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THAT’S NOT EXERCISE
Running for the Train
A lesson remains unlearned in remote India
In January of 2001, Jon and I found ourselves in the remote city of Bodh Gaya where the Buddha attained enlightenment whilst meditating under the Bodhi Tree. The adjacent Mahabodhi Temple later became a UNESCO world-heritage site, which triggered a major uptick in tourism, but when we were there most of the restaurants were still in tents and there were no lines or security checkpoints to see the sites. You could even touch the tree. Countries with major Buddhist populations have built significant temples in their own architectural styles, but back in 2001 there were large fields between them and just a small smattering of mostly-squalid hotels, except for the one where the Dalai Lama would stay.
We arrived by car because bandits were robbing the trains, but our budget mandated a train to exit from the nearby city of Gaya. We managed to secure a private, locking cabin and were driven to the station in an armored car with a security guard. We arrived about fifteen minutes early and were told exactly where to stand for our train car, which is important because trains in India stretch approximately 650 meters, or the length of almost six American Football fields.
