Last Train to TransSiberia
Greetings readers, it's a nervy little ball of nerves here, 5 hours out from boarding the train. Please excuse the terrible subject line, it's for the benefit of the two remaining fans of KLF, and them alone.
I tearily farewelled my beloved Julie this morning, as she heads forMongolia. It's been exactly four months of travelling together, and our first ever opportunity to spend continuous time together after over a year of distance-enforced monthly visits. I miss you already snookums...
I am, therefore, alone in China.I feel as prepared as I can be, and my inventory (clothing aside)consists of the following;
1 x Swiss Army knife,
1 x packet of cookies,
1 x packet of peanuts,
1.5kg of mandarins,
1 x packet of green tea,
1 x autographed and well worn statue of Berin "Mr. Amazing" McKenzie,
20 x sachets of coffee,
1 x baby wipes,
2 x packets of chocolate,
2 x rolls of toilet paper,
1 x packet of dried mangos (to stop the scurvy setting in...)
1 x packet of grape candy,
1 x packet of cotton buds (my daily 'treat' for ear mining...)
1 x 20m rope and grappling hook,
and1 x bar of soap (lux, blue)
I also packed the following reading, chosen from the 11 English booksin Beijing;'
The Victors', Stephen E. Ambrose,
'Ivanoe', Sir Walter Scott,
'The Base: Al-Qaeda and the Changing Face of Global Terror', Jane Corbin,
'Being Amazing; A Dummies Guide' , Sir Berin McKenzie, OBE, DFC and Bar
'1215: The Year Of The Magna Carta', Danny Danziger & John Gillingham.
I elected against Anna Karenina as it's only a one way trip and I didn't think I could finish it.
It's been a day of sights; highlights being a young mother trying to simultaneously sell me pornography and placate her infant child, and the heartwarming scene of community building as I watched 4 policemen offer then light a cigarette for a young boy of about 11. Gave me warmfuzzies, let me tell you.
Scamming has continued on an almost hourly basis, but thank you to those who offered suggestions. Merit Award to Anonomouse, who suggested impersonating a chicken, as an alternative to my frustration. Who is that masked blogger?
So, loyal readers, by the time you read this I will be somewhere north of Beijing, approaching the Russian border near Manzhouli. Think ofme as I trundle across the frozen steppes of Siberia, and I'll dropyou all a line once I make it to Moscow, and the loving assistance ofChris and Vika.
Your man, feeling a little like he did the first night he went away to boarding school, Arch :)
2 Comments:
Wow Arch, I bet you feel like a...damn I can't think of a good metaphor. I gotta read more Fountainhead. But losing your travel partner, while in a semi-depressing place of corruption and scamming does not sound like how I would choose to spend my Sunday morning. But I'm sure it's makin' ya a better man son. Puttin' some hair on your chest there. Glad to hear of your simple equipment. You've left plenty of room for your mind and soul to guide your way. Thank you for your notes. Sorry we haven't been able to be online at the same time. I understand that that time will come. You're in my thoughts partner. Best, detroitjapan
Clickaty clack Clickaty clack etc O where has our intrepid adventurer got too? we crave an update on his epic journey, hope all has gone well on the monster train mission and you are fizzing with new tales of mirth and madness.
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