Riding the train in India

Everyone knows the stereotypes about riding the train in India; they are all true! Except people riding on the roof, I haven't seen that yet (although my friends here me it happens during the summer). I took a second class car from Mumbai to Pune (approximately 190kms and 4 1/2 hours); I could have paid a few dollars extra and upgraded to a first class car (maybe Iwill consider that in the future). The train originated in Mumbai, so it started out empty for us. As soon as the general seating doors opened a mad rush ensued to grab good spots. I managed to get an actual seat in the scramble, my years of experience with public transit paying off! Others stood in the passageways or sat in the overhead areas which were originally designed for storing baggage. The train already appeared full, but at each stop more people boarded. On top of the travelers. vendors jumped on and off hawking all sorts of food and drink, other more random items, like nail clippers and ballons. Despite the heat and stiffling conditions, everyone seemed in good spirits. Most people could not speak English, but I picked up lots of positive body language. Everyone enjoyed seeing my wedding picture, the passangers passed it reverently around the entire seating area. The man sitting next to me, an MBA student named Sunil, was so friendly he invited me to stay with him while in Pune. When it come time to depart I was a little sad to say good-bye to my new train friends. Disembarking involved surviving a harrowing gauntlet. At least fifty eager would-be travelers standing on the platform rushed the train door as an equally eager number of us would-be train exiters tried top accomplish the same task in the opposite direction. Luckily a stout Indian policeman intervened in the smash-up zone with whistle and batton to part the seas for our departure. Free at last, I enjoyed the ability to move my limbs and breathe the relatively fresh air. A great experience all-in-all, but I might consider upgrading to a reserved seat car for longer rides.