Random Thoughts Novosibirsk

Random Thoughts Novosibirsk, originally uploaded by ericdues.

Well, I am starting this email in a hotel room in Novosibirsk, and I
can recharge my phone after I am done typing. I will likely send other
updates before this one, some of this is likely to be repeated... you
will just have to deal with that, as I am doing this so I don't forget
some of these random thought.

I do think that I am now "in the groove" of travelling. I like to take
longer trips because it does typically take me a little bit to get
used to the problems encountered with travelling, especially when not
knowing the language.

There were two hurdles that I felt would be two key times in testing
my meager limitations. The first was buying a rail ticket from
Ekaterinburg to Novosibirsk, and I was well prepared and it went
relatively smooth... I was even able to do it the cheap way while
waiting in line with the hordes of impatient Russians (of course also
having old ladies charge to the front of the line at various times).

This time on the train I had the room to myself for all but the first
three hours. I actually enjoyed this because I could spread out
without being bothered.

At some point about half way through the trip (whenever sunrise was)
the "train attendant" (there is a team of two ladies who control and
clean each carriage) befriended me and we tried to talk to each other
for a while. After about an hour of "conversation" in no common
language she went back to work and I went back to sleep. Later, about
an hour before we were to arrive she came back in and began to ask me
for a dollar as a souvenir. I explained to her that I only had roubles
(although I do have a stash of American money in my shorts) and she
seemed upset, and actually began to ask for $10 or $50 or $100 bills.
After explaining to her how much that was in roubles I remembered that
I had bought a bunch of postcards at the airport. I signed a postcard
of Columbus and translated my name and Columbus Ohio into Cyrillic for
her. This did not seem to completely satisfy her, but she left shortly
thereafter. The main reason I mention this is because it felt at times
like she was trying to extort money from me but I was just too dumb
for her to accomplish it.

So I arrived in Novosibirsk at around 7:30 pm local time... a new city
that exists only because of the trans-Siberian railway and is the
largest station in Siberia. I had read that getting a hotel as a
foreigner in this city is notoriously hard and I nearly pre-booked a
room online for $200 just to avoid the hassle. But me being cheap I
figured I could find something cheaper when I got here.

My first stop was to attempt to get a room in the hotel in the train
station that is only available to those who are travelling the next
day, which I am. The guide book said that this place is often full,
and they were either full or the lady just didn't seem like dealing
with me (which I find highly likely given her uninviting demeanor) so
I proceeded to option 2, the huge hotel across the road from the
station that bears the cities name.

After my walk through the sleet/snow I made my way to the hotel only
to be met with the same result. I then had the lady call the next
hotel I was going to try, and she seemed to indicate that they would
accept me there.

So, after a trip to the metro through the sleet, I made my way down
the main square (Lenin Square of course) and found the hotel
relatively easilly. At first they appeared to not want to accept me,
but I think my dumb insistance that I deserved a room wore on the lady
and after some obscure check-in procedure that I will never understand
I secured a room for roughly $37. The only problem is that they accept
only cash and I did not have that many roubles on me. After a 25
minute walk around back in the elements I was able (after finding
several out of order) to procure the funds and return victoriously
with cash. After a few more unintelligable forms I was finally handed
a key and I think I detected a faint smile on the ladies face. The
room is average and small with only two toilets for many rooms, but I
am happy to have saved a wad of cash, which will help me to absorb
some of the costs incurred in the first week of visa problems and plan
changes.

I ate something that may have been salmon (but more than likely it was
some random local fish) and some sort of fried meat patty. After that
I went to my room and was suprised to see on Russian "TNT" was
"Married With Children" with an all Russian cast. I attached a picture
because it was funny to watch if you have ever been a fan of Married
With Children.

So, tommorow after checking out this city, it is off to Irkutsk to
find the cottage that I am to stay in for two nights... that ought to
be an interesting experience as well.

For the most part, this has been a pretty relaxing trip. There are
times of intense pressure and frustration, followed by long stretches
of relaxation on trains or in my room wherever I am at. The last 5
days in Beijing will likely be the most hectic, since I will be
completely clueless with the language, but I kind of expect Beijing to
be more English speaking friendly than siberia due to the forthcoming
Olympics.

- The Dues