India has been trial by fire, a friend told me it may take 1-2 weeks to truly ground down here. I think the universe gave me 2 days..

Luckily checking my flight from Singapore earl-ish, 3 hours prior, I was able to change to an earlier connecting flight, from here on I knew we were ‘travelling’ - B & V style. Which turns out is still not for the faint hearted.

Arriving in Delhi at the airport we book our New Years flight out of the big city and then head to Belle’s friends place. We are welcomed with the most warmest arms. Chai tea is served along with aloo matar, palak paneer, chapatti, grated radish and chutney, which came with a warning. Yet turns out this is the favourite.

A last minute decision after breakfast we decide to venture to the Taj Mahal for the afternoon, stay over night and head back. We took the wrong train, for 5 hours - and ended up almost at the Golden Temple. We had arrived in Ludhiana, which sounded familiar as it’s where my friend from Darwin was staying and it’s his home town. A little too late, as we quickly boarded our general ticket train heading back. He called me back saying oh no, we could’ve come and got you and I have red wine and a bed ready for you girls.

We quickly found a seat on the train, mine being near the toilets and the open carriage door. Everyone with the polite smiles and in-depth stares, all of us thinking the same wtf are we doing here. Belle jumps up on the second bunk and scores a bed for some time, my bench is then shared with a man who didn’t seem so impressed.

We discover the reason when a cute little girl snitches on Belle waking her mum up, after a little scene the man at the end of my seat gets his bed and we are faced with an almost fine of 800 Rp, as the ticket man tells us we laugh and smile and be asked to move to a comfier place. Not sure who we think we are but hey, it’s always worth a try.

FYI. Little girl.. snitches get stitches.

We are sent down to the back of the train, where all the cool cats hang. The men around us look tough but clearly find us amusing.

At one stop Belle runs off to quickly gets snacks, like I said we live on the edge.

I’m asked to have a chat with the man’s cousin on FaceTime, she’s a lovely lady, clearly very happy to chat with me, although the conversation wasn’t flowing, you soon realise life becomes so heart warming when you are welcomed with such big smiles and excitement.

We become even more entertaining as they are amazed by Belles Indian eating skills. My lessons coming in hot, eating my delicious Dahl, I pick up a green bean, munching away and of course it’s a super hot chilli. All you can do is laugh really. And eat the bread.

Everyone being very friendly, reminding me to close my zipper in my bag exposing my passport. The trust is real. And my travel awareness is yet to return..

Travel buddies must be selected wisely, due to these unforeseen adventures one must have the awareness to remain calm, always see the funny side and know that it always works out one way or another. As long as snacks are available and more importantly you are flexible with plans. It gave us much time to reflect on all out other hilarious times and wild situations we’ve been in, always a bright side, at least this time no-one has been arrested.

Our taxi back to our friends home is lovely, giving us a quick tour of some temples all lit up beautifully, turns the heater on for me as it’s freezing cold. And I’m out.. asleep until we reach home, to another beautifully cooked meal, chai and rum cake.

This bed feels like a dream, first actual bed sleep for 3 nights…

30/12/22

Day two, and Taj attempt number two. Fresh chai and a coffee to begin this day.

Again we take the same train, the one we were supposed to take to Agra. We are certainly being spoilt with their hospitality - our breakfast all packed up, arriving at the train station, a super helpful man shows up at the platform and guides us to our correct location. We squat down and enjoy our breakfast picnic. Dahl with Aloo Paratha and the delicious chutney.

Still very cautious and quickly losing trust, we confirm the train number via the TV screen, asking 17 people and checking 13 times - we are on. Guided to our bed seats this is beginning to look like the dream. This time we are prepared with borrowed jackets and all.