When I went to Kazakhstan to adopt Iain, my oldest daughter went with me. No one, it seems, told our contacts in Almaty that there were going to be 2 of us. So they had only arranged for one ticket to fly to Semey. It's about a 2.5 hour flight, but only a couple days a week. We would have to wait 2 days before they could get us a flight for both of us. I could have gone ahead, they told us and my daughter could follow in a couple of days, we could both wait, or we could take the train. Sure, that sounded like fun; we opted for the train. I think we had about 6 hours before we had to leave. We were told we should try to get food to take with us and they pointed out a little store a few blocks from the room we were given. Ok, we are fresh off the plane, tired, foreigners, and don't speak Kazak or Russian. And totally unfamiliar with their food! I think we got some chips and snack type stuff and some water. Then we rested for a bit till it was time to head to the train station.
I remember a lot of running and rushing. I think we pushed the envelope for being 'on time'. As it turned out, our contacts had actually paid some of the train employees for us to have their bunks! Poor guys, I don't know where the had to bunk...don't think I would have gone that route if I had known, but by this time, it was a done deal. So we had a little room with a set of bunks, all our bags and a little 'snack food'. I was pumped...going to meet my son! Yes, I will do anything...lets go...
The daylight hours were beautiful and a little unsettling. There are many very similar characteristics between that area of Kazakhstan and where I live. Looking out the window of the train, I almost thought someone was playing a trick on me, had flown me around in circles, landed me back home and now I was on a train going around in circles an hour or so from my house! It looked so much like home. Beautiful, calming and familiar. Felt good to relax, read, watch and soak it all in. Every so often, little towns came up and the train would stop. Locals got on and off. Many folks did some goods trading right at the trains and got back on headed for the next stop. Saw a few out on horseback as we traveled, a few small farms, but mostly it was the steep. An ocean of desert as far as you can see. Like I said, just like home.
Ok it had to happen...we had to go find the bathroom...
It was a car away. Got to see how the folks who new what they were doing managed. The other rooms were two bunks each with a little space in between. But these folks new what they were doing! Some had those little candle burning things going to cook up their food. FOOD, not snacks. They were friendly enough, smiling and pointing us in the right direction.
I have heard stories of old trains' facilities. There is a toilet, sink, etc., but what there isn't is the exit plumbing. The exit is right out of the bottom of the train onto the tracks. Whatever you are doing just goes right out. Do you have any idea how hard it is to relax and 'let go' when you can see railroad ties flying by underneath you? And there is a flush, but that tends to fly all over the outside of the john because of the tadumptadump motion of the cars. I can't imagine a guy hitting his mark, but at least he didn't have to sit! Gave my bladder a workout. Did not visit any more then necessary. ( I really think there were other bathrooms somewhere that you had to pay extra for; would have done that if I know the language. Note to self...LEARN KAZAK/RUSSIAN before going back.)
I really think the train ride did us a great deal of good. We went to sleep and woke up totally adjusted to the time differences and to more steep. It really is incredible...Now our only worry was would someone tell us when we got to Semey. I could just imagine missing the stop!
13 hours and 55 minutes later, we did get to Semey.
Within 2 hours, I was meeting Iain for the first time. (yes I do have a cheesy smile; bet you do too.)
