the train arrives.
As there were 2 different trains at different station, we decided to try our luck at the other station for a later train. When we got there, it was the same informaton! No reserved ticket available and buy ordinary class. It was 5pm and train was due to arrive at 7.15pm. After much deliberation, we decided to try our luck - buy ordinary ticket and check with conductor. The worst scenario would be to squeeze with locals in normal seating for the night! We figured that would be fun too. haha.
We were dirty, smelly, sticky from a day of pespiration and tired after the 4 hours bus ride. Train finally arrived at 7.15pm and we rushed to identify the conductor who clamly just told us to GET ON! YEAH! So we got onboard and went in search of empty sleeper bed. Finally came to a cabin with friendly smiles and told us to take one of the sleeper bunk. Happy to receive warm welcome by the locals. They kept smiling at us..and we returned the smiles. With limited English of where and pointing, we managed to conversed quite a bit. Showing maps of where we are heading, who and who are a family etc. They were very helpful in ensuring that we get our dinner, conductor gave us our seat number etc. It warms my heart just writing about them now!
After 9 hours on the train, we have finally reached Cochin at 5am. Exhausted, we went in search of our accommodation and was lucky to get a cheap and good room with Aircon! The weather in Cochin is very differnt from Bangalore and we finally understood what our auto rider meant that Bangalore weather is cool! Indeed! Comparing Cochin and Bangalore, Cochin is definitely hotter and more humid. Soak through the skin was what we experienced for the 3 days we spent in Cochin. I could feel sweat coming out from every single pores of my skin.
With the lesson of no planning and booking train ticket in advanced, we've decided to better plan our route ahead. It's probably easy to hope on the bus anytime to anywhere but train is definitely more comfy and time saving. hehe. So our plan of rest, relax and only buy the next journey ticket when we want to leave a place doesn't seem workable! Alot of time was spent on the internet trying to check out train routes, timing and availability! To our horror, many were full! We decided to head to the train station to understand more of availability etc and Closed at 2pm on Sun! It was 3pm when we got there...=( It opens at 8am the following day but we had planned to join a backwater tour that starts at 8.30am. How are we gg to make it?!
It was a frantic hour as we got to 1st train station and was told that we are unable to get reserved tickets(meaning sleepers w seat number) as the booking for the train is closed. We were told to get 2nd class ordinary ticket (no seat number with normal seating) and check with the train conductor on availability for sleepers when the train arrives.
As there were 2 different trains at different station, we decided to try our luck at the other station for a later train. When we got there, it was the same informaton! No reserved ticket available and buy ordinary class. It was 5pm and train was due to arrive at 7.15pm. After much deliberation, we decided to try our luck - buy ordinary ticket and check with conductor. The worst scenario would be to squeeze with locals in normal seating for the night! We figured that would be fun too. haha.
We were dirty, smelly, sticky from a day of pespiration and tired after the 4 hours bus ride. Train finally arrived at 7.15pm and we rushed to identify the conductor who clamly just told us to GET ON! YEAH! So we got onboard and went in search of empty sleeper bed. Finally came to a cabin with friendly smiles and told us to take one of the sleeper bunk. Happy to receive warm welcome by the locals. They kept smiling at us..and we returned the smiles. With limited English of where and pointing, we managed to conversed quite a bit. Showing maps of where we are heading, who and who are a family etc. They were very helpful in ensuring that we get our dinner, conductor gave us our seat number etc. It warms my heart just writing about them now!
After 9 hours on the train, we have finally reached Cochin at 5am. Exhausted, we went in search of our accommodation and was lucky to get a cheap and good room with Aircon! The weather in Cochin is very differnt from Bangalore and we finally understood what our auto rider meant that Bangalore weather is cool! Indeed! Comparing Cochin and Bangalore, Cochin is definitely hotter and more humid. Soak through the skin was what we experienced for the 3 days we spent in Cochin. I could feel sweat coming out from every single pores of my skin.
With the lesson of no planning and booking train ticket in advanced, we've decided to better plan our route ahead. It's probably easy to hope on the bus anytime to anywhere but train is definitely more comfy and time saving. hehe. So our plan of rest, relax and only buy the next journey ticket when we want to leave a place doesn't seem workable! Alot of time was spent on the internet trying to check out train routes, timing and availability! To our horror, many were full! We decided to head to the train station to understand more of availability etc and Closed at 2pm on Sun! It was 3pm when we got there...=( It opens at 8am the following day but we had planned to join a backwater tour that starts at 8.30am. How are we gg to make it?!
We made it and bought ticket to Goa after a nice & sweaty morning jog plus our tour pickup was late. hehe. Onward journey to Mumbai was full again and we were put on waitlist! Arrgghh...we will pay extra to buy Tatkal (last minute tics that are released 2 days before journey and sale start 8am!). When we got to Goa station at 10.45am, we only managed to secure 1 confirm seat and 1 waitlist. We were told to check the seat for waitlist before we leave and thank goodness that we got it! As the sleeper beds were separated, we managed to convinced a kind soul to change with us so we get to sleep in the same cabin. =)
The night before we left for Mumbai, we then realised that the train ticket that we have bought was to a suburb area instead of city centre! As they have train station name printed on tickets instead of location as there could be more than 1 train station in very city.. so we had assumed that it goes to Mumbai centre. While we were figuring out how to get to city centre with our guide book, Robyn (who's studying in Mumbai) was able to host us for a night!!! YEAH!! and guess what? She stays in the suburb area! haha... just 3 stops away from where we alight! We are sure that we will have more episodes with the train but things just work out...that's why there's a saying, Blessing in Disguise!
Our bus journey on the public bus. Great to have 3 seaters! 1 for big Backpacks and 2 for us. =) 
Friendly family that welcomed us to join them
Chapatti with Chicken Fry. Yummy!
Our first overnight train ride in India. Clean and nice! Mixture of sleeper 2 & 3 class.
Arriving in Kochi at wee hours..exhausted..
wow... what an adventurous train ride! my only experience with india train was only for a few stations and it was quite empty because ladies only cabin! :) what i remember most about mumbai - the friendliness! miss my kids there.
ReplyDeletejoyce
Wow!! What an experience! Must be feeling desperate at times ya?
ReplyDeleteI was totally freaked out when I missed my train from London to Glasgow.. All alone by myself.. Changing my plan there & then.