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14.09.2007
One can really feel the tension in the air. People start to look more frequently at the
big signboard…When, when? Until the announcement finally comes, from loudspeakers
of poor quality. People rush to the gate – as it would be some kind of lottery. Which
it is in a way.
The trains are almost always full in this country. You have to buy tickets in
advance. Especially if you travel on an n overnight train. And if you want a bed to
sleep in.
It is funny how these anything – no matter what language.
In this case I understand nothing except that some train is ready for boarding.
But why are these people rushing like madmen?. What is the hurry if everybody
has a pre booked seat or bed?
- To find a place for the luggage, says Suyunbay – our guide. Who also is a bit
excited. Do not know why, because we have our hard sleeper bed tickets.
Still we all rush toward the train as if it would leave without us. On the other
hand…you never know.
Ten minutes later we have found our seats/beds – and there seem to be plenty
of space for our luggage. I ask our guide what this rush was all about. He looks at
me with a surprised expression on his face.. To him this is the normal way to act.
We tried to book so-called soft sleepers – but on this route there were none. Not
on the whole train. But these hard sleepers are in fact ok. Clean, not too small
and quite comfortable. No doors to close so this a common experience with all the
smell, noises.
It is humid and warm, thank good that the windows are open. Fifteen minutes
later the train starts to move. And the guard closes all the windows. Shit. This is
going to be a hot experience. Kristian who has the top bed – three above each
other has already fallen asleep. Lucky him. I try to read …until the lights go out. It
is 10 pm, only 20 minutes after departure but every good boy and girl should go to
sleep. Probably party instructions…or at least what the guard thinks.
Dream further.. ? All kind of thoughts cross my mind…such as “what is boy like
me doing in a place like this”
No deep reflections over our existence.just the overwhelming feeling of being
tired of all this. The incapability to take in more of China. I want this over and
done with. I want to go back to the western hemisphere. I am tired of the people,
the food, the polluted air, and the loess soil that is either dust or mud. I try to
think of the smiles and air realize that I am tired of them too…
I wake up to a strange sound. Like somebody is kicking something. Also there is
a reflection of light. And yes. The guy on the other top bed is kicking the fan..That
seems to work on and off. Mostly off. The kick results in turning it on – combined
with a spark. But then after ten seconds. It stops. So the guy kicks again. Same
result.
It is still hot and it would be great if the fan would function properly.
This continues over and over again, very monotonous action…so I manage to fall
asleep again.
In the morning t is much cooler and I realize that we are on a much higher
elevation. Nice. And only little over one hour to Taiyuan – the capital of Shanxi
province. Again a very polluted city with a few million inhabitants. This is where
our horses are waiting for us. They were transported by truck a few days earlier.
Why? Because this is what Mannerheim also did 100 years ago.
The knowledge that we are about to enter the final part of our expedition makes
me feel good. And also the fact that it is September and the weather is slowly
getting cooler. .
I grab the towel from the pillow and jump down from my bed and heading to the
toilet. Almost no queue outside the door. That was a pleasant surprise…the guard
passes by. He looks at me as I try to say good morning. Hen he tears the towel
from me with an angry look on his face. And walks away. Towels seems to
something of “ look, don’t touch” here in China…
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