Saturday, June 27, 2009

What the heck just happened?

Ever since my last post early Tuesday morning, everything went awry. Let me break it down for you:

June 23
- I had to cancel all six of my flights because of I failed to catch Orbitz' error in my itinerary.
- I purchased new flights (Atlanta-->Paris-->Mumbai-->Chennai)
- Flight delayed two hours in Paris for repairs
June 24
- Arrive in Mumbai at 0130, 15 minutes after my flight left for Chennai (it was the last flight of the night, and my only constant was my arrangement to be picked up at the Chennai airport at 0300)
- Follow strange man to a vehicle who said he would take me to the domestic airport
- Passing the domestic airport, he tells me it is closed and opens at 0700.
- Pay far too much for the hotel that he almost definitely worked for.
- Use the last bit of my U.S. currency to purchase the Mumbai-->Chennai flight which had to be bought in cash (also my debit card didn't work in Paris, so I figured I couldn't access my account in India either, rendering me totally broke)
- Arrive in Chennai with no problems
- Train booking office at Chennai airport: FAIL (nobody at the desk)
- Meet nice taxi driver who takes me to Chennai Central Train Station
- Spend literally 1.5 hours searching Tourist Reservation Office (with massive Eddie Bauer duffel bag)
- Find office, buy ticket, nearly pass out/faint/collapse/die from the heat and from sleep deprivation (I actually wrote out my name and the address at Karigiri and made it visible in case I passed out)
- As we approach Katpadi Junction, where I am supposed to get off, I can't see because night had fallen and the the windows were a dark purple tint, so I eventually grab my bags and head for the exit in front of me, but a nice Indian lady passenger is just standing there! and she eventually tells me that I'm supposed to exit at the rear of the car, so I trudge to the back only to see the ground moving outside! so then comes the most intense five seconds of my life: four Indian men plus myself start yelling at each other trying to decide whether I should jump off or not, and as my Eddie Bauer duffel was in its backswing to be thrown from the train, I saw the platform end and then only dark abyss and twinkling steel, so I stopped my throwing motion and chose the option that I figured had the greatest chance of survival: stay on the train until the next stop in Bangalore.
- Decide to stay the night in Bangalore rather than jump off the moving train at the next junction and catch the next train (which wasn't until 23:30) back to Katpadi Junction (the latter was the train manager's suggestion)
- Make a friend who got me safely to a reasonable hotel in Bangalore
June 25
- Make another friend who helped me get on a lower class train back towards Chennai
- Finally get through to the leprosy center to arrange a pickup at Katpadi junction at 18:00
- See man with "Karigiri" sign amidst the thousands of Indians surrounding me, and I arrive safely at the leprosy center.

My commentary concerning these occurences is far too lengthy for this blog, and the bucket I am sitting on in this internet cafe is hurting my butt. It is sufficient to say that I made it; it sucked really bad, but I made it. Much like my grizzly bear encounter many of you know about, this adventure was hardly enjoyable in the heat of the moment (although I laughed out loud at my incredible misfortune a few times). I realized, however, that very little adventure comes without cost or risk (Collin), and neither does following hard after God.

What a start!

13 comments:

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  2. Well I am only half sorry to say that you made me uncontrollably laugh out loud with your story...so thanks for that. I couldn't have made up a better messed up traveling story. You're like Charlie Brown or something man. I don't think it could have gone much worse...so I think it has to get better now. I'll be praying a little extra for you, but I know if anyone could handle it, you could. Hang in there bro

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  3. wow. I really do not know what to say except I am glad we were not together because you know we would have had the courage/stupidity to jump if we were both there. I laughed out loud too, thanks. I'm still praying. Take it easy the time will fly, I leave Tuesday its crazy.

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  4. As spence and Josh both, I also laughed out loud at this! Even though I knew it already, I can just hear you saying this. haha!

    You should have jumped. I like your risk quote. I was and continue praying for you man!

    Crazy story. Crazy.

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  5. Oh, and you could be dead.

    That would be worse.

    WAY worse.

    Dead in India... no fun.

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  6. I hope you’re right about the time, Josh. It doesn’t seem to be flying. :/

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  8. writing your name and address so people would know who you are and where youre going? wow thats intense. a few questions though.... how did you not have the number of the clinic before you left? how many times did you wet your pants? do french people really stink? and why didnt you jump!?! thats your stop man. safety, friends, shelter, food... all you had to do was jump from a moving train... where were your priorities bro? i would have jumped, but then again im reckless, logically rambunctious. but seriously, im exceedingly grateful youre alright, even i was worried and thats saying something. we have all been praying for you and im confident in your continued faith. this journey is just beginning. stay safe. peace.

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  9. thats gay that it says i deleted the post. i just wanted to change my name.

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  10. My first post got deleted too?

    Anyways, thanks for calling me and telling me what happened and that you were ok. Don't hesitate to call again, I don't care what time it is here.

    I was watching Zac Poonen and he was talking about 8 things we should confess. I thought one was really fitting for you:
    "God will fill me with His Holy Spirit, so I will be strong enough for every task." God knows what you can handle. He knew you could survive all that^ ;) He can strengthen you for anything.

    I said in the first post that this narrative had me laughing, too. Esp. the hurting butt part. I'll be praying for God to encourage and strengthen you for anything.

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  11. Joseph, You're my HERO!
    Did you have to jump off the train when you finally got to Velore or did it actually stop?
    I'm so glad no one ever had to find that note and identify your body. I totally pictured you getting hauled off by several Indians to one of those dreadful hospitals. Don't scare me like that!!
    It's awesome how God sent helpful people right when you were weakest...Praise Him!
    Psalm 63:8 "My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me."

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  12. Some answers:

    Dano:
    I don't know how I didn't have the number for the leprosy center, but it wouldn't have matter because I had no cell phone service and the phone booths weren't there when I needed them.

    I refrained from wetting my pants, but I almost crapped my pants at the train station in Chennai. You know the myths about the left hand being dirty, well they're still in effect! Most restrooms don't have toilet paper, only water to wash your hand; so understandably, I decided to wait as long as possible.

    I sat next to an old french lady from Atlanta to Paris and she stunk it up, so in my experience, 100% of them are stinky.

    I decided not to jump because at the time when I was about to jump, I couldn't see the ground, only bits of steel glistening in the moonlight. I would have jumped onto the platform at any speed, but I was two seconds too late.

    Vaughns:
    The train did and does normally stop for about one minute at the junction; I just couldn't see that we were stopped because the windows were extremely tinted.

    Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

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  13. I'm sensing a movie deal. We could totally get the Slumdog Millionaire cast to work with us. Let me set the scene: Action on 2 planes of existence simultaneously. Here's what might have been going on in heaven while havoc is being wreaked on earth: Chief warrior calls a meeting of angels (with skin on) and snarls, "What the heck just happened? Whoever screwed up the flight from Paris, you've got some 'splainin' to do!" The duty officer barks out assignments: "Where are my taxi drivers....you 4 guys on the train, try to keep him from jumping....somebody be on the ground to catch him in case he jumps anyway....you there, can you get him to a reasonable hotel this time....who has the connection to bypass the train waiting list--get down there NOW!....who's got the rickshaw covered....Karigiri team, once these other clowns finally get him to you, you know what you have to do....ok, places everyone....let's roll!" It'll be a box office smash!

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