Pokhara, Nepal trip

Now this wasnt a planned trip & what's about to follow sure would be a testimony to it.

Onwards Journey:
1.HWH to TATA

    With an early morning train its hard to catch some sleep a night before. Left home so early that it wasn't even time for the first bus. Reached 8B(rickshaw + walk) prior to 5! There was an anxious 30min before the bus came & reached HWH by 6:10. Thought that 6:20 train wouldn't have been so bad either :P. Dawns' always a weird feeling, perhaps lack of sleep coupled with unaccustomed-to views - roads being mobbed, vendors setting up their roadside paraphernalia, & no crowd, which is usually a busy thoroughfare.

     Bought a BS since didn't want to carry any books. I got reservation in 2S & not being very accustomed to it was quite cynical of the infra, gentry. Anyways, have no complains as to it with my very limited stint in WB & down South.

     Weather was okay. Train had many un-reserved passengers. Lots of vendors - jhal muri, cold drinks, lassi, chana, ....i was inherently waiting for the one with boiled egg. whom i ran into at intermittent station but Railways had better plans.

     Stood at the (middle)door & enjoyed the gush of fresh air & lots of lotus ponds alongside tracks for quite some time. A flower farm with yellow flowers looked remarkable among that part-green patch.

     Reached at noon time & waited for friends at TATA. I don't get much time with them so was looking forward to it even in that sweltering heat. Met them at Sakshi & headed off to Golmuri police lines quarters. Saw many thelas selling juices including Bel, i miss them so much in Calcutta.

2. Tata to Patna :

   An (Atithi Travels,Orange)AC bus cost about 300 per person but if the ply with which some window panes have been replaced runs loose, it leaves about 2 hours late than schedule time of 6pm(standard delay time is 30 min!) amidst a bit of rain shower, dust storms. These had most amazing seats but AC stalled half way into the journey. That wasn't before we had mid-nite halt & dinner at a joint around Ranchi.(Here is when, all of us forgot about the wallet & then had a torn-note fiasco, though filter coffee was quite welcome). With AC down, it was quite chaotic as we progressed towards Patna, both inside & outside. What i had perceived would be a lot of fun being my first interstate bus ride, looking at the serenity amidst moon & moonlight, turned into volley of abuses at bus staff, children puking etc. I then realised 'sleeper' coaches(no wonder 'sleeper' seats are the ones left till the end) are so claustrophobic though this one had amazing leg-room & thankfully didn't screen any movies along the way.

   Booked a ticket to Raxaul at Patna Bus stand(Amar Jyoti). No AC coaches & ONLY evening buses! I also learn't prior booking was advisable none the less. Patna Bus stand is utter dirty & chaotic, perhaps due to magnitude of passengers.

   Stayed at friends place & recharged for the journey ahead.

3. Patna to Raxaul :

      This was a pathetic bus(seats were antiquated & didn't lean, service staff wasn't polite, played some faltu movie where i realized i was so glad i didn't have a gr8 view!). Horrible roads & dust storms as u inch towards Nepal. This crook played some bhakti song since 3:30 am !! with roads looking like pagdandi in fields, the combo almost took the lid off the patience can. Silver lining, reached in time & resolved to look for Sapna travels on way back since AJ was only a glorious ghost from the past.