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More views from trains while on Hollyday

Many a trip to me is a pilgrimage of sorts - the religion being curiosity.  Some throw curveballs and are rather exhausting in their execution simply because the destination happens to be rather remote.  But making the most of the journey (to harp on an oft harped cliche) does add flavor to the experience.

So here are some more of these exotically intoxicating and 'holier than thou' (you will figure out what I mean) adventures...

We start in New Zealand on the north eastern coast of the south island (the country has two main islands - north and south) and travel along the eastern edge hugging the Pacific.


Departure from PICTON NZ

Through tunnels and down the coast to Christchurch 



Few hours north from NZ, crossing the equator and you are in the tiny island country of Singapore..

Neat and tidy this once Victorian trading post and gateway to the riches of Asia is now a well oiled business machine.  
Hanging out at the local Disneyland look alike..rode the monorail till it felt monotonous

No Dhobi (washerman) to be seen at this MRT train station


Switching continents we enjoyed some quality clickety clack time in the Andes in Peru, one spring (or I guess their fall)...


Inca Rail traveling downhill along the Urubamba river to Olantetambo


And then onto India where the Brits using labor imported from all different parts of the world including Japan invested in the steel ribbons to move goods around and make em profits for the crown back home..

One of my journeys took me across the Pamban Bridge in south eastern India to the holy shirne of Rameshwaram - my interest was to cross the only open sea rail crossing on what is called the Palk Strait.  2 km in length and a 100 years old when I crossed it in 2015 it was then and still is an amazing engineering feat.

the rails over the water - Pamban bridge

Cantilever portion of the railway bridge as seen from the road bridge
Rameshwaram temple -Well- I could not get myself to enjoy the Holly - nor take it with me - instead preferring to say my prayer (for not being lost or killed in the line of adventures) and beat a hasty retreat back to Madurai

End of the line - Kanyakumari station - southernmost point of the Indian Rail system


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