Agra to Jaipur

Agra to Jaipur
Got a tuk tuk to Agra Fort station where the train was already waiting, and I was shown to my seat by a polite attendant. It looks like a proper, modern train with comfortable, reclining seats and windows that look as if they have been cleaned. As we were waiting in the station a long freight train came rolling through carrying containers from just about every shipping company in the world including Maersk.

We left on time at 1740 and I was almost immediately offered what I assumed was dinner, a samosa, a white bread sandwich of indeterminate filling, a drink called Chach massala, spiced buttermilk, an acquired taste, and a very sweet flaky pastry called Soan cake. And a flask of hot water  to make tea. Later learnt that this was just a snack. There are only about 6 people in my carriage, surprising since this is the only "fast" train from Agra to Jaipur. It does feels quite fast and is definitely the most prestigious train I have been on in India. Later the attendant came round with trays of something else which I assumed to be dinner but it didn't look very appetising so decided to give it a miss. 

At about 2120 we stopped at a station which I initially thought was Jaipur, the time was right, but people weren't getting off. A rather confused young guy from Nanjing, the only other foreigner in the carriage, was asking me if I knew where we were. He must find India even more challenging than I do. We stayed at whatever station this was for nearly an hour before finally crawling into Jaipur about an hour and a half late. A tuk tuk driver approached me as I got off the train and 110 rupees to the hotel seemed like a good offer. Unfortunately his tuk tuk was hemmed in by many others, there must have been a hundred in the car park,  so he had to push several of them out of the way. Alas, his tuk tuk had an electric starter that didn't, so he had to get some fellow drivers to push start the beast. Eventually after driving through many dark streets and a couple that had buildings with lights, we got to Comfort Sapphire Hotel where I was very happy to check in. Very comfortable room with desk, comfy chair, kettle, fridge and safe. Probably the best place I have stayed in India. 

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