Into God's Own Country

A Travel log for the Kochi Trip

Aug 7 2009

3:10 pm : Met Goat and Matka at the station. We are way too early. But anyway, hope it pays off. Hope we get to sit in some comfort in a general compartment.

3:45 pm : Bought tickets with ease. Counters weren’t crowded at all. Waiting on the platform now. Jose just about got here

3:50 pm : The whole gang is here. Things look nice, the platform is relatively empty…surprisingly. Waiting for the train to arrive.

4:20pm : Still waiting.

4:50 pm : The platform is filling up. We are a bit more concerned now about finding seats on the train rather than deciding who we are going to rag on the journey.

5:00 pm : Safely seated inside the train. There was a mad scramble for us to get here. We have seated ourselves in twos. Sadly yours truly is the odd one out. (That partially is one of the reasons as to why I’m translating my thoughts into ink). PS: Coming to the station 2 hours early didn’t pay off, did it?

5:15pm : The train seems to be slightly off schedule. Praying fervently for the train to leave as people have started packing in. There are 6 people in a seat meant for 4).

5:30pm : The train has started moving. I’m engulfed in the odour of what seems to be cheap liquor. Not like I expected the aroma of classy French wines in the air.

5:45pm : I’m writing another post in parallel to this log. (That's posted below)THAT is more aptly suited for my blog title.

6 pm : K.R. Puram : Finding out for myself why man is such an interesting animal. He has the ability to magnetise himself at will. Loads of members belonging to this species are clinging onto the train. Goes to show that humans aren’t just restricted to being leeches who cling on to other people.

6:10pm : We just went past White Field. I;m just thankful that the train didn’t stop here.

6:15pm : My back is beginning to kill me. Its supposed to be the monsoon, but there isn’t a rain cloud in sight.

6:45 pm : Its been just over an hour since we left. I think I’ll settle down for a bit with the the comic that I brought along.

6:50 pm : Bangarpet : Phew, some breathing space at last. They dropped off the train as quickly as the got in.

8pm : I went on a stroll thorught the carriage some time ago. Lots of people have made themselves at home on the floor and are already floating around in their reveries. Stayed back to chat with monty for some time . And as always, it has ended up as a session for “Soda Bashing”- Monty and Jose taking my trip. I;m just standing back and laughing my head off at some well timed PJs.

9:15 pm: Came back to my seat, I must say that the odour still lingers. But my God, doesn’t time fly when you are with friends.

9:30 pm : Salem: Ah! P’s hometown. Go die P. This place smells.

Aug 8 2009

4:45am : Ernakulam : Just got here. The “Soda Bashing” hasn’t stopped yet. Nothing surprising there.

6:45 pm : Kochi is really pleasant. After being dropped in the middle of nowhere, we had to walk quite a bit to get to the college. We are all indulging in – dare I say it , arbit rants.

8:45 am : Heading out for breakfast shortly. That’s to be followed by the quiz. Will continue once the quiz is done.

3 pm : Was a really good quiz. Nakul and Chaitanya wont it. I have to hand it to them. They were terrific today. Lady Luck decided to turn away at the last moment. We came 3^rd by a single point. That after getting 2 negs in the last round. Feeling really disappointed on missing out. Well, there’s always next time.

7:15 pm : Had a nice supper of some de-lish pizzas courtesy the champs. We just got to the station and are waiting for the train to arrive. Looking back, it certainly has been an eventful trip down to God’s Own Country. I’ll be going back home with contentment outweighing my heavy heart weighed down by disappointment.

Aug 9 2009

9am : Home.