Welcome to another edition of Tall Tales Tuesday! Today’s installment takes us back to Vietnam.
During our Christmas break, Rob and I went from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, south to north, exploring all the major cities in-between. From overnight busses to planes to taxis to boats to trains, we were on just about every mode of transportation possible.
From Nha Trang to Hoi An, the easiest and cheapest route was the 10 hour train ride.
Our tour guide that morning in Hoi An lectured us to get to the station early as the time table is really more of a guideline than a rule. The train could arrive any time and would not wait until its appointed time, but rather leave whenever the platform was generally empty.
When we got through the turnstile, we learned that waiting passengers were allowed to stand on the tracks.
In fact, they crowded the train while it was still moving into the station.
And carrying a live chicken in a cardboard box with air holes onto the train is the norm.
Once we settled into our seats, and noted how badly everyone was sweating, we started moving. (We learned later from the only other expat along for the ride that the AC had gone out for about 3 hours just before we got on.)
This is the train that travels from Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to Hanoi in a 24 hour shot. Most of the people on it were traveling that exact journey.
During our 10 hours, the snack cart came by ample times,
we enjoyed the scenery,
napped, and prayed we wouldn’t miss our stop.
Thankfully, the ride ended up being much less painless than I had anticipated. I would opt to do it again just for the hilarious, confusing, and utterly new experience that it was. Though I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re particularly sensitive to non-pleasant smells.
RQ: What is the craziest transportation you’ve ever been on? Would you sign up for a 10 hour train ride?
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I’m not sure if I would do that ride just for fun. However, if I were doing the Amazing Race I would do it in a heartbeat!!
I might not sign up for that particular train ride. I LOVE the selfie of the two of you after you got on the train, though! You both look like you’re not too sure about your decision to take the trip!
The puddle jumper plane flights in/out of Marquette, MI for college basketball road trips were sometimes really treacherous. The wind knocks those little planes around and makes you wonder if you’ll ever be able to land!
Yikes! Those puddle jumper flights sound intense. How often did you have to do them?