TRAVEL | MEMOIR | THIS HAPPENED TO ME

On Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Travel makes the heart go yonder

The word travel equals magic for me. The excitement of packing and going off somewhere fills me with joy, no matter what the duration of the trip. Over two decades ago, when I worked in a corporate job, I always had a suitcase packed and ready to grab and go on emergency trips.

One of my fondest memories is coming back home late at night, telling my mom I had to be in Ramagundam in Telangana (India) the next morning for an appointment with The National Thermal Power Corporation, one of my major clients. This meant leaving home at 5 a.m. to catch the AP Express train at 6.45 a.m. I’d hurry to the ticket counter to buy an “unreserved” ticket and travel standing near the train door so that I could jump off when it passed Ramagundam around 9.50 a.m. As there was no official stop there, I’d get off and cross the railway tracks to the other side.

After finishing my appointment, I’d return home the same evening by another train heading to my home station, completely covered in soot. I’d somehow also manage to catch up on my reading during these impromptu trips. I once traveled in the driver’s cabin near the coal bin — and what an experience it was!

During this time, in the mid-90s, I even managed to catch a train ride from Hyderabad to Vishakapatnam with none other than the great N T Rama Rao, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and legendary Telugu actor. He insisted that I share his dinner of cashew nut pakodas and biryani and I did, with his huge entourage hovering around. His booming voice still rings in my ears!

My first train ride is almost etched into my memory — significant especially because it is the reason I am alive today.

I was around two years old. My mom and I were returning to Mumbai from Delhi after being literally thrown out on the streets by her mother-in-law. It's a long story and nothing short of a miracle.

After that, any travel with family meant fun and looking forward to all the food that was packed, board games to be played, and songs to be sung, books to read. Most trips involved two nights on the train and we enjoyed it immensely.

Invariably the menu would be specially prepared curd rice (rice mixed in yogurt, a South Indian staple) with a side dish of vadu manga (tiny mangoes marinated in brine) and an assortment of Indian pickles.

There would be potato cut into small strips and shallow-fried, as an accompaniment for puris and tamarind rice.

We had idlis (rice and lentils soaked for 6–8 hours, ground into a batter, fermented overnight, and steamed into dumplings) covered in idli chili powder.

An array of homemade sweets wrapped up the sumptuous meal. And of course, there was always an emergency pack of buns with butter and jam, just in case.

Banana leaves from our garden were washed, wiped, and rolled to serve as disposable plates. We carried two large pots of water and two large flasks of coffee. The kids didn’t get any of that, though! We’d be so eager to tuck into our food. There were snacks — typical homemade stuff to keep our chompers busy.

The entire journey was an experience. Oh, I loved the “holdalls” — a sort of sturdy canvas sleeping bag with space to pack bedding and clothes that was then rolled up and buckled and carried by the handle. Little bundles of clothes were also packed in pillow covers to serve as pillows and tucked into the holdall.

We would look forward to sleeping in the floorspace between the berths or built-in bunk beds on the train. If there were babies traveling, the space was used for a makeshift cloth cradle that swung from a hook on the ceiling.

We loved brushing our teeth in that metal wash basin (we did not have one at home). That crazy flush in the smelly toilet was fascinating with its sudden rush of water (we had no flush at home). We would note down the names of every station we passed during our waking hours.

When we returned home after the trip, I’d be expected to write an essay about it. This was mandatory, but fun (thank you, Mom!). I enjoyed fantasizing and daydreaming as I gazed at the fields, towns, and mountains we passed. The sun traveled with us and eventually set, to make way for twinkling lights and stars as the train sped ahead towards our destination, towards the family and friends we were eager to see, and the temples we would visit.

My first plane ride

This happened when I was 23 when I flew from Chennai to Hyderabad for a job interview. My folks still laugh when they recall my experience. I was already intimidated at the thought of flying, being used to only bus and train rides as we could hardly afford the airfares. My family was nervous about me traveling alone.

I reached the airport a tad late and just managed to make it through with my boarding pass, thanks to an ex who was a pilot and had connections. Those days there was no internet, and we could not print them ahead of time.

Then, just as I ran across the tarmac towards the aircraft (air bridges from terminal to aircraft were still in the works at the time), my suitcase, which I had opted to carry as hand baggage to save time on arrival, burst open and a few of my things spilled out. I remember getting down on my knees and trying to stuff it all back in, worrying about my pretty yellow salwar kameez getting stained while everyone watched with amusement. Now, of course, we are veterans. Or I like to think so!

Biking trips are the best

While I love train, bus, and air travel, I simply adore biking trips and car rides for the sheer convenience and flexibility. Nothing like seeing a place on a two-wheeler, is there?

Our “gang” was a bunch of avid bikers and never hesitated to take off at a moment’s notice. Wind in our hair, body braced and one with the metal steed, basking the warmth of the sun baking our heads inside the full-face helmet… stopping at wayside shacks to snack and savor cups of hot tea…bliss!

Jeep rides are fun, too! My two most memorable ones are the bone-rearranging twenty-minute trip at Kazironga National Park in Assam on our honeymoon, as we were headed towards the rhinoceros sanctuary, and the killer rides across uneven terrain in Karwar, Karnataka as the jeep hurtled towards KPTCL, the power station where I had a work appointment. I recall being enthralled by the place. So gorgeous and everything seemed to grow larger than life. When I think of those trips, they feel dreamlike and other-worldly.

The thing I really adore about travel is seeing new places, meeting new people, exploring new customs and food habits — and of course, seeing the world. Then there’s the joy of capturing memories in photographs and coming back and gloating over them, reminiscing, reliving the experiences.

I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list!

Thank you for traveling with me!