Preparing for Bangladesh

I've got about 3 days left in Bombay and i'm not liking the timelines. I leave for Delhi on Sunday afternoon and after nearly 24 hours stuck in a train, I'll have under a day to rest, re-pack, and get everything ready for another marathon journey across India. This time i've got an 18 hour trip across the states of UP, Bihar, Jharkand and finally West Bengal into Calcutta. I break journey for about 8 hours before a flight from Calcutta airport takes me across the border into neigbouring Bangladesh. I've been warned however that considering the mindbending tangle of vehicles that is Calcutta traffic, i'm probably going to need every one of those 8 hours to reach atleast the road that leads to the airport.

"NO FEAR" is the tag line I've seen on a number of t-shirts. I guess the fine print reads: Leave your brains (and appetites - click here) behind before you prepare to cross India in two days by train.

Am I looking forward to it? Oh yes - I like travelling - it gives you time to sit back and read a book or listen to music - taking in the beautiful countryside every so often - or a whiff of the Urea factory that just happens to be within smelling distance of the rail line. Yes... the joys of modern travel!

Anyway here's to the 3000 kms i'm about to venture across - and the friends i'm going to make along the way. May I find myself in Bangladesh in one piece!