I used to think it was just my nursing stories that I couldn’t actually make up cause they are just that crazy. Then I experienced over land travel between countries. Thought you might enjoy a peak into our experience so here it is. I was keeping quick notes so as to not forget anything and decided it was funnier to leave in this format! Hope you enjoy. Blog about time in Haridwar to come after I recover!!!
Ask Travel agent for help getting to Nepal
Gives one option but says it’s not safe and he doesn’t recommend it
Find own way multiple modes of transport
Pay for train
Attempt to pay for bus, won’t take American credit card
Find local who is willing to purchase with their card and we pay them in cash
Timer runs out on payment, local can’t have it charged to her card twice have to wait till first voids
Wake up at 4:30am 12/10/18 journey begins
Take 2tuktuks for 7people and packs to train station
Find train platform, farthest one
At wrong end of platform
Speed walk with all our packs on to the other end
Train starts moving
Board moving train
Show “tickets” from online booking
Get told we are only on the wait list not real tickets
Have to pay to remain on the train ?bribe
No room for packs so have to wedge in doorway with packs and stand
Worker needs in to closet blocked by packs
Move all the packs out, move them back
5 1/2 hrs later Arrive to Delhi
Order Uber
Struggle to find Uber
Cram 4people 4large packs, 4 daypacks, and 4personal bags into tiny car
No idea where specifically we need to be dropped off for bus
Get dropped off on wrong side of highway
Trek with packs to other side
Get mobbed by taxi drivers and people wanting selfies
Arrive to bus station
Team about to leave to find food
Get text your pickup location has changed
Natives tell you it’s fine can still get picked up here
Try to call number for information
No answer
Team decides to go get food
Left with packs on the side of the road
Quickly realize if someone actually wanted to take a pack there is nothing I can do
Praying no one else realizes this
Don’t forget it’s 100degrees outside…. all the sweat
Asked company to send shuttle to pick us up at wrong station and take us to right one
Company agrees
Realize no one is coming
Rush to get Uber’s to new bus station
Cram 4people 4large packs, 4 daypacks, and 4personal bags into tiny car again
Call bus company to find out what side of the road to wait on
Get laughed at and hung up on
Find a local who speaks English to ask
Of course we are on the wrong side of the road
Have to walk down to bridge, climb stairs with all the bags, cross street
Bus is 35mins late
Bake in the sun
Bus starts leaving before we are on
Hop on moving bus
Bus is freezing!!
Get dropped off at inconvenient spot
Find auto no English trying to explain where we want to go
Get questioned about my ability to read English
Arrive at hotel take bags to third floor, get moved to second floor
Can’t find transport from hotel to boarder
Ask hotel worker for help offers to help you find bus
Drives you to bus station, tells you best time is 4:30am :/
Hit a goat on way back to hotel, break it’s leg
2teammates want to go to a nearby wedding, maintain buddy system
Hotel worker come finds me says my teammates are lost people are calling him
Called teammates multiple times, finally answered… not lost
Hotel worker out driving trying to find them
They make it back
Wedding fireworks works till midnight
Less than 4hrs of sleep
Now sick
Wake up at 5am for 6:30am bus, plan is to leave at 6am no breakfast
Credit card not working for payment, don’t have enough rupee, pay in USD which we planned to use at the boarder
Must find new plan for visa payment
Leave at 6:22
Make bus, no room for packs
Packs go on the roof… not tied down
Pray packs don’t fall off
Pile into 2tuktuks drivers charging too much try to lower price
Refuse, unload packs to walk
Walk 2miles across India/Nepal boarder
Not wearing hiking shoes, get large blister
Rent a vehicle to drive for more than we wanted to pay
Strap packs to top of Jeep
Sqeeze 8people into car meant for 6
Sit with knees in chest, sit on laps, lay across people… no comfortable option
Take diversion to eat lunch with new friend
No food provided… no lunch
Ride in this vehicle for 8hours… bumpy winding roads of course
Forced to pay extra to get dropped off where we need
No dinner
Jeep unable to get to hostel because of small streets
Unload packs again, walk to hostel
12/12/18 at 2205-arrive at hostel
