The One with the 13 Hour Train Ride

My bunk.

 So most of you are probably thinking- wasn't she supposed to have a 21- hour train ride?! Well I apparently exaggerated and the original train ride was supposed to leave at 8pm and get in around 3pm the next day- so only 19 hours total.  After a long session of goodbyes, we got into our van (which made a short stop for a very sketchy money exchange halfway down the hill) and got to the station at about 7pm to quickly learn that our train was cancelled.  Julie found out another hour later that there were spots on the 11:30 train, so we just waited in the station.  Since most of us have been going to bed at around 9pm this was pretty rough.

Nikki and me in our bunks.

We rode in the 2nd class sleeper since it was an overnight train.  The chambers had little rooms with 6 beds- three and three, with a small ladder to get up to the top two bunks.  We were all on the side beds- that were only stacked in twos but had a bit more traffic than the other ones.  I was immediately thankful that my dad convinced me to get the sleeping bag with an inflatable mattress in the bottom, though the people on the train thought I was absolutely ridiculous as I blew up what looks like a pool raft.  I didn't sleep much with the snoring and hourly chai tea sellers (who wants caffeinated  tea at 4am!?) but I did finish up a book and get some good people watching in.

Thankfully this train was only 13 hours (express!) and we got in at 1pm.  Unfortunately I have to get off of the computer for the 11pm curfew in the Ashram, but I will hopefully post soon about Varanasi and update the pictures on the posts!