June 23, 2011

Train Fan

What I love most about Europe is the trains. Clean, spacious, fast and comfortable. With huge windows that show you some of the best sights you’re likely to come across in life. Just settle in, put your coffee cup on the little table, and, if you’re feeling cheeky, lay a newspaper on the seat opposite you and put your feet up, and as the train pulls out of your pretty station, get set for a ride like none other.
Don’t look at anything that’s too close to you, or your head will spin! Focus on the distant horizon instead. It’s the best policy for life and for train rides. Take breaks from the view, else you’ll be possessed by a demonic urge to crash through the panes and go walking in that green field or the patch of woods you just passed by. Look at your fellow passengers intermittently: smile at the old ladies and get smiled back at (the sister recommends this highly), assure the two Italian hooligans that they did NOT need to punch their tickets at the station, smile pleadingly at the British girl to dissuade her from spending the next two hours talking on the phone about a party she’s planning.
If you have a long day ahead of or behind you, try a nap. Be prepared for the finger of authority poking your sleepy shoulder and demanding to see your ticket, though. Scores of fake sleepyheads have obviously tried to snooze their way out of buying a ticket, and your snores are falling on deaf and cutely suspicious ears.
The train is also a great place to catch up with work, because your real life partner, the Internet, is not there to distract you. Read a book, complete an assignment, or dream up the emails you need to send out. The next stop is: Workstation!
I just love the trains. Grumpy office-goers complain that the trains always run late (which they actually do, in the mornings), but what do grumpy office-goers know about trains running late? Yaatrigan kripaya dhyaan dein: Hyderabad ko jaaney waali AP Express samay se 12 ghantey deri se ravaana hogi….
I’ve been looking for an adventure, a sanctuary, a bedazzling, shifting panorama, and a long journey. For me, the trains of Europe are running right on time. Goede Reis!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely.

Bunny

dipali said...

What happy trains:)

Anonymous said...

Yes. Lovely.

Good to read you again. Glad SOMEONE is writing.

*pointedlookatyouknowwho*

Ph

Ink Spill said...

Ladies, so nice to have you visiting me! No fighting, please, only I'm allowed to do bad things here! Where did YOU vanish, Ph?

Ink Spill said...

And where did YOU vanish Bunny?

Anonymous said...

Rediff pulled the plug on my blog and it coincided nicely with my forgetting how to write. :(

Hehehe. I couldn't fight with Bunny even if I tried.

Ph

Anonymous said...

Hey, I'm on blogs.hindustantimes/expletive-deleted, a new post every week!

Now this Ph person...

Bunny

Parmanu said...

True - trains in Europe are lovely. I sometimes think I can live my entire life on them.

Any plans to take a train ride to Germany in the near future?

Ink Spill said...

Don't invite me. I'll come over 100%.

Anonymous said...

This Ph person forgot how to write. I swear. So its a good thing she quit.

Hi Manu!!

Yay, mini reunion!

Ph

Parmanu said...

If you don't come I'll have to invite you, of course. How about August? It's hot, icky, and there are tourists all over - you'll love it.

Ph, GREAT to see you here. You may have temporarily forgotten how to write - I can believe that - but why did you take away all the archives? I used to go back to them now and then, and I must admit I miss them.

Ink Spill said...

August it is! :o)

Hornswoggler said...

Keep posting Inky. You make me so nostalgic. Loved the silence post too.

Anonymous said...

Manu, if you want to read the old stuff. And I don't know why you do -- you can always ask. :)
letstalkaboutmeforaminute@gmail.com

Ph