Travel Guide

Zara hatke...
Zara bachke...
Ye hai Bambai meri jaan...

This Rafi song sums up the very essence of travelling by a Local Train here in Bombay,
You Sweat,You Shudder,You Shrug but You do not complain...

It has been an almost one year now since I started travelling by Local Trains to my college and I must admit it has been one helluva of a ride!!For starters, I will list down a few things that need to be taken care while travelling in local trains out here..

To begin with, this one's especially for all the "Dilliwallas" who travel without tickets in the DTC buses and get away unscathed. Never try travelling without a ticket in the trains here. Ticket checking is pretty much a routine affair here and it would be only a lady luck smiling on you that may come to the rescue.

In case you land in such a soup anyhow, make sure that you have enough money in your pocket to pay for the fine (Well that's 250 bucks these days).

Never step in a 1st class compartment with a 2nd class ticket. There are no excuses entertained, 'train khul rahi thi , aur mai jaldi me tha,wagara wagara"!! My classmates would vouch for that..:) The fine in case you are caught travelling in a 1st class bogey is as high as 500 Rs/- .

Searching for the 1st class compartment is quite a task for the novice ones. So for all you people out there, there are clear red and yellow stripes on the platform which signify 1st class.

This one’s for the Male candidates out here!! Make sure that you don’t accidently land into a female compartment. There are specific labels outside those bogeys which are often not picked up by first time travelers.

Do not get bothered by the "bheed" standing to board the train, as soon as the train comes to a halt, let the disembarking passengers come out and then “Push and Push hard” , do not worry , no one will mind it and yes, everyone gets a place inside the bogey.

U shouldn't mind the "Sweaty Fragrances" of your Co-Passengers getting into your nose, that's a part of the whole package u see..:)

Once you are inside the bogey, try getting inside the compartment instead of standing near the entrance, u will often end with a comfortable nook to stand.

Travelling in 2nd class often means that your Cell phones, Purse and other valuables items are left at the mercy of your fellow passengers. Make sure that you have them perfectly snuggled in a bag or at least they have been stuck deep into your pocket.

Do not try getting in the path of the entrance because that would then invite "howling and galli galauj" from the disembarking passengers.

Never worry if you cannot locate your platform, there will be many helping hands ready to guide you through because bombayites know your time is essential.

Never worry if you happen to be a female travelling late in the night because bombayites care for their mothers, sisters and wives.

Never worry if you are an elderly person waiting to give a rest to your tired legs, there will be many ready to vacate their seats for you because bombayites respect their elders

Never worry in Bombay because bombayites care and understand each other's daily fight for survival...............