2003-11-28

Overnight train to Aurangabad.. it's SO much more fun and less stressful to be travelling with people. There were a bunch of political types on the train. They must have known the right people to get on, cause there weren't enough seats.

We were sitting in a berth with some french women, and they all crowded into our area to have some political discussion. Someone launched into a tirade about tourists and how it's good for them to visit but how Indians have to preserve their heritage. Then they realized that my friends, though western-looking, speak hindi and marathi, so they looked a bit embarrassed and were friendlier.

Sitting cross legged in their berth, they unpacked a feast wrapped in banana leaves. I love the way that Indians never compromise on food. It doesn't matter where you're going or what you're doing; there will be food and it will be good, and then someone will bring tea.

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We arrived at five a.m. So nice to be in a rural area, but so strange to look up at the sky and not be able to find familiar constellations.

It's moments like that when i realize that I am so far away from home.

7:22 p.m. - 2003-11-30