The trip to Alwar in Rajasthan is coming up tomorrow and likely to be another overnight train ride and then a second daytime train.
That may be challenging with expected delays.
There will also be the train ride to Bodhgaya from Alwar in one week's time. That one won't be easy either! But better for the environment than flying.
I guess the Indian train experience is part of any tour. Like many things here, you just have to give up trying to control things and surrender to Mother India.
There was some problem with our bookings at the Hotel Western. We cannot stay tonight (don't know why). So we have shifted across the block to the Drishti Inn. We are settling in as I write. It's only one night before the night train to Alwar.
It looks like we are spending the day at the centre.
Today I brought up the subject of the Bhopal Gas Disaster of 1984. The world's worst industrial disaster - reputedly. Possibly 16,000 died and hundreds of thousands maimed.
For our senior friends it was understandibly an emotive subject. Bhopal has moved on mostly since that time. But the effects are very real for the seniors. They will never forget. Also there are generations of people since with birth defects.
Just as I was feeling a bit bored hanging around the centre with not much happening, the excellent Priyanka turned up with her car. She is part of the community here, and very generous. She has put herself at our total service for the rest of our time in Bhopal. She drove us to a beautiful dam across the main Lake - out of town. It was wonderful to walk across it. Then we were rowed out in a boat on the lake to an island! The lake is enormous. It was dark when we returned to the shoreline. A wonderful experience with all the city lights reflected on the waves. A wonderful afternoon altogether.
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