rootlessdreams

….can make almost any strong minded man crack.  I definitely cracked a bit.  Not the best way to spend your Birthday.  Noticing that I was talking to myself and telling myself terrible jokes that made me laugh, I started to worry.  It could have been worse.  Just when you start hating India and all the people there, angles that have taken the form of Indians come to your rescue.

Basically, I got royally screwed by a travel agent.  I used a travel agent in Hampi just to make it easier…..he booked my train tickets and arranged everything.  All I had to do was be at the station at the right times and change trains at the right times.  My goal was to meet back up with Ben and Vanessa in Varanasi.  We would spend some time there and then cruise up to Nepal.  After about 16 hours on one train, at about 5 am, I was awoken by a guy who told me I was on the wrong train.  I woke with a startle because I realized two other India guys had been sleeping on the other half of my sleeper with me, while I was curled up in a fetal position.  The guy had remembered where I said I was changing trains and realized the train I was on never went through that city.  He checked my ticket and said I got on the right train just not the train I needed.  The train I needed didn’t exist.  The Travel agent just made it up.  I got a little worried but even more mad at the travel agent.  The guy saw the fury in my eyes and told me he would sort it out and for me to just go back to sleep.  I didn’t go back to sleep…..partly because of the two other guys on the other end of my sleeper and the fact that I was freaking out.  Finally, around 6:40 am we had it sorted.  I had to immediately leave this train and get on another train going back the way I came from.  This could possibly get me to my original connection.  I got off around 6:45, bought a ticket around 6:55, and the train came through at 7:00 am sharp.  I barely made.  After another 14+ hours in the somewhat right direction, I made it to my connection.  Boarded the train and hunkered down for the 34hour Express to Varanasi.   I got to Varanasi around 6:45 am and had to have looked haggard.  Ben and Vanessa got in that same afternoon, and before we knew it, we were settled in at the Shanti Guest house having dinner and talking of our epic adventures.

Varanasi has been a nice place though.  My immediate impression was not so great, but once you dive into the city and get lost in all the side streets and Ghats, you really start to enjoy it.  We’ve taken some Ganges River tours and have done some exploring.  After a couple days, we realized we needed more time.  Our train is already booked though.  So we’ll head North to Nepal, leaving another place we will want to come back too.

I feel like I’ve lost 10 pounds.  It is probably due to the lack of hunger, intense stomach pains, and the periodical all-night vomiting sessions.  I’m hanging in there though and smiling through most of it.  I have been lucky and have not been sick since I’ve left over a year ago.  I guess I can’t complain about being sick in India…..who doesn’t get sick here?  I’m just getting down to “sending weight.”

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes here and on Facebook.  I really needed them.  No climbing for this leg of the journey but I’m psyched to be back with Ben and Vanessa for some more Indian/Nepal adventures.   I’ll give an update from Nepal with stories of Rafting, bungee, and Elephant safaris!!

The Journey is almost at an end….

-Matt