The night train......a unique cultural experience

Trip Start Feb 21, 2008
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6
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Trip End Mar 18, 2008


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Where I stayed
the night train
(Hue hotels)

Flag of Vietnam  ,
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

After our very adventurous trip to Halong Bay we were all nice and tired so off we went to get the night train to Hue. We had booked a first class compartment with "soft beds" (I think the alternative was a bench so we didn't have much choice). I don't know what it is about me maybe I smile too much or I have a really innocent face but the minute we got into the train station a man was over helping me with my bag and showing me the platform to go to. So of course I was thinking how nice until I looked at the girls and realised I had done it again......so I ran after him and grabbed my bag back and I said thank you very much we are fine now. And he wouldn't go away. He followed us all the way to our carriage. So I thanked him again and jumped on the train and all the other hawkers were jeering him cos he got no tip but seriously I couldn't have given him money the girls would have killed me.

First class......Oh My God. It was like a prison cell. Caroline was afraid to touch the blanket in case something bit her. I am getting a bit more relaxed about the hygiene thing now so I decided to ignore the general filth The torch came in handy
The torch came in handy
 . Hahahaha, so I thought. But then I had to go to the toilet.......so i went looking for the toilet and the man told me they were closed until the train was moving. Then I discovered that this is because the stuff just empties straight onto the track. So I was going to get off the train and look for one in the station but the girls decided that knowing my luck the train would go without me. Once the train started moving I went down to the toilet. It is a hole in the ground with a bar to hang on to when you hover! I had no idea how to manage this (what happens to your trousers? what if you have bad aim?), but then I found a "western" toilet at the other end of the carriage. The filth. The stench. I couldn't even take a picture of it because it was a bit trainspotting. In the morning it was covered in puke. There were people selling stuff off little carts all night so we had a beer in the little cabin but then I couldn't have any more because I was afraid I would have to use the loo...

I'll put up some pictures later the USB thingy isn't working on this computer
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