January 03, 2009 NJ Transit, Edison, NJ

January 03, 2009

NJ Transit, Edison, NJ

Traveling through train has become easy deal now, especially after I came to know that I can use my Wellsfargo Debit card just as any Credit card. It just require couple of minutes to search through the net regarding the route and time of the train and know where you have to get off (google map rocks), rest goes easy, unless you forget your station.

Suresh being generous enough dropped me off till the station though it was like 5 minutes walking distance. The one way rate to New York Penn Station from Edison is 9.75 bucks (ain’t that cheap though), and takes an hour to reach there. Two of the Korean/Chinese/Japanese looking girls suffered a bit to get the tickets from the vending machine since they were paying cash and all of us behind the line were getting anxious. It was normal that these vending machines go out of order every now and then here (amrika ma ni hune raicha)

It is my first time riding a double story train, and it is cool. The train is full, might be because it is Saturday and lots of them going to New York to enjoy the holiday. What I like about these trains are they are about precise on timing and frequently announces on the upcoming stations and safety notice (… when leaving the train, please watch the Gap) very unlikely to my train riding experience in India.

Yup called Aashish to  come to Central Park. I will have to take subway from Penn Station though; hmmm …… arko 10 bucks ko chunna lagne bhayo J

….. once again I was doomed by the MTA teller machine, of course coming from South Dakota what else can one expect … I tried to use my Debit card as ATM card but the damn teller didn’t authorize it … used it as CC where it asked for zip code … how in the hell am I supposed to know it was asking the zip code of the state where my bank is (came to know about this later)  …. aha … I kept on pining in my security code and authorization failed everytime …. made me think (as a lame country-men) if I shall go up in the street and start walking ….hehehe … turned out to be a good idea since I got to see Madison Square Garden, which I have been seeing in the TV all the time in NBA as NewYork Nicks home ground.

Back on the street, there was no way I could walk from there till the Central Park, which was like damn 25 blocks. This forced me down to subway once again and fortunately this station lady was there helping others telling the directions. She told me that I am supposed to put in the Zip code of South Dakota to get my card work, and yala it worked ... another 10 bucks ;)