Home - it's calling, I want home: When travel becomes too much

***THOUGHTS - THOUSANDS OF MILES FROM HOME***

When Dorothy slipped into her ruby slippers she was ready for home, the fascinating new world had grown tiresome, unable to deliver the comforts of home. I was in India and the feeling for home was great. I'm ready for home and I feel it's calling me.

The feeling is strong - and I have never felt such a desire to return. There was Cuba, it was a difficult place and food was not good, but for some time now my excitement for adventure waned for the yearning to return home. I love to travel, to escape and discover other worlds, cultures and ways of life but here it was just felt too much, too much for one person alone. 

I'd heard it would be challenging but never in a million years a feeling of isolation, surrounded by so many yet singled out - the colour of my skin attracts and it's what's in my wallet that counts. A mobile ATM to anyone able enough to sell or pull the right heart strings.

What is perhaps disappointing when somewhere is, on one note, described as "incredible" then in guide books time and time again you're reminded of touts targeting the tourists and draining them of as much money as possible. When this occurs in reality, it ruins any perception and any acceptance of this way of living. A country that appears to abandon its countrymen to pillage from visitors.

I grew tired of lies, of lack of faith and loss of trust. I could only trust myself - and that becomes one lonely existence! Home called - home called - home I want - home I go…but not today! Time to put my best foot forward and just expect the unexpected for now...

Kolkata to Varanasi

The driver lugged my backpack to the entrance of Howarth train station, the entrance was bursting at the seams as travellers fought their way in and out. Stepping over bodies of people casually waiting for tickets, I made my way into the huge waiting area, groups of Indians scattered around huge mountains of luggage - announcements shrieking over the tirade of chitter-chatter of patiently waiting passengers. The time was 5.30pm, my train departed at 7.10pm, I had time to kill!

 

Taking a seat I watched couples engrossed in conversation. Mothers trying to control their children and men trying to capture the attention - and affection - of lone women travellers. My train, number 13005 arrived - it was time to board. Making my way to the platform I fought the hundredss if not thousands of other passengers trying to grab their seat. I was booked, I has a reserved space (but only at last minute having been a little unaware how much in advance you need to book trains in India – 4 weeks!!!) my second class air conditioned sleeper carriage was awaiting me on coach B1. 

India has one of the largest train networks perhaps, only second to china, originally built by the British – and by all accounts very little has been added since the Brits colonial rule. Spanning the width and breadth of the country it is one of the most efficient ways to travel - my tickets - R850 - just over £10 for a 14-hour journey. Not bad at all!

In the section where I was positioned their were six beds, I crammed my six foot frame into the Top bunk that barely fitted within the confines of the bed. I spoke to a Chinese traveler and a local Indian before falling into a deep sleep. 7am I woke. How I managed a 10 hour-kip is beyond me…especially on a train.

The train pulled into Varanasi at 9.17am - just 5minutes delayed having traveled over 500km. Well done India! (I can travel only 13 minutes, one stop in London and be over 7 minutes delayed…at least this is one habit I see the Indian’s managed to shrug off from the British – but this is my first trip afterall).

Varanasi station was bustling but much calmer than Kolkata. A tout tried to encourage me to travel by motor tuk -uk with him. You need to be careful here, they will try to take you where you don't want to go. Fortunately, I had booked the Sahi River View Guest House in advance having read praise in Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor. 

I attended the tourist information desk at the station who confirmed the hotel booking by phone for me and then arranged a tuk-tuk to take me there. R150 - sure I overpaid but at less than £2 I wasn't complaining, it turned out to be a 20minute ride through the town.

It was a hive of activity. Markets strewn across streets, cows meandering at their own free will - feeding on food & trash - dogs slept in the shade. The smells kept changing: flowers, fruit, feces, piss, herbs and spices. Rubbish sprawled the sidewalks as children made their way to school. 

So this is Varanasi? 

This is what I've read! And what's expected! Time to explore! 

How Will We Travel Infographic

Please include attribution to InternetServiceProviders.org with this graphic.