The train was not really called the Kochin Express but the name it had was not good and I can’t remember what it was. Clay and I had booked our tickets and we arrived at the station 15 minutes before scheduled departure. We had to rush to make it so we where pleased to have some time to spair. We sat and waited. And waited and waited. We asked a policeman. “oh this train maybe one or two hours the late” he said with the famous sideways shaking of the head. I pulled out my guitar and soon had a crowd of curious onlookers also waiting for their two hour late train. Bored kids came close to watch the westerners and the guitar. Some people where very friendly, “where are you going? How was your new years? And to which country you belong?” Late trains are an intricate part of the India’s culture. Incredible India. We are deep fried curry something food with red spice and white Bombay bread roll a regional specialty. Sometimes it comes with tomato sauce. Finally the train came, 3 tear sleeper was our class. Some people already sleeping, some reading, some chatting or passing the time. All busy doing something in their compartmentalized world. The sleeper beds are narrow and low but long enough. Somehow its comfortable and we got a great nights sleep. Only woken by the “CHAI CHAI CHAI” Yelled at the tops of the sellers lungs as they wander through the train at all Godly hours of the morning including 3am and 4am. They sort of waddle swaying their silver Chai thermos, a tall column of white paper cups hanging from their pants somehow. It all seems surreal at 3am. Then as you drift off its “COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE” this comes at 3:03am and 4:03am respectively. It keeps you on your toes and makes sure you get a full 5 minute break from sleeping at each interval. Somehow you still get a great nights sleep. The next morning we arrived at Kochin Central Kerala at 10:45 am just 15 minutes late on arrival. After leaving 2 hours late I don’t know how they do the calculations. Only in India.