Back on the train to Mongolia
Trip Start
Feb 21, 2008
1
8
170
Trip End
Aug 21, 2008
Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Traveling on a Mongolian Train which is not as nice as the Russian train - it is older. It was evident we sleeping in the Mongolian smuggling carriage... - The man in the next door compartment appear had a large number of flat pack cardboard boxes and a large reel of selotape - there was a constant stream of people to have goods repackaged and taped up ready for the Russia/Mongolia Border, however we have made friends with Sayabold the Transport Policemen also in our carriage!
Speaking no English he assumed Helen would be able to mend his mobile phone!!!! - After a great deal of sweating and thinking that she might be arrested if she failed - she admitted defeat and gave it back - he didn't seem to mind. Later he gave us presents - a police manual, a comb, and a set of brass thumb cuffs!!! -Might come in handy later.
Just before we settled down for the night a man came and asked if we could store a case for him - as we were the only westerners in the carriage we agreed - I think it was what you called a rhetorical question. Once we said yes the compartment door opened and a human chain passed a steady stream of boxes and cases into our room filling every available space.
We hadn't got a clue what was in the parcels - we hardly slept a wink afraid that we would be raided at any moment - BUT true to his word first thing in the morning before we reached the border and the border police entered the train all the packages disappeared. Helen hopes the strain has meant that she lost a few pounds!!!
