Another year is coming to an end. I am not sure if I have to consider the birthday as the end of an year or December 31st as one. How much does it matter? Both indicate end of yet another period in life spent meaninglessly. At least till date, the lack of a direction and meaning in life has ruined year after year of happiness or sorrow, achievement or failure. At the end of each tunnel, irrespective of light or continued darkness, I have only gained one thing.

Experience.

Experience of being alone, doing things alone and choosing loneliness over company. Experience of being unsure of things, decisions that take longer than a girl choosing a dress for the farewell/freshers' party, a bride choosing flowers/dress for her marriage, or a guy choosing which toolkit to buy (stereotype alert!).

Bah! I thought I will get in some serious stuff here but as usual, the incongruous humor takes over. So be it. If life has to be a joke, played on self or others, be a bitch to me, let it be. I can't do anything but laugh and crib about it.

It's a journey I will cherish for a long time. These compartments are superb. The first train from Buffalo to Chicago was a single-tier one. But comfortable nevertheless, partly due to the lack of a traveler beside my seat (So I get the entire stretch). It started at 2am in the morning so nothing much to peek outside. Got some sleep, and I could tide over the 10 hours journey relatively easily (or sleepily).

Chicago Union Station is HUGE. Of course not as huge as an airport but, underground, well connected and well managed (as usual). But it was damn cold. My friend came down to meet me for the brief period I was going to stay there (train transfer). We went for lunch nearby and returned back just in time for the train to Osceola. California Zephyr # 5. The name itself sounded grand. And it was GRANDER. Double-deck cars with a sight-seer segment to look outside, huge windows, attached pantry and dinette services. The only sore point being no electrical outlets for seats (only two, but in the sight-seer area). Seating is plush with thigh support and feet supports. Leaning back-rest and ample amount of storage. Looking outside from the window of the upper tier is different. You are at a vantage height and it helps in taking some good photographs.

Though I haven't been able to click many, there is a huge potential. ;)

This route is said to be the most beautiful or the best among the rail tracks since it runs from mid-west (Chicago) to the south-west coast (San Francisco Bay area) through the Rockies, Colorado and High Sierras (what's that?). Unfortunately, my destination arrives even before they start, so I guess I have to make that trip again (hopefully this time with some good company). The whole journey, from Chicago to SFBA is about 29 hours and the sleeper (Superliner) coaches have individual private spaces with shower facilities too (WOW!!!!). But that requires a lot of greenery in the pocket.

The train sways and moves as any train does, but there is some beauty in this too (yes, am now boasting!).

Sigh.. no wireless so I guess this post has to wait till I get some Internet access at my aunt' place. Till then, this post has to wait.

Pictures will be posted here.