Travel | 15. Trans-Siberian train – day3

I woke up with the taste of vodka and smoke in my mouth.
I look around and see only strange faces.
I don’t know how long we’ve been on the road.
Days, weeks, years?
I look out of the window.
We were definitely in Siberia.

“Niko, Niko!!” That’s Ivan I think to myself. “Kom see, njet rushki, engleeski, kom!” So I went. Turns out he had found a non-Russian couple for me to talk English with! In fact, they are my new neighbours on top bunks too. So, I go and ask if they speak English. Yes, indeed they did. I asked where are they from. They were from Finland!! And that’s not all. They too are going to Mongolia and Beijing. What a coincidence! Have to admit I was a little disappointed because Finnish people are the last I want to run into. I ran away from them. I don’t expect us to share many words later on either.

Me and Ivan pestering the quiet Finns.

Sergei works in telecommunication and understood some english.

Volva

The last two days I don’t have many notes because there were so many interesting people to talk to and drink vodka with 🙂

By the night of day 3, I met Kiril 21, Anton 25 & Anton 26. The events took an interesting turn.

These nice ladies were on their way to Hainan, China via Beijing! I showed them some pictures from the Alps and the USA. Had some chocolate and just like that, few more hours just passed!

Sidenote: platskartniy (3rd class) in trans-siberia dangerous? Bullshit!
The people are super friendly and just normal honest people. Have had my bags and iPad unguarded on my bed most of the time. Also always left my iPad on the table playing music when I go to the toilet etc. Don’t fuck with people and people don’t fuck with you is my motto 🙂

(First published 08/10/2011 at LiveJournal)