Conversations on Trains
May 14th, 2006 | Published in dispatch | 12 Comments
The various train classes on Indian trains are a good indicator of several things. Travelling in Tier 3AC - sleeper class with air-conditioning, one can reasonably assume English-speaking Indians, who are businessmen or even doctors, and are likely to spend the train journey debating in English about the elections. It is also noticed that one finds very specific types of travellers on certain classes. The Sudder-Street-I’m-in-India-for-6-months type typically on sleeper class; the European couples in their late 20s and early 30s on Tier 3AC or 2AC, together with the spoilt girls from Singapore who can’t bear dust and sweat on an overnight train.
I was in the train from New Jalpaiguri to Mughal Sarai a few weeks ago, when a New Delhi doctor in my cabin started talking about ‘those Southeast Asians who love India’. He said he had an Indonesian Chinese classmate at medical school in Delhi, who loved India so much that she married a Gujarati boy named Sam Patel, and settled down here.
He added - maybe you could do that, too.
My head began flashing scenes of my Gujarati wedding, except to a Rupa Patel rather than a Sam. I don’t know if Rupa Patel’s big Gujarati family will be more upset with her for marrying a non-vegetarian and a drinker, or for marrying a woman.
May 14th, 2006 at 6:01 pm (#)
howdy, my post here is off trajectory with regards to train talk, but I would like to ask which guesthouse you stayed at while in Kolkata. Came across your CCU post while researching. I’m heading over and have been dwelling about er..dwelling in Gulistan Guesthouse. Good bet?
May 14th, 2006 at 9:49 pm (#)
Was wondering if you said that you would probably marry a Rupa patel…… to the doc… how would he react ?
probably jump out of the running train … or changed his cabin……
May 15th, 2006 at 9:02 am (#)
your title reminds me of this book i came across. It’s interesting how conversations overheard or even spoken on a public transport can serve as a means of mind-wandering.
have fun backpacking and travelling!!!!
May 15th, 2006 at 3:49 pm (#)
Who are you. I first read someting here.. mm.. a year ago i think. And whenever Ive come, since, by some coincidence, you’ve been writing about india. im from india. i lived in singapore for a long time. Im wasting away in California now. And I love reading about ur time in india. It makes me cry sometimes laugh sometimes. like now, 3 hours before a final. Feels like reliving a kiss from long back
May 16th, 2006 at 5:02 pm (#)
wy: i stayed at Super Guest House on Free School St (aka Mirza Ghalib), on the far end of Sudder St. I paid Rs600 for a double room with attached bath, AC and fan and TV. The room was spotless, towels and soap were provided. There was room service from the adjoining restaurant which they also owned, which was cheap and pretty decent. Though the beds could be a lot softer, I’ve learned that this is one of the best deals in Cal - Cal does have a shortage of good accommodation. They only have 4 rooms, though, so you should book. It’s in Lonely Planet and Footprint, you can check them out for the number.
May 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pm (#)
I think Rupa Petal’s family will be cross because you are an alcoholic, meat-eating woman leading astray their pure and innocent daughter, into a life full of rainbow colours and good-looking brawds….hahaha!!!!
May 16th, 2006 at 9:59 pm (#)
there’s more than one Super Guesthouse, I believe.. :) others have figured this out much later - http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Kolkata/blog-1992.html
so it pays to check!
May 17th, 2006 at 12:52 am (#)
hey adri. off-topic, but the MacBook is out. orgasmic, and comes in black. sadly it has one of those frackin’ ridiculous Acer/BenQ/Sony/Vaio-esque glossy screen, but the rest is gold.
May 17th, 2006 at 12:34 pm (#)
Maybe they’d be less displeased if you showed them the Way of Mac.
May 17th, 2006 at 4:34 pm (#)
hey check this out - http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/
May 18th, 2006 at 12:34 pm (#)
[...] In case you didn’t know already, my spectacularly fabulous fellow Tomorrow editor and favourite lesbian is on vacation in India. Her blog is getting really fascinating. [...]
May 21st, 2006 at 11:48 am (#)
Hey !
No updates ?
r u ok?
or is Bombay attracting you so much ?
anyway ~ God bless n take care !
bir