Hi!
So excuse me while I give myself a high five on coming up with such a cool title for today's post! =D
Take a guess what it's about. Go on. Guess.
Trains!
Yes, that is the Hogwarts Express. Don't judge.
So anyway. For as long as I can remember, trains have been my absolute favorite mode of transportation on land (aside from flying of course). I cannot count the number of train journeys I've had in my life, and some little thing has always made each of these journeys memorable to me.
Today, I took an important train journey. It was my first time commuting to my old work from my new place. While I wasn't sure how I'd feel about moving to a new home, a new city, and leaving behind the only neighborhood I've known in Canada, I was actually pretty excited about this particular train ride... in secret.
So a (very good-looking) gentleman sat across from me on the train this morning. I didn't realize he was observing me until I glanced at him and saw that he was looking at me as though he was about to say something. When I looked at him in a politely questioning manner, he said, "Which one is it?"
"Pardon?", I inquired.
He smiled and said, "You looked like you were looking out the window with either a photographer's eye or a writer's mind. Which one is it?"
I was so taken aback and pleasantly flattered by his comment, that all I could manage was to blush and grin like a wee monkey. But nonetheless, he gave me a great post idea!
Having taken the subway to school, to work and for leisure purposes an umpteen number of times, train journeys have almost become second nature to me. However, you never forget your first times for most activities you do, right? *cue flirty little innuendos*
Ha, I made a funny.
So I thought, since I enjoy trains so much, why not reminisce about some of my favorite times on a trains. I get a lovely ride through memory lane, and y'all get some great stories out of it!
1. The Shatabdi Express
So like I said, even though subway rides and train rides have been abundantly present, this particular journey is one I will never forget. My parents, a few close family members and a very excited 6-year-old me were taking a short train ride between my home city of Pune and Mumbai, or then as it was known, Bombay. Anyone who is reading this in India will laugh out loud at the commonality of this journey, but to me, it was an adventure waiting to happen.
The hot and humid temperature of India is well-known all around the world. It being summer at the time, Mother Nature was already hitting us with everything she had. At a time like this, finding out that you'd bought first class 'air-conditioned car' tickets was like music to anybody's ears!
Not only did we have a blissfully cool journey, but what was more - we were served food during the ride! It almost felt like we were on a plane... on land... y'all know what I mean. To this day, I remember my excitement, my squeals and giggles when the food arrived, and my delight at the funny feeling just when I got off the train, but my body still felt like it was on it.
This was exactly what the the train looked like. What made that journey even more memorable was, I traveled between those 2 cities several times again. But never again did I ever sit on the Shatabdi Express in my life, to this day.
2. The August Kranti Rajdhani Express
Another train journey in India, this time from Mumbai to New Delhi, the famous capital of India. This train was very well known, and anyone who'd been on it was considered to be very elite and well-traveled. This journey was also special because it was one of the first holidays I took with my parents alone.
Not only did we visit our nation's capital, but we also visited a few other surrounding states, and countries, and saw some amazing landmarks like the Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, and specifically, Mount Everest though a window on a plane. However, it was the Rajdhani Express that led us there. Of course it was air-conditioned too, but it came with berths that turned into beds at night. The journey was almost 2 and a half days, so that was quite a necessary feature.
One of the craziest things I remember doing on this train journey was this: when the train was going through the beautiful state of Punjab, it slowed down greatly while going through some huge fields. The weather was stunning, the meadows were green and the landscape was breathtaking. My dad and I decided to hop off the train for a few minutes, stretch our legs and run beside the train. It was so exciting and I felt like quite the daredevil to have done it. I'm going to choose not to talk about how we could practically see my mom's heart in her throat out of anxiety at the time. *giggles*
Definitely memories I will carry with me for life.
3. The London-Paris Eurostar Rail
Quite the jump from India to Europe, but definitely a journey at the very top of my list. This journey was so memorable to me, because I took this journey the day of my champagne birthday.
Not only did I get a surprise upgrade to first class just because it was my birthday, but I got a whole lot of complimentary goodies on the train too! It was an amazing experience over all. I remember finishing 4 little bottles of wine, and then my first couple of hours in Paris after I got off the train are kind of hazy, because the wine hit me when I stood up.
Nonetheless, the scenery was amazing on the way, the service was incredibly friendly, and I was just on Cloud 9 altogether. That was also the day I got to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time, so that was another one of the books. But the lesson I learned wasn't to not drink too much wine on a train, but to make sure to pee before getting off the train after I've had 4 bottles of wine.
TMI?
Apologies.
But there you have it!
Those were my most memorable train journeys I've had in my life. I'm sure there are a few more memories I have, and I'm sure considering my love of trains there will hopefully be lots more.
But until the next journey...
Hasta la-buh bye!
So a (very good-looking) gentleman sat across from me on the train this morning. I didn't realize he was observing me until I glanced at him and saw that he was looking at me as though he was about to say something. When I looked at him in a politely questioning manner, he said, "Which one is it?"
"Pardon?", I inquired.
He smiled and said, "You looked like you were looking out the window with either a photographer's eye or a writer's mind. Which one is it?"
I was so taken aback and pleasantly flattered by his comment, that all I could manage was to blush and grin like a wee monkey. But nonetheless, he gave me a great post idea!
Having taken the subway to school, to work and for leisure purposes an umpteen number of times, train journeys have almost become second nature to me. However, you never forget your first times for most activities you do, right? *cue flirty little innuendos*
Ha, I made a funny.
So I thought, since I enjoy trains so much, why not reminisce about some of my favorite times on a trains. I get a lovely ride through memory lane, and y'all get some great stories out of it!
1. The Shatabdi Express
So like I said, even though subway rides and train rides have been abundantly present, this particular journey is one I will never forget. My parents, a few close family members and a very excited 6-year-old me were taking a short train ride between my home city of Pune and Mumbai, or then as it was known, Bombay. Anyone who is reading this in India will laugh out loud at the commonality of this journey, but to me, it was an adventure waiting to happen.
The hot and humid temperature of India is well-known all around the world. It being summer at the time, Mother Nature was already hitting us with everything she had. At a time like this, finding out that you'd bought first class 'air-conditioned car' tickets was like music to anybody's ears!
Not only did we have a blissfully cool journey, but what was more - we were served food during the ride! It almost felt like we were on a plane... on land... y'all know what I mean. To this day, I remember my excitement, my squeals and giggles when the food arrived, and my delight at the funny feeling just when I got off the train, but my body still felt like it was on it.
This was exactly what the the train looked like. What made that journey even more memorable was, I traveled between those 2 cities several times again. But never again did I ever sit on the Shatabdi Express in my life, to this day.
2. The August Kranti Rajdhani Express
Another train journey in India, this time from Mumbai to New Delhi, the famous capital of India. This train was very well known, and anyone who'd been on it was considered to be very elite and well-traveled. This journey was also special because it was one of the first holidays I took with my parents alone.
Not only did we visit our nation's capital, but we also visited a few other surrounding states, and countries, and saw some amazing landmarks like the Taj Mahal, the Himalayas, and specifically, Mount Everest though a window on a plane. However, it was the Rajdhani Express that led us there. Of course it was air-conditioned too, but it came with berths that turned into beds at night. The journey was almost 2 and a half days, so that was quite a necessary feature.
One of the craziest things I remember doing on this train journey was this: when the train was going through the beautiful state of Punjab, it slowed down greatly while going through some huge fields. The weather was stunning, the meadows were green and the landscape was breathtaking. My dad and I decided to hop off the train for a few minutes, stretch our legs and run beside the train. It was so exciting and I felt like quite the daredevil to have done it. I'm going to choose not to talk about how we could practically see my mom's heart in her throat out of anxiety at the time. *giggles*
Definitely memories I will carry with me for life.
3. The London-Paris Eurostar Rail
Quite the jump from India to Europe, but definitely a journey at the very top of my list. This journey was so memorable to me, because I took this journey the day of my champagne birthday.
Not only did I get a surprise upgrade to first class just because it was my birthday, but I got a whole lot of complimentary goodies on the train too! It was an amazing experience over all. I remember finishing 4 little bottles of wine, and then my first couple of hours in Paris after I got off the train are kind of hazy, because the wine hit me when I stood up.
Nonetheless, the scenery was amazing on the way, the service was incredibly friendly, and I was just on Cloud 9 altogether. That was also the day I got to see the Eiffel Tower for the first time, so that was another one of the books. But the lesson I learned wasn't to not drink too much wine on a train, but to make sure to pee before getting off the train after I've had 4 bottles of wine.
TMI?
Apologies.
But there you have it!
Those were my most memorable train journeys I've had in my life. I'm sure there are a few more memories I have, and I'm sure considering my love of trains there will hopefully be lots more.
But until the next journey...
Hasta la-buh bye!
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