Going to Pune

Wednesday, 8th May – Mumbai, Maharastra: 88 degrees & Humid!

Yesterday I rode the train, a 4 hour journey to Team Week for my job. One of the quirky and effective things that makes my job unique and also the thing I dread the most.

There are of course many benefits to this type of setup. For a young and scrappy staff this arrangement makes lots of sense. We spend 9 hours a day doing foundational knowledge and skill building and people get really good at their job. Lots of bonding and reflection. People are so damn nice and committed and smart. Creates a true sense of purpose, everyone is on the same page, and boosts workplace morale and culture for the next 3 months when we are doing the work. There are always a couple romantic relationships and hookups that take place during the week and the younger ones stay up late talking and playing games. It’s like camp for the majority of the group. For an older but still scrappy 37 year old this is the kind of thing I wouldn’t mind phasing out.
Today we worked on this incredible Appreciation Tool. Click on it. I highly recommend that anyone who manages a team should do this. It’s like the 5 languages of love for the workplace.

Back to the train ride. Went to a city called Pune. A quaint town in Maharastra with a population slightly under 1 million. Same state, as Mumbai and has a lot of the same food & culture. Just like Mumbai you can get some kick ass cuisine like Bharli Vangi, Vada Pav, or Misal Pav. Do you know what that is? Probably not. Mahasrastran food has not made it onto the international culinary scene.

In a month or two, when Monsoon hits, the state and this area will be green and beautiful.

This is my first solo train trip. In India firsts means being proud of the small things. I found the right train station. Then I was able to locate the correct platform and the right train.

Anyone visiting India should do a little traveling by train. It is a super impressive train system: The Indian Railways is the largest rail network in Asia and the world’s second largest network. It employs 1.5 million people, has 115,000 km that of track length (72,000 miles). It runs 12,617 trains to carry over 23 million passengers daily connecting more than 7,172 stations. And they usually run on time and you just need a simple app to buy a ticket. Super cheap too. Very cool. Bravo India. If you are on the train for a little time you also get some food. You see all sides of this vast country. The video I am showing is one neighborhood outside of Mumbai. We also passed through mountain ranges and other beautiful scenery but was not able to capture that.

3pm
My ticket said car #5. Was super proud of myself and ended up at #5. Boarded the train. Asked a couple people if my ticket was correct and of course they said yes. It was non-air conditioned coach car. It’s hot & sweaty. People are playing musical chairs, shifting in and out of seats. Taking space with their legs and feet. Every empty crevice is filled. The seats conveniently fold into three beds. One on top of the other. Families from all over the county. Vendors coming up and down the aisles selling samosas, water, snacks and cheap shit made in China. Even in India the cheap shit is made in China.

4:30pm

I have sat in 3 different spots thus far. The best spot was next to the window but got passively kicked out by a woman who told me she is pregnant. Wanted to have the entire seat turn into a bed to lay in. I obliged and got up. So I climbed up to the cramped cieling bunk bed. No AC and a fan from 1975 blowing hot air on me. The heat was a little much for me so relocated to sitting with this family of 7 down below. The little kids have found bunk seats across the train car so that opened up a spot for me. I am the only gora on the train (white guy) and I am typing on a laptop so getting many confused and curious stares as I try to find my spot in between all the children and people sleeping, people are liberally placing their feet all over the seat. From time to time have to move someone’s ankle or toes from my leg.

Then an interesting thing happens. The train guy comes and asks for my ticket. I show him. He laughs. Says I am in B5 not C5. I guess C5 is the cheap seats. B5 is the Air conditioned and comes with food seats. Smritika bought the ticket for me at about the equivalent $4.50 so I did not know the difference. He tells me to go to the other car. Privilege! I had the choice to stick around a crowded, muggy, train car or go to the AC car. I grab my stuff and go.

On a moving train. I move through 12 different cars. Weaving in between vendors, kids, people’s bare feet and legs in the middle of the aisle and people sprawled out on the floor sleeping. I try not to disturb. You are constantly playing chicken with someone coming the other direction. People don’t want to move. Aisle etiquette in trains and planes is not what India does best. A suitcase and backpack in hand. Through the hot kitchen, and in between each car people are lying down who probably did not buy tickets. About 7 cars into my journey I hit the “B” section.

AC, people are wearing western dress and not crammed into the seats. Smartphones, ipads, nice headphones and laptops are out. People are speaking a mix of Hindi and English. There is a place to charge your phone at each seat. 5 more cars into the quiet AC I find my seat with lots of legroom and a window with burgundy shades. I blend in and join the others, plug in my phone and work on my laptop.
I am one of the lucky ones on a Indian Railways 16 car train from Mumbai to Pune.