Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Luxury Train Ride Across India

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Starting point is 00:01:13 It is such a pleasure to have your company. And as always, I hope you find yourself drifting into a dreamy, peaceful sleep while you listen along to the sound of my voice tonight. Soon, we'll head to Agra in India and visit to the famous Taj Mahal. Then we'll return to the comfort of our luxury train, where we'll be as pampered as a Maharaja. Thank you to Joe for writing this lovely tale, which I have the pleasure of narrating for you. But first, let's prepare in the usual way by taking a few minutes to unwind, find a position that feels comfortable and close your eyes. It can be rare in life to find

Starting point is 00:02:23 moments like this. When there's absolutely nothing to do, you can simply listen and let yourself relax. In a moment, I'll begin counting down from 10. You might like to breathe deeply. alongside my count. If at any point your attention drifts, simply notice that this has happened and come back to the breath as we move down through the numbers. I'd like you to imagine that you're becoming more relaxed. So let's begin now with number 10. Breathing in, and out at a gentle pace. And nine, feeling more relaxed with every breath. Eight, feel your body grow heavier and sink into the bed.

Starting point is 00:03:54 Seven, six, five, feel the sensations of comfort spread around your body. 4.3. Sinking further and deeper into relaxation. 2.1. Taking one last inhale and exhaling gently. Hopefully now you're a little more relaxed, so we can travel to India. This is where our story begins. It would be an understatement to say that you're travelling in style. You've never seen such a luxurious train. The surroundings are fit for the rich and famous, and the service on board is five-star plus.

Starting point is 00:05:50 You already sampled some of its delights this morning after boarding at Delhi. While you were on the train, you explored your cabin. A gorgeous sweet beyond your imagination. The room is so large, it takes up half a carriage and is more spacious than most hotel rooms. You enjoyed breakfast, and then later lunch, savoring the delights of the local cuisine. Your ticket is all-inclusive. You can eat and drink without thinking about money. The restaurant was grand and the food delicious.

Starting point is 00:06:52 Most of all, you liked the view from the window. What a pleasure it is to appreciate your surroundings from a cozy seat in a lavish dining room. Of course, there are opportunities to go out. out and explore. The train is like a cruise ship, making stops along the way. Agra is where you're making your first sojourn of the week. And it's where you're currently standing, having just visited the Taj Mahal. It's been the kind of afternoon that you won't soon forget. from the moment you stepped off the train. You were met by your tour guide on a strip of red carpet laid out on the train platform. Day trips are included in the price of your ticket, so there's

Starting point is 00:08:09 nothing at all for you to organise. Your car, driver and local guide are all part of the five-star experience. You couldn't have hoped for a better tour guide than the lovely man who's shown you around the Taj Mahal. Favan is the kind of person that it's impossible to dislike. You can't help but be uplifted by his warm and cheerful spirit. You told him as much earlier this afternoon as you made your way around the building, smiling. He explained that his name means full of life. He strives each day to live up to this meaning, and it's made all too easy,

Starting point is 00:09:18 because he loves to meet new people, just as he loves the Taj Mahal. Truly, he couldn't wish for a more magical workplace He is delighted to tell you all about it, and that's what he's done over the course of an hour, as he's led you through the interior of the building. You've learned that the Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, and that it's actually a tomb for the wife he loved dearly. It's a testament to the strength of the emperor's feelings.

Starting point is 00:10:12 that he would commission such a building in her honour. What a mark for a person to have left on the wild, you think, 400 years old, and the monument is as beautiful as ever. You've seen the Taj Mahal before in photographs and postcards. But nothing compares to the view in person to you. it looks like something from a fairy tale, part mosque or temple, part ivory-colored palace. Vavan has been an enthusiastic tour guide, pointing out the features of Muggle architecture, you've seen vaulted ceilings, massive hallways and domed roofs, just to name a few.

Starting point is 00:11:21 Vivan drew your attention to the symmetry of the building and the large number of geometric patterns. You saw this for yourself on walls inside the chamber, where the sun shone through a screen of tiny octagons. It looked like a block of perfect honeycomb. Lit gold in the glow of afternoon sunlight, you felt that you could be able to be a block of perfect honeycomb. it, you felt that you could have studied it for hours, as well as the patterns on the floor beside it. But there was more to see, like the reliefs of flowers carved into the walls. Most had borders of red and yellow blooms and green vines in a circular pattern. You'd assumed at first that the borders were painted, but thanks to Vivanne, you now know otherwise.

Starting point is 00:12:42 They're actually made of semi-precious stones, crushed into a powder, and inlaid on the marble. Similar borders framed motifs around the walls, as well as doors, alcoves, and pointed archways. though your favourite pattern was the one repeated across the floor tiles. It was the red silhouette of a dome-shaped temple. Everywhere you've looked over the course of the tour, there's been something new to study and examine another piece of wall art, a shape or sculpture, or another pattern of gems. stones. Eventually, you exited the building through the same gatehouse where you entered before.

Starting point is 00:13:51 It was only as you left that you noticed the letters, written within a frame around the exterior. According to Vivan, this elegant calligraphy is a form of Arabic, known as Ayah, verses are taken from the Holy Quran, and they include the phrase, O soul, thou art at rest. It's hard to imagine a more peaceful resting place. Even the grounds have an air of the sacred. You've pondered these words as you've strolled across the gardens, meandering on a path beside a pool. There's a vertical strip of water in line with the entrance. The gardens are designed as if this pool is a mirror. The left and right sides reflect one another. This includes the trees beside the water, which form identical rows of emerald green. Time is forgotten in such a place. Your mind is as

Starting point is 00:15:27 calm as the surface of the water. You're content to wander along the network of pathways, until Vavan advises you that it's time to leave. The last place you visit is a large pool of water raised above the ground and accessible via steps. It offers wonderful views of the building behind the gardens. You stand here now with Vibham by your side and take one last look at the Taj Mahal. You note the outline of its cream-coloured walls and the symmetry of the alcoves across its facade. The building seems to be raised on a stage above the gardens. Against the backdrop of the Yamuna River ivory minarets sit at each corner of this stage. These sleek white towers are often found near mosques.

Starting point is 00:17:00 In fact, there's a mosque to the left of the building and a guest house on the right. Both have been built using red sandstone, beautifully contrasting against more white marble. You can make out the roofs, above the tree line, where the tips of white domes poke up at each side. They're smaller than those on the Taj Mahal itself, which has a central roof like a huge white bell. You study these rooftops from the side of the pool, and in the reflection on the turquoise water, it's a mirror image of the Taj Mahal and the four

Starting point is 00:17:59 white towers. It's this image more than any other that you carry with you as you leave the gardens. It pops into your mind again and again on your car journey back to the station. At the train station, you say goodbye to your tour guide. The van has been one of the best parts of your visit. He hopes to see you. He hopes to see you. you again sometime if you ever return to this part of the world. Then he points to where your train is waiting. The route laid out by bright red carpet. Fresh yellow flowers have been sprinkled beside the fabric. You can smell their sweet fragrance as you walk towards your train. Arrangements of petals are placed around the station, forming geometric patterns in all the colors of the rainbow.

Starting point is 00:19:27 You recognize the faces of your fellow passengers, and they smile when they catch your eye. Some have expressions of awe and wonder, as all of you walk towards the sound of nearby music. soon you locate the source. A band of performers are ready for your arrival. Their tunes are as uplifting as their clothes are colourful. They wear bright red and gold. One man beats the drums that are hanging around his neck. Another plays a trumpet.

Starting point is 00:20:20 Further along, you see a man with a stringer, a gold, U-shaped horn, embossed with decoration. The strangers in front of you strike up a conversation. You all agree, you've never had a welcome quite like it. There are other performers too, dancing with glee to the sound of the music. You see women dressed in the most beautiful saris. They shower you with petals as you return to the train. One places a garland of flowers around your neck, immersing you in the scent of fresh musky marigolds.

Starting point is 00:21:29 These bright orange flowers are the same color as the turbans worn by the staff, who are lined up outside the train. They are immaculately dressed. Their presence on the carpet makes you feel like royalty. You've never been so happy to board a train. Or felt so welcome and appreciated. The staff seemed genuinely happy to see you. Your personal steward Ravi greets you and takes you and takes you.

Starting point is 00:22:16 your bag, you board the train, and he follows on behind you, the two of you chat as you walk through the train corridors. Ravi asks you about your impressions of the Taj Mahal. You gush about the beauty of the building, and tell him about the reflection in the pool. Ravi says that he's a nature lover. He adores the gardens and the lush green forests near the Taj Mahal. The longer you chat, the more you like Ravi. He is so easy to talk to. So warm and authentic. The train has over 20 carriages, but you don't have to walk far to get to your suite. It's just a few cars away. It's just a few cars away. from where you entered in the middle. Soon, you're strolling into your room

Starting point is 00:23:41 where two plush armbches sit beside a table. Ravi sets down your bag. He'll return shortly with a pot of tea. This is your opportunity to re-explore the suite and be impressed once again at what you find. The room has been tidied while you were out in Agra. You note a vase of fresh flowers on the table. The layered blooms are bright purple and shaped like sources.

Starting point is 00:24:32 They appear as if they're climbing towards the ceiling. On the left beside them, there are snacks and water, and a row of books between two carved elephants. To the right of the flowers, there's a gorgeous wooden screen. It reminds you of a trellis that might be used in a garden. Through a framework of diamonds, you see a blur of orange, the sumptuous fabric of your colourful bedspread. You could easily forget that you were standing on a train,

Starting point is 00:25:29 faced with the size of your double bed, the mattress looks plush beneath the orange silk linen. And there are golden blue cushions positioned over the pillows. Indian artwork hangs to the left above the bed. While opposite, there's a wardrobe fitted into the wall. A large television shuts out in a corner above more fitted cupboards, one of which has a mini bar inside. Even more impressive is the next room along.

Starting point is 00:26:19 Accessible through a mahogany door, there's a shower, sink and toilet. It's as sleek and sophisticated as any hotel bathroom. Even better, you have your very own bathtub set against a wall of mosaic. tiles, the image of a lotus stands out in a fuchsia pink, in the center of a pattern of pale blue and gold. Towers are on a rack above the tub, while pristine white bathrobes hang beside it. On the sides, you note an array of complementary toiletries. They're all in pink bottles, to match the color of the lotus. You're already looking forward to a soak in the top. That's your plan for later this evening after you've enjoyed a leisurely dinner. For now, you're content to sit by the

Starting point is 00:27:45 window and to sink into the fabric of a cozy armchair. Of all the room's features, the windows are your favorite. exploring India as you gaze through the glass. Ravi soon returns with a tray in hand and sets down a cup of tea on the table. He's also brought a plate of kari biscuits. They're a favourite in India and best served with tea. Ravi tells you that these ones are as good as his mothers. Although, he says smiling, he would never say that to her. The last thing he gives you is a warm face towel, with steam rising from the surface of the flannel.

Starting point is 00:29:00 As you hold it in the palm of your hands, it sends waves of comfort rolling across your skin. You thank Ravi before he goes on his way. He'll return in an hour. and escort you to dinner. You dab the towel on your hands and face, enjoying the feelings of warmth. Your tea has been served in a cup and saucer. Like something one might find in an English tea room, the fine bone china is white and gleaming and beautifully painted with images of flowers. You've only been in India for a short time, but you've already learned how the people love their tea. It's usually served with milk and sugar, often with a range of fragrant spices.

Starting point is 00:30:19 This is a cup of masala chai. It's creamy and indulgent and beautifully warming. The black tea is infused. with ginger and cardamom, as well as cloves, cinnamon, and a little black pepper. You read the recipe in a cookbook, which you take from the shelf after a few sips of the tea. It claims to have the recipe for every meal served on board, and you're curious to see if this includes the kari biscuits. Sure enough, after a glance at the contents, you find the recipe for these lovely treats. You learn how they're made of layered puff pastry and seasoned with a range of exotic

Starting point is 00:31:25 spices. You sample the kari between sips of sweet tea. The pastry crunches with every bite. These savory biscuits hold the flavors of India. You taste cumin, star anise, and garam masala. Indian food is so full of flavor that it never fails to keep your attention. Every mouthful is an adventure for your taste buds, a chance to experience new flavors and aromas. You close the cookbook on the table beside you and turn on the lamp. It's approaching evening, and the sky outside is dimming around you, though you can still make out the Indian countryside, and the endless green fields speckled with cows. It's like watching a piece of moving artwork. There's something so relaxed about the sounds of the train and the hum of the engine that vibrates through the floor.

Starting point is 00:33:09 You take off your shoes and rest your bare feet on the carpet. You can fill the vibrations on the soles of your feet. You'd wondered if the sounds of the train might be a little grating when you pondered the prospect of a whole week on board. Now you're here. The opposite seems true. The rhythm of the wheels somehow makes you feel at home. The journey is as smooth as you've ever experienced. With the subtlest sensation of rocking from side to side, you sink into your comfortable armchair. This is where you stay for the best part of an hour, until you see that it's almost seven o'clock. You have just enough time to freshen up and

Starting point is 00:34:23 change before you hear Ravi knocking gently at your door. He asked you if you enjoyed an afternoon nap. You look so well rested, so relaxed and carefree. It must be the effects of the Indian countryside, you tell him. Or the tea and biscuits. He laughs at this and says he understands. Now, more delicious food is being prepared for dinner. You'd have likely guessed this from the smells outside your room. They make your mouth water. As you cross the corridor, you stroll beneath the glow of pearl-colored lights, ones shaped like the dome of the Taj Mahal. You can see their reflection in the windows to your left, twinkling like stars against the darkened landscape. They're also visible in the glossy woodgrain and the doors of other sweets. Minutes later,

Starting point is 00:36:01 you arrive at the dining car. Ravi invites you to sit at a table, then leaves you in the hands of the smiling waiter. You hadn't thought it possible to find a carriage any grander than the one where you ate breakfast and lunch. That carriage had teal-coloured carpets with matching curtains and seat cushions. and the chairs were carved out of the richest mahogany.

Starting point is 00:36:44 Yet somehow, this dining car seems even more lavish. It's a feast for the eyes. Tables are positioned around a central walkway, where a red carpet looks fit for royalty. The ceiling above it is just as red and beautifully illuminated, by lights below it. The surface is covered with a pattern of gold vines, dotted in places with blue and purple flowers. The waiter sees that you're admiring the ceiling and tells you about it as he

Starting point is 00:37:38 pours you a drink. Like the flowers you saw earlier in the Taj Mahal, the colours are made from a powder of gemstones. The same is true of an ornamental peacock in the middle of a shelf opposite your table. The feathers of its plumage have been carved by hand, and a powder of crushed gold has been inlaid to add shimmer. According to Amir, your charming waiter, it's the most expensive ornament on the entire train. You reflect that you're fortunate to be seated at such a table as a mere takes your order and then heads to the kitchen. The table is laid out with a full silver service on white tablecloths that are crisp to the touch. There is water, wine or juice if you'd prefer, poured into glasses of gleaming crystal.

Starting point is 00:39:08 Red and gold curtains are drawn shut out to the windows. A series of gold tigers have been embroidered across the silk. If it weren't for the threadwork, you'd think they were printed. The tigers are perfectly identical to the tiniest detail. Pell-shaped lights glow from walls between tables. On panels with market tree, inlaid with gold, the lights emerge from the center of huge gold petals, as if the bulb itself were part of the flower. More flowers are sculpted into the frames of the chairs, around seats and backrests of yellow velvet. It's the kind of furniture that you'd expect in a castle rather than in a restaurant on a train.

Starting point is 00:40:24 Your seat is so comfortable. You can feel the velvet moulding around you. You're enjoying this sensation when a mere returns and sets down a first course of soup. The chef has prepared a near transparent broth, made from a first-of-south. made from a plethora of fresh vegetables. It's garnished with thin slices of leek and carrot, and sprinkled with leaves of coriander. It's the kind of dish that's comforting to the soul.

Starting point is 00:41:15 Even better, it's served with freshly baked bread. You eat slowly, savouring every mouth, Perhaps you'll look for the recipe later. Amir returns once your bowl is empty. He's delighted to hear how much you enjoyed the soup. Just wait until you see what's next, he says. Tonight's main course is an absolute triumph. You sip from your glass while he returns to the kitchen.

Starting point is 00:42:07 an elderly couple are being seated nearby. It's the couple that you met on the station platform, walking to a fanfare of drums and trumpets. They smile and wave from the table beside you, and you chat about your day. The lady shares your joy at having a bathtub in her room. Her husband is more excited about the prospect of dinner. You're midway through agreeing that the food has been delicious. When waiters appear with dishes for both tables, the elderly couple receive their soup and bread rolls. While Amir presents you with tonight's main course, he sets down a round silver tray,

Starting point is 00:43:18 with an array of dishes placed in a circle. You see chutney, pickles and creamy raita, as well as a bowl of cucumber mixed with tomatoes. They sit beside bowls of aromatic curry, one of chickpeas and spinach, and another of potatoes. One particular dish smells both sweet, and sour. Amir says it's made from tomatoes and cashew nuts. The dishes are arranged like numbers on a clock, around a central mound of fragrant white rice. There's also a side plate of freshly baked chapati, the surface slightly charred where it was cooked beneath the grill. this is more than a meal. It's a banquet for one.

Starting point is 00:44:41 You pause before eating and admire the food. You've never seen such an assortment of colors and textures. Or smelt such a range of herbs and spices. The taste you soon learn is even better. Each dish is different, yet they're all complementary to one another. The spices are fragrant and warming, but easily cooled with the creamy writer. It's a substantial follow-up to a light starter. Although it isn't too heavy, it's certainly satisfying.

Starting point is 00:45:39 What you like most of all is the way it's eaten by sampling different morsels with rice and chapati. Dishes taste different depending on what they're mixed with. Every mouthful brings new depths of flavor. It's the kind of food that you're forced to eat slowly. A mindfulness meditation as much as a meal. because you're so engrossed in the process of eating, it takes some time to notice the music.

Starting point is 00:46:31 It comes out of tiny speakers echoing across the carriage above the sounds of the train. You recognize the strings of a satire. Among flutes, symbols, and more instruments you're not so sure of. Together, they form a magical. accompaniment to a song sung by a woman. You don't understand the words, but it's closer to a chant than a modern pop song. The woman's voice is slow, both soothing and hypnotic. It twists and turns, like a winding river. You absorb the sounds as you come to the end of your main course. And then you're served your final dish, which looks a little like creamy rice pudding.

Starting point is 00:47:46 Amir explains that it's made with vermicelli. Like spaghetti, but shorter and thinner, this is blended with coconut milk and raisins, infused with cardamom and sweetened with sugar. It's served in a bowl that's small and delicate, with three fried cashews arranged on top. It's just the right size of portion after such a hearty dinner. The perfect finale to your Indian feast. As you finish dessert, you see the couple beside you. They've just been served to their main course,

Starting point is 00:48:45 and a marveling at the dishes set out before them. You bid the couple farewell as you leave the table, telling them that they're in for an absolute treat. You also thank Amir, your lovely waiter, and you ask him to tell the chef just how much you enjoyed your meal. Amir asks if you're heading to the bar or lounge. You tell him that you plan to visit tomorrow. He chuckles when you say that your only goal now

Starting point is 00:49:34 is to sample the comfort of your very own bathtub. Ten minutes later, you're doing just that. Back in the bathroom of your luxury suite, you've added a drizzle of sweet, perfumed bath oil, The scent of geranium, orange and apricot wafts up as you lounge in the tub. It transforms the water, which is like silk wrapped around you. You feel your skin soften. It's rather surreal to soak in a bathtub.

Starting point is 00:50:30 And all the while, hear the sounds of the train. The hum of the engine is a softened. constant as your breathing. It's rhythmic and relaxing. You can feel the carriage gently rocking around you. What's more, you can see the movements on the surface of the water. Each tiny shudder vibrates through the bathtub, and the water ripples like a lake beneath a breeze, alongside the bath oil, there's shampoo and conditioner, and moisturiser too, which you use once you're out. You feel fresh and pampered as you slip on your bathrobe and make your way back into the bedroom. A range of items have been left out on the bed, most likely by your steward when you

Starting point is 00:51:52 are out at dinner. There's an I-March. mask, earplugs, and a delicate gift box. You open it to find a number of heart-shaped chocolates. For a while, you sit on the bed, wrapped within the folds of your cozy bathroom. The orange bed linen is so silky, and the cushions behind your back are soft and fluffy. reach for a remote on the shelf behind you and turn on the television opposite the bed, scanning through channels, you find a familiar show, a timeless comedy that you haven't seen for years. You munch on chocolates as you watch the television, laughing at the funnier moments. It's lovely to be reacquainted with familiar characters, to laugh at jokes you've heard

Starting point is 00:53:14 before all over again, though eventually you feel yourself starting to doze off. So you turn off the TV and close the curtains. You change out of your bathrobe into fresh, clean, pyjamas. They are Indian silk bought in the train shop this morning. You pull back the covers and climb into bed. The sheets are crisp and have a slight smell of jasmine. The texture of the bed covers feels wonderful against your skin. And even more so against the fabric of your new silk nightclothes. As much as you enjoy the noises of the train, you're thankful for the earplugs to soften the sound. The volume is reduced to the gentlest rhythm. As subtle as the rocking of the carriage, you pull the eye mask onto your forehead. Then, after reaching to turn off the lights,

Starting point is 00:54:55 you close your eyes and pull down the mask. The warmth on your face is simply wonderful. While the duvet is snug and cozy, the mattress is so large that you can stretch out completely. And it's so soft too. You run your mind over the events of the day. the food, the people, and the magnificent Taj Mahal. You wonder what delights tomorrow might offer. What new luxuries you may discover on this marvelous train. For now, you're ready to surrender, to rest. Your body feels heavy and your muscles are relaxed.

Starting point is 00:56:09 Your breaths are long, deep and rhythmic. Thoughts disappear behind the inhale and exhale and the sensations of comfort that ripple across your body until you drift into a sleep that is deep and dreamy, one that is short, to leave you, feeling well rested.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Luxury Train Ride Across India

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