Its 7.30am and I am on the bus out of Raipur the state capital of Chattissgarh. This is a remote, hilly and forested state full of tribal villages which I intend to visit. According to the guide book, public transport is poor here and the capital is ugly. I saw Raipur between the train and the bus station by cycle rickshaw at around 6.30am as caravans of hand carts wove patterns with ox-drawn carts in amongst round faced ladies who bustled in luminous saris with bags of godknowswhat in the pre-traffic calm. To be fair, it was no uglier than my last state capital, Patna and nobody put Patna in the corner. Further in Raipur's defence, I left a sleeper train that was only 25 minutes late, pedalled through town without hassle or a pricing arguement and immediately bought a ticket for a 7am bus journey that the guide book says doesn't exist. ...what is more, I had just enough time to buy chai and bananas before settling into what is the most comfortable bus seat I have had on my whole trip ...so thanks Raipur, it was a pleasure passing through your awakening peace on your excellent public transport.
NB: Whilst writing this post I have recognised a question from another passenger in Hindi and replied ...in hindi!
Blury Morning
NB: Whilst writing this post I have recognised a question from another passenger in Hindi and replied ...in hindi!
