Transportation #7

The MF travel group got tickets to go to Mumbai some time ago, planning to leave Cochin on September 7. I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't go with them, but would travel to Goa instead. If it worked, I'd try to get on the same train, but I hadn't bought a ticket. Their tickets said they were supposed to leave from Ernakulam Town trainstation at 3:10; but everyone everywhere said that the fast train was really a 12:45 train. There was general confusion, but it was agreed that they'd aim for 12:45 and I'd buy a ticket at the station.

The first hitch was in getting to the station. As we checked out of the hotel, we had, um, something of a rickshaw boycott due to the fact that we had paid Indian prices for a fee earlier that day instead of inflated Western prices. The three drivers we'd had were camping outside our hotel -- whether to insist on more money, warn others not to pick us up, or make sure they got the juicy fare to the train station I'm not sure. Suffice it to say that much bargaining was going on, and it slowed us down. The others called a few cabs, but I decided to just get into a rickshaw with Peggy in order to get to the trainstation ahead of time and buy a ticket. We jumped in with Ashok Kumar, (Ashokkumar919@yahoo.com as it happens. It was written across the inside of the rick. I highly recommend him.) who carefully explained that he was not used to having such trouble with tourists, he always did everything for them, since German tourists had bought him this rickshaw last year. We nodded and didn't say much.

We got increasingly panicked, however, when it took some 40 minutes to get to the station -- we had no idea how the rest of the group was going to make it in time. Ashok told us to pray that the train would be late.

We did. (I am not sure to whom Peggy prayed. I prayed to the Transportation Goddess who has watched out for me for years, including getting me good parking spots.)

When we got to Town station, Peggy jumped out and grabbed Ashok to come with her to help translate if necessary. A moment later they came tearing back. "It's at the OTHER station!" they said. One of our taxis showed up that moment, we told them the information, and with about ten minutes to spare we began racing through town to the Ernakulan Junction station. Ashok really showed his stuff. He swerved in and out, honked his horn. We managed to spot the other taxis as we were driving and signalled them all to turn around and follow us on the mad chase through the city.

We ran into the station, ran to the information booth, only to be told that it was indeed the FIRST station. But, thankfully, it was also a 3:10 train as they'd originally been told. We laughed and decided the adrenaline rush had been kind of fun, and calmly ordered a whole new round of rickshaws to takes us back to Town station. Jan said: "I think if I were alone I'd just sit in a corner and cry, but together it always works out."

Once we were at the other station again I discovered that no train to Goa left from Town station, and indeed, I had to go back once again to Junction station for a 2 o'clock train. Meaning I would see both Cochin stations twice in the space of about 20 minutes. Since were all together though, the whole thing was just kind of amusing.

Except for the part where I had to say goodbye.

I climbed into my rickshaw alone. . . and cried.