Taking the train to the north
My train was suppose to depart at 12:00 AM, but got delayed and left 3 hours and 15 minutes later.
It’s easy to get bored sitting on the floor at a train station like that, obviously the guys around me thought the same, and some came for a chat or only to listen while others were chatting with me..
I had a longer conversation with a guy who where a student, only 17 years old, kind of mature anyway. As usual he thought I was 18- 20 years old as well. But no, sorry :p
In some places this is quite common that people, especially students (usually guys around 17-30 years old) who study English will approach or come up to you for a chat and to practise their English a little bit. They might also be curious how you see and think about the situation in Myanmar. The government etc..
He asked if we shouldn’t get something to drink, and I was really up for that after 2 and a half hour on the floor. I also had the opportunity to visit the toilet that was tucked away like a mile ahead/out (in the end of the train station). Only that was a relief in itself.
I had a milk tea and a sugarcane juice, he had one sugarcane juice and two take-away cigarettes. We sat there for awhile lysn to the bollywood movie going on the tv. It’s really enjoyable, when they have really bad speakers and turn up the sound/volume as loud as they can.
(( And of course (remarkable as it is) everyone is watching it and seem to like it. That’s how it is when you don’t have anything else I guess. ))
Around 3 pm suddenly the train were coming, his uncle who were dropping him at the train station where calling us to hurry up. And we did. He payed and we took our seats, we sat in different carriages.
I had a hard seat as they call it in China/ ordinary they’ll will say in Myanmar. 11 dollars less and 20 hours in front of me, singing “it’s going to be a looong night” :p. Just so you know, the people of myanmar would never afford 11 dollars, this is a foreigner-price. That’s how the whole society works/ is built.
For the first couple of hours I just let the time be-pass(pass-by) by looking out of the window and reading up a little bit about/on the political situation in Myanmar.
I felt for carbonates, and was thinking of spending 1000 kyat on an expensive Coca Cola, and by doing that supporting this goverment owned train a little bit more. Hmm.. a love all the guiltiness you have to feel.. :p But then my friend showed up, and we headed to the restaurant carriage together. Sat down, I had a Coke and a cigarette.
Later he felt for a beer, I was not really up for it, I mean I could have one, but also I knew it would be fairly expensive to have one here. He ordered one anyway, and we sat chatting for some time. The sunset came and was so beautiful, the sky changing into many colours like orange, purple and red, over the more or less flat landscape showing only a few palm-trees along the horizon. But as soon as the dark started to fall, a lot of insects flew into the train though the carriages that was all litten up, and open-window.. meaning dosen’t have any windows:p
He told me he was short of money, and wanted to ask his uncle for some money, though he wasn’t here. So I took the check, 2000 kyat for a beer, 1000 kyat for a coke.
There were only men and guys in he sitting area, eating eggs and fried rice and drinking. And a lot of insects so I felt for leaving.
I went back to my seat, also making sure everything was alright with my bags/luggage, he went back to his seat but told me he would come and visit me again in about ten minutes.
Shortly after I sat down, tired as I was, he arrived. He wanted to go somewhere else, also because I told him that I didn’t really fancy all the insects coming in and on me. All different kinds, though they wouldn’t turn off the light. Could nearly open up a zoo in here/there.
So of we went (took off) again, he trying to find a dark place to stay without a lot of people. This was a mission in itself though the train was full and lightened up.
Between two carriages we found a small place that was dark, we stayed there for a while until the police came. Told us we couldn’t stay there, and that we weren’t allowed to associate or talk to each other.
We finally succeded to move on, went further in the train, stopped in one place where the smell where extra bad. He explained shortly about the situation and what they were telling (told) him.
We went searching for another place to seat, ignoring what they they just (been telling us) told us. There was one, like the other one, a place where they usually load luggage, rice sacks etc. The guy sitting on one of the rice sacks where kind of friendly and let us sit down, so we did. I layed down on one of the bamboo carpets and my friend next to me, lysn to some music on his cell phone. The police, the same guys as before came again. They called this guy and made him walk out between the carriages for a long chat again. Gush, I really didn’t know what to do but I knewed and I saw there was a big problem going on. I just kept watching them interact. I guess I was afraid that the police were going to do something stupid like hit him or something. They kept talking to him for about 15-20 minutes. They never did hurt him, but they made sure we’d split, and that I went back to my seat and he to his seat. He never had the chance to explain for me what they told him, but it felt like they’re threatining him, cause he looked soo odd when he returned and we didn’t speak anything more. They succeeded. He just told me to go directly to my seat.
I was so angry and in the same time little bit worried for his part. I didn’t want him to get any trouble, and now I couldn’t even go an see him, cause that would mean loads of troubles/problems.
I sat thinking, angry as I was of this mother fucking country and goverment and their allegiance to police, trying to show off (any kind of power) the little power they have over the people.
I asked for it, I wanted to know and understand the situation, well this is how it is, this is Myanmar and this are the customs here.
Eventually I layed down on the bench and closed my eyes, then no-one were sitting next to me. The guy in front of me tried to wake me up by pointing on me carefully. I hardly didn’t notice it in the begining. The train had stopped and my friend were staying outside the/my window, he wanted to say goodbye, and told me he would email me. I really hope he will! I went outside as well to buy some water, I was thirsty and I didn’t have any. He found me and we quickly waved/sayed good bye again.
(Sometimes reality is not far)
Reality is not far if you go beyond the tourist areas.
I went back to my seat, the night continued, and soon it was morning. Six o’clock, and I manage myself to sit up though already a lot of people were awake. I wanted to wake up as well though I didn’t know when the train were coming in to Myitkynia.
I took some water with me and went to the toilet and washed my face and brushed my teeth. Got back to my seat, had one 3-in one-coffee 300 kyat, and one of the tetra juices that I brought from Mandalay, scared as I was, that I would never see real fruit juice anymore:p
I’m not sure, but I think we arrived in Myitkynia around 10:00 AM.
I went outside, out to the platform, started to pack everything and gather myself. I was just going to sit down for a cigarette when an older foreigner lady showed up behind me, asking if I were going to the YMCA as well, and if we should accompany. So we did, the YMCA wasn’t far from the train station, but as usual rickshaws and taxi drivers tries to give you a lift anyway for a sum much more expensive than it even would be to cross the town.
A single room in YMCA is quite expensive considering what you get, 6 dollars is the price. For those money you’ll get an airy room, with one bed, a table, a place to hang your cloth. The bathroom is outside and you’ll only have electricity during the night, starting from about 7 pm.
No breakfast is included, but if you ask for it you’ll get some hot water and a sachet of the 3-in-one coffee.
For those who don’t know what a 3-in-one is. It’s a sachet of fake-coffee, consisting of milk powder, sugar and some instant coffee. It’s suppose to cover the real coffee. People here and you will probably also find yourself end up doing it, drinking it instead of real coffee. Very good for your health indeed.
In some places you can find good Myanmar coffee, but also that might be rare.
