Originally Posted by
John2
I spent a couple of months backpacking India just over a year ago. I had an 18 hour train journey from Varanasi where I'd been unwell and vomiting. I'd reserved a bunk on a sleeper train, but unless booked months in advance often the reservation system cannot confirm your place until 4 hours before departure. Sadly I didn't get a space. I was told to ask the guard at the station to find me a bed in exchange for money. The train was 6 hours late, arriving at 3am. I was tired and feeling sorry for myself. The guard told me there were no beds but that I could stay in the hallway. I walked all the carriages and he was right.
I decided to jump straight in a rickshaw and head 30mins to the comfort of the airport, just paying whatever it cost for a flight.
I hadn't imagined the airport would be closed. It was also chilly out. I didn't have any warm clothes. I realised I was going to have to sleep on the cold concrete floor. That night was a very low point of an otherwise excellent trip.
The rest of the trip made me realise just how lucky we are to live in a society with the means that homelessness isn't as big a problem as in other parts of the world. But its a problem that is growing massively following a decade of austerity and the government needs to take urgent action. In a country of our wealth there isn't an excuse for anyone to be sleeping rough.
Reply With Quote
Hall Of Fame
Posting Permissions
