Lessons on rides

Moving around on public rides in India, is a total 360 degree from what i used to do back home. Sign boards helps little though its not precise enough, landmarks ( still working on it), turning into streets and lanes is murderous for me. Every street looks the same--- there'll be local sweets shops, ma-ma shops, pharmacies, local eating house in almost every street.

A Polish Anita and Singaporean Adeline. Two foreigners travelling on public was sure a good time to for lessons. Interestingly, we later realised their working pattern is a reflection of their thoughts. Instead of wanting to save more on travelling by taking the train, we ended up spending more than on Goa itself. But, that was all worthwhile for the authentic-ness.

Boarding the train, ticket-less
Happily, we did an online booking for the train a week before the travel. Paid and received a booking confirmation on the email. Got it printed out.

Arrived at the city train station, asked a man in the office for help. He looked at the print out, scribbled something that resembled a signature. " OK, this is ticket. confirmed", he said. Not realising that his English was actually " private limited".

Couldn't find our name on the long list, and people advised us to look for this man, TT, in black coat--- the train conductor. We turned around, at least 80% of the men were in black coat! Time was running out, and we decided to just hopped into the cabin. The train started to moved, felt a little relived.
The conductor came, checked our crumpled print out, " your status is not confirm, means you're now on the train without any ticket." What, that little scribbled actually wrote: WL 9, 10 waiting list 9, 10

" You two need to get down the next station, Tumkur"
What's that? Tumkur, in the middle of nowhere, in the darkness of 11pm. Good.
A couple then mentioned that they had got their ticket confirmed only 2 hours before boarding time. Because it was the eve of Diwali, therefore its the peak season to travel on train. And there, two pathetic ladies hogging onto the seats of the others.

When we were mentally prepared to battle the next war in Tumkur, the conductor came stomping towards us. " I've got two upper beds at first class, let me know if you want them". We took it.
The earlier online payment would be refunded and we settled the present one by cash. After all the tension, we both slumped into the bed for 10 good hours.

Alighted at Londa ( another unsound advice we took)--- a small rural village. Switched four local buses ( which we think there must be a better option). There was not clear bus sign of which bus to which destination. The buses where parked so randomly. The locals would not usually give the exact direction, instead, they would point to a direction ( north, south, east, west manner) with their arms--- so keep asking along the way.

I thought that it would be easier for everyone if signage are up; it may means that the workforce may shrink. For a bus, there would be 1 driver, 1 conductor, 1 person shouting the destination. This probably how they create job positions for the locals by sharing responsibility.

With technology, it may be a good thing to some, and a bad news to some. In India, the fear of wanting technology may means taking over their job position--- which some groups probably are resisting of having the idea of working in efficiency. This can be seen more commonly in the village part of the land. Reflecting their mentality of the way they work, behave, and live.