Friday, 23 January 2009
We had a local brekkie and went and packed at the hotel, leaving our luggage, so we could wander around until closer to our train departure time.
We ventured to the Hong Kong Market walking up and down the streets, stopping to have a snack. The Market was nothing flash, lots of really badclothes and shoes.
Heading back to the hotel we hung around chatting before getting a cycle rickshaw for the most uncomfortable ride to the main train station (NJP) which was a lot further than we anticipated. We found a seat and settled into wait but after 10 minutes were moved on by a very tall MP as we were in the army seating area, so we found a first class seating area and although we didn’t have first class tickets they let us sit and wait.
We eventually headed out to the train platform and had a thali when our train arrived, so we grabbed our bags and found our carriage. There had been a change of seating allocations, due to India Rail cramming in another bunk and seat, just to make sure everything was even more squashy. We sat in our new seats, but when the conductor came around, nearly everyone else had to change as it appears nobody can follow instructions. Unfortunately we ended up in the shorter bunks, so it was a cramped night reminiscent of a coffin. SB thought that even the submarine was more spacious and that is saying something.
We managed small amounts of sleep before getting numb and having to move around.