One thing I have learned about India is that it is impossible to stick to a itinerary. Most people know I hate having an itinerary or have planned arrangment such as booking room in advance). This time I had a vague plan to travel North to South passing through various cities (as you can read from my old post). But even such a vague plan I couldnt stick! When you fall in love with a place, you just want to stay on and on. There is also a second reason Ill explain later. So now because I have majorly overstayed in Rajesthan I am catching an express train from Jaipur to Bombay on the 18th (urgently to make it to Bangalore on the 22nd). I went to the train office yesterday to book this train and had my first experience with the train reservation counter. The place is crazy. It is fully packed. And Indian people just jump-queue. Its amazing. I mean you are lining up and out of nowhere an Indian man would cut in front of you. You wonder if they are truly oblivious or they are doing it on purpose. I mean they are so good at it. You should see their expression. So I tapped the guy on the shoulder and he shrugged his shoulders and went to the back of the queue. At least they dont try to argue with me. And 10 minutes later (yes, I lined up in the queue for AGES), another man cut in front of the man in front of me. whew at least I didnt have to deal with him. The trains are confusing. There are around 20 counters at the office with heaps long queue lines. I thought I will just line up and when I reach the counter I will simply ask for a train ticket from Jodphur to Bangalore leaving on the 20th. Sounds logical huh? but nopee! I found out soon enough from the guy in front of me that you needed to complete in full a reservation form, which must state what train number you are getting on. India has the largest railway system in the world and countless number of trains and routes.I definitely didnt know which number train I was getting on! So I asked the guy in front of me to hold my place while I checked out the boards. To my dismay the only train that left Jodphur to Bangalore only operates once a week on Wed and even a train leaving from Jaipur to Bangalore express operate twice a week. So my plans to bus from Jaipur to Pushkar and from there to Jodphur was quashed. SOo essentially I was stuck. I had to get to Bangalore by the 22nd. I went back to the line and found out the guy in the front was going to Bombay. Because I was nearing the front of the line, I decided to buy a ticket from Jaipur to Bombay leaving on the 20th. And hopefully from Bombay to train it to Bangalore. I thought I could finally relax until the counter guy said the train was full on the 20th (in all classes!) and on the 19th. ahhhhh. In the end I had to buy one on the 18th, leaving Jaipur earlier than I intended to. I couldnt book my ongoing train from Bombay to Bangalore because I only had one form on me. Also I wasnt too bothered because I hear there are daily trains going to Bangalore from Bombay. Wells that evening, Ashok and I were biking past the railway station and I noticed SHORT queues at the reservation office! haha I couldnt miss this chance of avoiding huge crowds so I decided to reserve my ticket for the Bombay to Bangalore leg. And yes, you guessed it all the dates and times I wanted were full. So now Im on a waiting list. If everything goes to plan miraculously, Ill be spending 2 days and 1 night in Bombay and reach Bangalore late late evening of the 21st (and be on time! woo hoo). That is only after a shocking 48 hours and a bit on the train.