train blogging

Early morning of December 18. Wow, technology. Blogging on the train. I don’t have internet, but i can write. After bringing my computer... i’ll never go back. Its amazing how addicted we get to our technology.
Mom says hi. We woke at 4:45 for our adventure today. Nothing like an actual travel day to stimulate the old writing juices. Its like a ripe mango (or a ripe strawberry). The sun is rising on the Kalingautkal Express going to Agra from Haridwar in Northern India. We are slowly making our way south.
The sun is rising and mom says it looks like Africa, and it does, the silhouette of the trees backlit by the maroon and orange sky.
Last night we stayed in Haridwar, which is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage centres in India. People come from all over India for the ceremonial Aarti (which is the singing and fire ceremony) on the steps of the Holy river Ganges. They might save the money their whole lives to make this one trip, important to the fate of their soul. We enjoyed.
Bicycle rickshaws abound in Haridwar and so we took advantage of such an ingenious invention ( i am considering a career change, if you like biking, what a great way to make a living! You’d live to be a hundred, your heart and muscles would be so strong. And it is so peaceful....like sailing, without the noise of an engine, just you and the wind.) We took another one this morning to the train station. It was so full of our luggage that only mom could ride. I walked along beside and I almost beat him there. (Train station was only about 200metres, but with so much luggage, 200metres is an unnecessary struggle). A nice brisk morning walk suited me fine. 
We had a nice dinner of kashmiri pulao and raita last night, which is just a fancy word for a nice fried rice with cashews, pineapple and peas. Yum. And we went to bed early. Had a great sleep and woke up at 4:45 and here we are. So, we will be on this train for 10 hours to Agra. We brought snacks. We’ve already had our morning chai (nothing like my families chai in Rishikesh but what can you do). Now we are just enjoying the view. And i am a little bit tripping out over the fact that i can use my laptop on the train. Its a bit cold on the fingers though, to have them sticking out, so i think i’m going to sign off.
Tonight we will behold the Taj Mahal (or maybe tomorrow) and then in 3 days we’ll be in Goaaaaaaaaah. Aaaaaah. Can’t wait to get warm down south. I’m sure i’ll be complaining about it being too hot before you know it. Haha! But right now, i’m dreaming about it. So signing off for now. love and kisses , ang