trans-siberian express day four
I'm the only person in the carriage now. It dawned on me this morning that I'm developing a philosophy about this adventure. Don't get me wrong, I am not unhappy or anything but I'm a social creature and without meaningful human contact, things can be difficult. Isolation isn't pleasant. Ask any prisoner.
Thing is I'm not a prisoner so a natural adaptation is taking place. The essence of it is that I choose to do this, it is a priviledge that few others have experienced (one of the longest train journeys in the world), it's a time to reflect, slow down, take things easy and just soak in the experience. Nuff said.
It's a bright, sunny, beautiful morning. Snow gently falling. Now this is Siberia. I thought of all the poor souls banished to this harsh place. I noted many industries along the trackside and wondered whether these were once gulags. There are many dacha's in many beautiful locations. I'm happy in my thoughts. But then I thought of the fact that I was down to my last book. Need reading material for the evenings. I thought about the passport situation too. I hadn't registered my visa in Moscow for a variety of justifiable reasons. God damn stupid requirement anyway. Liable for a 500 USD fine if they should choose to enforce it. I pressed on though.
It's funny about how we take things for granted. At various times during my travels I have craved for things. Toast, a newspaper, a crisp sandwich. Today I craved a shower. The bed sheets were irritating me too. Like an allergy but with no visiable symptoms. This confused me as it hadn't bothered me the previous nights. Then I made a discovery (probably baseless) that it was static electricity. The trains are powered by overhead electric cables. Oh, to be bored, to have too much time to think.
I went to the dining carriage. Another over-priced meal. I asked for the bill and he brought a pack of crisps! I ate the crisps and tried again to order the bill. Up to now, I had given little attention to the addition errors on my bill. They were small numbers and I do not believe in arguing over small sum of money. The errors were deliberate, that I am sure, but tonight, I noted that my waiter is getting more daring with the margin of error. When he hands me the bill, he has an anxious look to him, I play along and pretend to mentally added up its parts. I look at him before pronoucing okay. I bet he reckons I'm just a thick foreigner. No worries. These people earn little and who am I to get all hot and bothered over a euro. Moreover, it's amusing. I regard it as our game.
Thing is I'm not a prisoner so a natural adaptation is taking place. The essence of it is that I choose to do this, it is a priviledge that few others have experienced (one of the longest train journeys in the world), it's a time to reflect, slow down, take things easy and just soak in the experience. Nuff said.
It's a bright, sunny, beautiful morning. Snow gently falling. Now this is Siberia. I thought of all the poor souls banished to this harsh place. I noted many industries along the trackside and wondered whether these were once gulags. There are many dacha's in many beautiful locations. I'm happy in my thoughts. But then I thought of the fact that I was down to my last book. Need reading material for the evenings. I thought about the passport situation too. I hadn't registered my visa in Moscow for a variety of justifiable reasons. God damn stupid requirement anyway. Liable for a 500 USD fine if they should choose to enforce it. I pressed on though.
It's funny about how we take things for granted. At various times during my travels I have craved for things. Toast, a newspaper, a crisp sandwich. Today I craved a shower. The bed sheets were irritating me too. Like an allergy but with no visiable symptoms. This confused me as it hadn't bothered me the previous nights. Then I made a discovery (probably baseless) that it was static electricity. The trains are powered by overhead electric cables. Oh, to be bored, to have too much time to think.
I went to the dining carriage. Another over-priced meal. I asked for the bill and he brought a pack of crisps! I ate the crisps and tried again to order the bill. Up to now, I had given little attention to the addition errors on my bill. They were small numbers and I do not believe in arguing over small sum of money. The errors were deliberate, that I am sure, but tonight, I noted that my waiter is getting more daring with the margin of error. When he hands me the bill, he has an anxious look to him, I play along and pretend to mentally added up its parts. I look at him before pronoucing okay. I bet he reckons I'm just a thick foreigner. No worries. These people earn little and who am I to get all hot and bothered over a euro. Moreover, it's amusing. I regard it as our game.
posted by Ciarán at 4:01 p.m.
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