Indian off-the hook hospitality – getting to Gopalapur

6 August 2011

5-12/14-2011 - written way post-factum

Indian off-the hook hospitality – getting to Gopalapur

As I boarded the lovely-appointed air-con train [wipe out the picture of the general compartment of an Indian train that is not too appetizing from your mind – this one was fully Western-standard], I found a beautiful neighbour in a golden gown on the neighbouring bunk. The introductions went very formal: she said: I'm Dr. X.....so, I laughed and said: I'm Dr. One. And so began my long conversation with Nopur – a lovely biochemist and a woman of genuine heart beauty.

The next day, I awoke to one of my other coupe neighbours offering me chai! Did I tell you how much I love to wake up to chai? Then Nopur's dad jumped in to give her some home-made food from her mama and some jingly adornments for her classical Indian dance [a great passion of hers]....and jumped off. Nopur has treated me to the yummiest Indian breakfast I've had yet.

And then my new friends found out I had no idea how I'd be getting to Dharamshala [I assumed, I'd just go and get tickets somewhere as I normally do]. They laughed and shared that it's peak travel season there now........school kids are off, and vacation traffic is very much on. It turned out that my other neighbour was in telecom. So, he immediately got onto his WIFI [on a train!] and tried to find comfy busses for me and reserve them. Meanwhile, Nopur called her travel agent and began the search from the other end. All without a single request from me – when I thanked them profoundly, they simply smiled and said that I was a guest in their country and it was the least they could do....WOW. That is true hospitality.

A bit later, Nopur invited me to go to her home for some chai and conversation, and said that they would put me on some bus and I would get to DHM one way or another. I was game, naturally. So, we were met by her teddy-bear friendly husband and went to their home. We talked and played and drank chai.....all the while I knew I had to be 12 hrs away by morning of the next day – the yoga school started on the 14^th of May.

Finally, after the travel agents have given up – everything was full, my new friends have handed me over to Raj – their long-time friend who turned out to be one of the most prominent architects in Delhi, and, hence, incredibly well-connected. Nopur said, he would make sure I got where I needed to go. So, Raj and I took off for what I thought would be a bus station [given the pressing timing]. Instead, he asked if I was hungry [which I definitely was], and we proceeded to one of the best Indian restaurants of Delhi to eat some of the yummiest palak paneer I've ever had. Meanwhile, he called in another friend to join us for lunch [who has trekked to the Everest Base camp – and we shared ample Nepal trekking stories]. I was sitting there munching on my paneer in smiling disbelief of how India has whisked me through....so unexpectedly.

Later, without any hurry, Raj's driver took all of us to the bus station, where he gifted me with tickets to the bus that left...in 15 minutes! Talk about smooth sailing.... And, magically, by 9 AM that morning I was at the yoga school just in time for breakfast!

My bow to the beautiful people of India and their amazing hospitality. Nopur has permitted me to post her and her beloved's picture here for you to meet them.