The Puri not so Express

Us vols got stuck on the Puri Express from New Delhi to Puri, Orissa for a VSO conference. What was 30 hours turned into about 37. The longest train ride of my life so far!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• vso
• volunteer
• india
• delhi
• puri
• orissa
• delay
• train
• puri express

[didcotparkway]

please donot get into this orientalistic tosh. Its the snake charming project making exoticising India which so many people find so insulting. Treat people as human beings and look at their struggles contextually and we are all linked we are are mortal and we have our failings. India has changed and will change even more. There are lot of Brits who are doing more than just dancing with snakes. orientalism.

[jenpenwen]

@didcotparkway thanks for all your comments. As VSO volunteers we're pretty non-judgemental and we all know there are plenty of things wrong with our own countries. As for snake charming I haven't seen any yet and I don't think this is an accurate portrayal of India, exotic or not. Coincidentally I don't wear travellers pants either or spend my time sitting around in cafes waxing lyrical about the state of India or talking about drugs...but then that would be a stereotype too...:o)

[indianrailways]

Well 30 hours is nothing. There are 75 hour journeys also !!! You took the wrong train. Rajdhani is the best. Just letting you know, India has flights too:) India offers extreme ends, both for the beggar and the rich. There are $2500 per night trains too. And one can travel 3000 km in $12 also !!!

[jenpenwen]

@indianrailways thanks. we wanted to experience both types of trains. I always book the Radjhani now if I can. I'd rather not get flights for environmental reasons if I can. Being a volunteer here I prefer something towards the $12 option! Although I always upgrade to A/C II, especially in this heat!

[didcotparkway]

iraq is an example. India is the sponge that is protecting the west today.

[didcotparkway]

Every bureaucrat or every politician is not bad similarly. Apropos to the railways it is important to choose the train in India. The Orissa Sampak is another very good train as is the Hirakund.

[didcotparkway]

India is not so bad and the present flock of Indians are equally bad or good as the average person in basingstoke or blackburn. It is important not to lapse into solipsism and escapist magic realism type of essentialism. Just like writing poetry on trynnical regimes or western defintions of freedom or democracy which have not taken of in countries tried. India has its problems but is finding its way and it must be given a chance.

[indianrailways]

@jenpenwen Yes, you are in India at the wrong time but spiritually, heat and cold are just the same dualities which bothers those humans much, who are erroneously identifying their body and mind with their Self:) A big Thank You for doing Volunteer job. The irony is, its the foreigners who do more volunteer jobs in India than native Citizens, who are busy hoarding wealth and objects, in the vain hope of finding that ever elusive happiness. Trek Himalayas if you can.

[jenpenwen]

@didcotparkway We got on at Delhi. 2816 is exactly the train. We got the Rajdhani back from Bhubaneshwar on the way back. Having experinced both I'll get the Rajdhani every time now!