We got on around 1030 am and it's already 1236 pm. I don't think this is going to be as bad as it sounds. For one thing, we are in AC class. That means not only is the temperature controlled at about 78 degrees, but that everything is cleaner. Clean is, of course, all relative. I've only seen 2 baby cockroaches.
Ale and I managed to get take-out from our hotel before we left. We ordered 6 rotis, 1 palak paneer, 1 gobi aloo masala, 3 aloo parathas and 1 Rajasthani roti to go. We hope this lasts us 23 hours, but considering I already ate my 3 rotis and gobi aloo masala, and now i just have 2 aloo paranthas left - it looks maybe only Ale has this figured out (she's sleeping.)
Our bags have somehow managed to enlarge. I'm very impressed with my backpacks capacity. It was about 2/3 full on arrival to India and I think I've doubled it's capacity. It has so many hidden spaces and extra pockets that can expand infinitely. I have endless new things inside. Mostly presents for other people (you're welcome) but plenty of things I loveeeeee for myself. I probably look ridiculous, but it's worth it.
Yesterday, our 2nd and last day in Jhodpur, was pretty relaxed. We'd done most of the touristy things the day before, so we walked the 30 minutes from our haveli to the clock tower market. The streets here (and really all over India) are so narrow. In Jhodpur, the streets are really messed up and so theres lots of potholes and sharp turns. You can barely fit one rickshaw in the whole street, so getting anywhere is an adventure. Ale and I have really learned to trust Indian drivers. their depth perception is amazing. I would have knocked both my side mirrors off and probably decapitated a cow if I was driving in India. Speaking of cows, cows also sit in the middle of these tiny streets to make more obstacles for rickshaws and motorcycles. Yesterday I was walking by one, obviously really close to him since he was taking up the whole street, and he, get this: head- butted me into my side. Luckily he didn't have horns, but ohmygod I got head-butted by a cow. I told him that in my country we would eat him.
After I lost all dignity by getting head-butted by a cow, Ale and I managed to stuff our faces with more fried chilis, pani poori, and omelets. We also managed to do some shopping which was quite challenging given the shopping situation (lots of cheap ugly shoes, produce, western baby clothes, and junk junk junk.) The highlight of the day was going on our rooftop for sunset and capturing some beautiful pictures of the blue city. We would have left yesterday morning if we could have, but the trains were full until today. We've gotten good at relaxing and eating so this was not too hard on us.
And now we are on the train. The way it works on the train is that there are stacks of 3 beds on one side (3 face in on another 3 with an aisle between and they are all perpendicular to the window) and then there are a line of beds 2 high along the other side of the train that are parallel to the windows. I'll add in a picture below to understand. I luckily got the bottom of the 2 bed side, parallel to the window with a big window, it's own plug and easy access to the bathroom (which is super gross and basically a hole in the ground.) Despite it being at the other end of the car from Ale, it was perfect. The only minor problem was that 2 people were sitting on my bed. Usually the people on the top bunks sit on the 3 sided bottom one and fold up the middle bunk as a seat back during the day. I just wanted to lay in my bed with my curtain closed for the next 23 hours. I explained to the girl that she was in my bed and she told me her "hubby" was in the top bunk. The girl asked me if I could switch beds with her. "Where is your bed?" I asked. She pointed to a middle bunk in the sea of 6. Oh heck no. "We just got married feb 6, see pictures." And that's how I got guilted into giving away the best bed/seat ever. Well I haven't officially given it away. Since the car we are in is pretty empty, I agreed to let them sit there until people get on. And since we have 23 hours for people to get on, my hopes aren't high. And then I'm not sure how to boot them out of my bed, so ill probably end up sitting up for 23 hours because there will be little old ladies using my bed as a seat back. Poor me.
But since right now I'm in someone else's lower bunk of 2 with a plug, curtains, and a big window, I guess I'll just count my blessings.
The first 2 pictures are Ale eating an omelette and the omelette man. The third picture is my lunch on the train. The last 3 pics are of the train seats. The first shows the difference in head space between the 3 high and the 2 high. The middle seat of the 3 high is pulled down as a seat back currently so if you were in the bottom your head would not go past the top of the seat back. The next picture is of the 3 high by 3 high side with an aisle in between. The last is of the 2 high side-obviously the winner for a 23 hour journey.
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