A TRAIN ODYSSEY AS A REWARD

          photos that would tempt many to take the train in India and see the country side in no hurried manner

The Commonwealth Game at New Delhi now on has all the implications for India. Like the Olympic and the World Cup in China and South Africa such international sporting activities help to gear the organizers to new heights no doubt with much trepidations and anxieties. It now seems to fall on Indonesia when the SEA Game will see Palembang Sumatra as host in November 2011. 

As athletes compete in the various sporting activities, the medal winners especially those with the golden accolades will receive various incentives. Malaysian athletes can be bestowed with federal or state awards and stipends in the form of cash is no exception either. I am curious to know that athletes from India are promised rewards of a different kind when they struck gold, silver or bronze. They would get train odysseys, opportunities to tour their country by train. 

Fortunately we were on the Keretapi Tanah Melayu coaches recently either traveling on the Express Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur Central or the ETS from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur Central.For a short journey even if it meant touring the whole length of the country, such a reward for our Malaysian athletes would not be strong incentives. Even its cash equivalent would seems a minor award. You can just expect the cries and dissatisfaction if such rewards were to be uphold in Malaysia. 

Now what does the train odyssey for the Indian winners refer to? Never been to India though the calls are there, we seek to find out and maybe embark ourselves on such a journey if promising. Surely it must be extraordinary and at best equivalent to the E&O Bangkok - Singapore Express. Was I to be flabbergasted ? 

Searching farther we come to know of a treasure piece in India's tourism. Long train journeys due to distances in luxurious coaches complete with tours and sight seeing adventures and the luxury of immaculate cabins plus services you get in five star hotels surely make India's train journey a luxury. 'Royal Rajasthan on Wheels', 'Golden Chariots', 'Deccan Odyssey' and 'Maharaja's Express' are some of the luxury train services that are known to offer new adventures in sight- seeing. It is no wonder that such offers are promised to India's medal winners and their companions. Checking out you will realize that these trains are epitome of luxury travels taking visitors across various tourist destinations. Now how much would you pay to ride and enjoy the privileges?  On checking out a 7 day /6 nights Royal India by train taking you to visit the sights of Delhi, Taj Mahal, Jaipur and Udaipur and Mumbai would cost INR 252,745 or RM17,689.00  Now wouldn't that make India's athletes  drive  themselves for a restful holiday after a competitive game?


It is interesting how offers are made in situations that are geared towards performances for the greater needs of the nation.There are alternatives in rewarding achievements. Only if we start to view out of the box.