Trip to Bhutan: Chennai to Patna

Me aur Meri Zulfe

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss

In my previous blog-Kuzuzangbo La, I mentioned that Ill be visiting Paro, Bhutan for World Conferene of Gera, which is completed now. Ill describe the exquisite journey from Chennai to Paro in this blog. My journey was completed in 2 parts, first from Chennai to Patna and the from Patna to Paro, both were terrific.

A word of advise: If you beloong to sophisticated middle class family and you are travelling in a train which passes through U.P., Bihar, W.B. states of India, please travel in 3^rd AC Class least, else you may face some problems.

I started on a sunny morning (24^th June) from Chennai to Patna in a special train known as Patna Express, it was a typical bihari train. People travelling with lots of luggage, no idea about all the rules of IRCTC, with waiting tickets and with Children. Initially I had a RAC ticket and the person whom I was sharing my berth had no idea about RAC (fact that he has to share his berth) and on top of it, he was accompanied with a waiting ticket person. On the other hand of compartment, there was a family from WB with 2 kids.

Meri Zulfe Maanti Nahi

This is how it was, within some time, TTE (ticket checker) was able to confirm my seat and gave me a complete lower berth. As soon as I got it, I exchanged it with my favourite berth: Upper one. Finally I though, its time to take some rest, but I was gifted with 2 naughty kids from W.B., they were shouting all the time and their voice was like killing my ears all the time. I dropped the idea of sleep and started playing with them, they were awesome. They were brother and a sister, brother was elder and known Hindi, so it was easy conversation, on the other hand sis didn't know Hindi and was a shy personality.

After midnight, I was able to get some sleep. In morning, I had conversation with their parents and soon it went to the US President: Obama. Their parent had an indirect connection to him, funny but true and who cares. All of us were so involved in conversation that I started learning their language and they forced me to have Jhal-Muri (famous snack of Orrisa) with them. Overall it was a nice experience. Our train was running late and I was fearing that I may miss my connecting train from Patna, but it was also running late. Night I reached Bihar ki Rajdhani Patna. There were 2-3 trains running late which passes from Patna and due to that reason, station was so crowded so much crowded that there was no space to sit, 2 persons were even sitting on water tap.

Next half part i.e. from Patna to Paro in next phase.