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Mark & Den's Travels
25th July Hue - Hanoi Overnight train.
This trip deserves its own postcard. As we arrive at the station after a wonderful day out with Luw. The station is packed with Backpackers moving on, locals doing what ever they do.. As the train arrives into the station un-annouced we ask around if this is our train we get responses of shrugging shoulders, It the only platform so it must be right it has arrived at the correct time for us. We struggle onto the train with all our luggage I have to be helped up onto the first step by some very friendly locals a shove up the bum ( reminded me of a dive ladder) and I'm very undignified onto the train.. We find our correct seats and ask where the luggage goes the ticket collector jestures towards our feet YEP we sit for 20hrs with all our luggage between our feet!!
The carriage starts to fill up there are local women sitting on plastic chairs in the Aisles feeding their babies. There are hammocks being errected across the carriage above our heads so if you want to stand up you have to duck under the hammocks. All the settings for a busy night. We play cards, until dark then its time for the Valium, blindfolds and earplugs..
The morning brings some breath of fresh air after several hours of babies crying, old men snoring, Not Mark!! and Women who choose to clear that very annoying lump in their throats and deposit it in a bin specially designed for such a pass time... Oh and the worse was the old fat man who is laying above our sets in his hammocks it's not the snoring but the WIND!! OH MY !!!
As daylight arrives so does breakfast. We are thrown a packet of dried noodles and a steaming container of water. which is just enough for the noodles or your coffee decision time..!! Go for half /half and end up with very dry noodles and a very strong coffee.. Breakfast over with, we now have only 7hrs left we take our turn to the communual sink for morning bathing of teeth and rinse of face. as you pump the water up from the tank it leaves the tap down the plug hole and straight through to the train line via your feet. (so does the toilet hole)
OK It time for Ipod very loud, Book and maybe just one more Valium!!!
We arrive at Hanoi to welcome arms of TUKTUK driver who want to take you to the best hotel in town!! We jump on the first one offered jaded from our travels we really didn't care...
An Amazing trip with its own bit of experience. Woyuldn't have missed it for the world!!
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