I mentioned before that one of the most jarring things for me during my time in Asia has been the transportation.   There is absolutely no order to any of it, or at least that is how it seems.  Lane markers, if there are any, are completely ignored, and driving down the street is like playing an insane game of chicken.  Most of the vehicles are 10 – 20 years old and held together with what may be twine, and the drivers  have absolutely no fear.  But, somehow, it all works.  There are a lot of accidents, but I believe fewer casualties because the crashes are at slower speeds….I have yet to see an American-style superhighway in India or Nepal.

So, here are a few photos from our many forms of transportation.  Tuk-tuks, trains, and buses…just a few of the ways we have traveled around.

I could have lived without the 18+ hour train ride from Delhi to Gorakphur…I took barely any photos because to be honest I was too busy trying to block out the whole experience.

We had to travel in 3rd class, where there are 6 beds to a berth and at least 3 Indians who try to cram onto each bed…when stubborn Americans like us won’t let them, they sleep on the floor and in the aisles….when that space is used up they lay in front of the toilets. It was….trying….to say the least.

After the train we had the pleasure of a harrowing bus ride to the Nepali border.  The bus wouldn’t leave until it was full, and when I say full, I mean full.  There were about 10 men standing in the aisles and another 8 or so on the roof for the entire 5 hour ride.  The photo below was taken on another ride to Pokhara in Nepal, not as bad as the aforementioned trip, but at one point the bus stopped and let on at least 25 women and their children who were crammed in the aisles and at the front.  The bus however had a mirrored ceiling, fancy tin cut-outs and colored tassles….so we were riding in style.

Now experience a fast and furious evening tuk-tuk ride through the streets of Agra…

And finally, a lost in translation moment that did indeed make me laugh and reach for my camera…what can I say?

xoxo and a smile,

klc