This is to be our last substantial stop before arriving in Nabadwip, expected for lunch time the next day, except for another roadside Prasadam stop in the evening. It is therefore nice to be able to take a shower in this place, since about 20 hours of being on the road still lay ahead of us. The shower situation is much like the Ksirachora Gopinath experience, except this place is bigger and less crowded. Also I feel more confident this time, on arranging a 'gamcha shower' under a single tap, and feel happily refreshed afterwards.

The evening stop is five or six hours later, and quickly managed. I sit and write until Prasadam is served, quite charmed by the little temple reflecting on the small lake on the roadside where we stopped. It is almost invisible in the darkness compared to the bright lights that assisted many cooks from various coaches, as well as stall-keepers, to perform their duties. From near the water's edge, if you fortunately stumble across the lake like I did, it is amazing how crickets' songs fill your ears as the stars shine brightly above, and you could almost forget where you are - just meters from the highway!

As I expect, I sleep not a wink during the night. This was my main concern when I was contemplating catching the bus or otherwise, as I can never sleep in road vehicles at all, and I had found it very exhausting on the way to Puri. But this time, most of the journey is already complete, and no more visits are planned until reaching the Nabadwip Temple.

I have become very grumpy in the morning in comparison to my jolly good humour throughout the day on the bus yesterday. Tolerance levels do tend to fall when you have slept six hours one night then been in a coach with no sleep for more than 24 hours, with about five left to go, but we all survive it and it is well worth it. There is something more to the experience to doing a pilgrimage in austere conditions, in a large group of devotees together. Although I speak little Bengali and they almost no English, we communicate with smiles and even some affection has developed.