So, you must be wondering about this 'trip to Puri that didnt quite happen.' It probably wont take me as long as our travel time, to tell you what happened on our 'quick' weekend getaway (but I wouldnt bet on it).
The drama began Friday evening, where us 5 hyper travellers-Alessandro,Mauro,Denise,Marco and me started off in Howrah Station. Now there must've been something strange in the air, and maybe we should've taken it as a clue from the universe, because, between 4 Italians and 1 Indian, we were all there almost 45 minutes before departure time. And maybe you're just passing by this blog and you dont know my friends or me, but we are always ALWAYS late. Not something I'm proud off, but I presume we were all a clan of turtles in a past life. And in any case, I blame it on our genetics.
We're at the station, waiting for our train, when we hear that our train is late. No problem, we can wait a little, with just the thought that what awaits us on the othersid of this night is delicious seafood, sandy beaches, stupendous breakfasts, crashing waves, refreshing salty air, and a whole lotta sun.
When the train pulls up-only 15 minutes late, we climb our excited little feet on board, and only when we are settling into our seats do we realise that-we're on a train bound for AHMEDABAD! Now, I know for sure my Granny would be more than happy to receive a surprise visit from her second youngest grandbabe, but lets face it, 5 of us? So we grab our stuff, head for the RIGHT platform (thanks Ale), with hope in our hearts that the Puri Express hasnt left already. To our rather (premature) relief, we find the train hasnt even arrived yet. So we're chillin, laughing at our luck, when our train to paradise pulls in. As we (once again) clamber on board, Marco asks me "Ro, do you have the camera?" "No, you have it." "No, I gave it to you!" "Rooooooooo.."
So off runs Marco, retracing his steps, back to the first train (once again, thank God, the train hadnt left yet), and somehow, the camera was still in the same place MARCO had left it.
He gets back, camera in hand and we nervously laugh, we shake, we wonder....'Ok, what's next?"
Here we are, 5 worked up city dwellers, just looking for some 36 hours of peace and fresh air, on a sandy beach in Orissa. We thought we weren't asking much, but apparantly we were....we found that we actually had to DESERVE this trip.
With everyone else still high on adrenaline, I was falling asleep in my top bunk, already with the scent of the sea and the salty mist in my face.
7 am the next morning, I awake to what I thought was Mauro uttering some sort of terrible prophecy, about how our train had to switch directions (the opposite one) in the middle of the night, head half way back to Calcutta, and start again to Puri, and that we would arrive in approximately 13 hours. Umm, you want me to repeat that? No? Well I had to hear it three times, make sure Mauro was really AWAKE when he told me, to believe him. Oh yea, and he also mentioned something about a place called Raoukela (pardon the spelling). I practically leaped out of my top bunk, waking everyone, to utterances of complete disbelief.
We had stopped somewhere (turned out to be THE Raoukela, again, not a prophecy), where we got news that another train, the Commandrel (again,spelling) Express to Chennai was going too too fast, derailed and subsequently a huge huge mess (this is why I say a little prayer before shutting my eyes on every train journey). Since our train to Puri ran along the same railway line, we had to be rerouted. Unfortunately, we realised later, that was why our train was late coming into Howrah the night before, and even more unfortunate, no rail authorities had the decency to inform their passengers of what had transpired. Though, what to do? Yey hai India!
So where was I? Oh yea, Raoukela. Steel Town. Last big station before Mother only knows where. Now, tell me if this isnt all a master plan, when in fact, our very own Mauro, WORKS for a STEEL company back in Cal. So we jump ship, no wait, we were on a train werent we...and make a decision that changed entirely our journey. Now, no point dwelling, its easier to just take what life throws at you, and go with it. So, here we are, in some (not so) random town along the border of West Bengal, Bihar and Jaharkand (now dont tell me there isnt a border between these places, I'VE BEEN THERE, HAVE YOU?!). Mauro whips out his Blackberry (which I think he hoped he wouldnt have to use) and called his contacts in R.kela. After breakfast, a very nice man, Kunal, picked us up and told us he was going to organise a car for us as soon as we decide what we want to do, an where we wanted to go. Luckily we found the only internet point in R.kela open at 8 in the morning, found the closest seaside town, (only) 600 kms from where we were. While New Friend Kunal, arranged a car for us, we found ourselves in a, what should I call it, a cluster, a village, a gathering, a collective of temples where we spent an hour before heading to.........CHANDIPUR!
So here begins our story, at the temple town, with Lord Hanuman, watching over us and having a good laugh at our expense, and 28 hours later....we made it...for how many hours on the beach? 5. The real kicker was that, this newly discovered seaside town, is actually only 5 hours from Calcutta. Talk about ironic.
Lunch time..
Anyway, sorry if I bored you to tears with that story, believe me, I was almost in tears telling it to you. As you may have noticed, I didnt take so many photos when in Chandipur, I was too busy allowing myself to be cooked like a roast in the sun..
Stay tuned, new post coming soon..
Love to the moon and back,
Ro
