Not quite the Trans-Mongolian

(Written yesterday on the train)

Well, this is an interesting experience.  I walked to Hanoi House to pick up my train tickets, and the driver showed up 15 minutes late (he’d called to say he would be late).  When I walked out of the building to look for the car, he was standing next to his motor bike.  “Is the bike okay?”  I hesitated since he said he could get a taxi, but the ride was only five minutes and the motor bike is the main form of transportation.  After we figured out how to keep my backpack on the bike, he took off at a much slower pace than I anticipated.  When you cross the street they seem to be flying by, but being on a bike made me realize that they aren’t really going that fast.  I held on to his shoulders and we arrived safely at the train station.  After he exchanged my ticket, we stood around for 15 minutes waiting to board the train.  I think I was the first one on the carriage.  I paid him for the ticket and stood pondering my next move since I’d been stuck with a top bunk.

I thought maybe I would ask one of my cabin mates if we could switch, but I eventually decided that I would just take an Ambien and give it a try.  So I jumped up on the top bed, stored my luggage and watched mostly Westerners walk by to their cabins.  The first woman that entered my cabin was Vietnamese.  Hmm.   Ok, maybe the other bunk with be Westerns.  No luck.  Both Vietnamese women came in on their own – one said hello to me but that seemed to be the extent of her English.  I just sat on my bed with my legs dangling in the air wondering what my next move would be; part of me wishing that I’d joined an organized tour from Hanoi.

The train attendant offered tea, a phrase she knew in English, but couldn’t tell me any more information.  So, I decided to find other Westerners.  I left the cabin before the train even started moving and the second cabin down I heard some English.  A soft knock on the door and I poked my head in, “Do you speak English?”  A resounding yes and I was welcomed into their cabin.  Alison and Arian are from the Midlands, living in Abu Dhabi and traveling in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam for a couple of weeks.  Gary and Shelley, from Melbourne, are spending some time exploring Vietnam.  I thanked them for taking me in since I couldn’t communicate with my own cabin mates.  Made me miss Liz, Susie and Bruce as I thought how seasoned we were at traveling by train together.  I do feel fortunate though that I’m a pro night-trainer since I would have felt totally lost coming on this train on my own if I hadn’t done the Trans-Mongolian. 

I should mention though that the train is pretty good quality.  Air conditioning that’s too cold for me, a couple of outlets and individual bed lights.  Plus it feels pretty clean, which it should given its one of the nicest trains in the country.

It’s now 10:15pm, and I spent about 1.5 hours in the other cabin so I decided I’d come back and go to sleep.  The women in my cabin have already passed out.  I guess that’s to be expected given we arrive at 5am.  Anyway, time to sleep.  More from Sapa.