AlexanderG

An Unforgettable train ride in Sri Lanka:

You cannot seek out an adventure; it is crafted from the random coincidences you experience. When you return home from a trip, you speak to others about it – the highlights. If you think about the best stories from your travels, there’s usually something topsy-turvy happening; those are the tales we reminisce on. 

Take, for example, a train journey in Sri Lanka when I was very young. The train was brimming with passengers – people grappling onto the crimson exterior. I felt the nerves fluttering inside, overanalyzing scenarios in which we could be injured. Conglomerations of smoke oozed from the train, catching in my throat as I breathed. The intelligible chatter of locals filled the humid air – the heat almost overwhelming. Yet, mustering up the courage to board the half-human, half-train amalgamation, I took my first step into the carriage. 

Instantly, it became apparent – we were not getting a seat. Surprise. We did not fancy the clamor and chaos that might have ensued if we had searched. Deciding to stay snug in the vestibule, my brother and I cautiously placed ourselves on the divoted step, facing out to the rainforest on the other side of the train. The door made no attempt to close as the train began to shudder, indicating its journey had begun. 

The train accelerated, dampening the effects of the scorching heat. I began to relax as the rhythmic clatter of the wheels became soothing. We watched blurs of infinitely complex, lush rainforests rush past, warping into blurs of green. We rode over towering archway bridges that thread through valleys hundreds of meters deep. Darting past vegetation as if we could touch it if we tried. 

There was no talking, no acknowledgement of what was happening; the experience’s immersion took centre stage. That pounding feeling in your head, similar to vertigo, became apparent – we could fall off with one wrong move. That’s what made it exhilarating.

Touchdown in Tanzania:

Even the most mundane aspect of travel – Flights, car rides, ferries – can be made into a memorable moment. This brings me to my tumultuous experience reaching Zanzibar, Tanzania. Exhausted yet enthusiastic, we had completed our final flight; spits of rain ricocheted off the glass doors, leading to Dar El Salaam. 

I stepped outside, finally feeling free, leaving behind the hours of cramped travel and unshackling the confines of a long-haul flight. The ambient bustle of street traffic could be heard, and the nearly imperceptible smell of petrol fumes infused the air. Our driver stood with a tattered piece of cardboard, displaying our name. As I got into the car, the air drew closer, the moisture tightening around my skin. Eagerness to reach our destination swirled. I opened my dust-laden window to take in the atmosphere. 

We needed to reach the port within the hour to catch the final boat of the day. Easy, we thought, only being a short drive. The muffled white noise of cool air seeping through the gap in my window, paired with the serene relief from the heat, began to drift me into sleep.

I was awoken by ‘HONK’, ‘HONK’. Car horns filled the streets as engines spluttered with dark fumes. The traffic was immense, pure chaos; other cars were pushing to change lanes as if they were brawling. Cars hauling cattle began veering off onto the road, pushing to get onto the pavement. In a matter of minutes, there were multiple cars racing along the verges and pavements which lay next to us. Our driver became increasingly impatient as we were going to be late, ramming his vehicle up the steep curb. The back wheels ground as one of them became airborne, and the front wheels whirred, creating dust as they struggled on the pavement. We were beached. 

‘BANG’. The driver thrusted into reverse and thwacked onto the road. We had lost a lot of ground from this maneuver. We assured the driver not to rush, as the realisation seeped in that reaching the ferry in time was unachievable. So we carried on creeping through the heaps of traffic, winding in and out of lanes. We were delayed, but relieved as we didn’t have to worry about reaching our destination in time.  

The relief was shattered as we plunged into the crowds that filled the ferry port. People were swarming the car as we clambered to yank our luggage out. Hundreds of people began offering their help. Fortunately, the ferry was unpunctual, so despite our tardiness, we could board. Hope restored, we eagerly rushed through security, lobbing our bags onto the conveyors. We heavily underestimated just how overdue the ferry was, so we waited another hour. 

After rocking on the rough seas, try not to be sick – close one for me.  We had completed our voyage, stepping back off the boat into the shadow of fresh nightfall. The pandemonium of the past appeared to have died down. 

Embrace Chaos: 

Both experiences, years apart, taught me that you can never know what to expect when travelling. Travelling is always best when you have a little bit of chaos to keep you entertained.