Russian Random Thoughts

Russian Random Thoughts, originally uploaded by ericdues.

Above is one of the smoked omul after I was done with it, hopefully
you can see the spine sitting in the middle of it. I figured I would
type a few more things before left this country.

I am sitting on a bus back to Irkutsk for which I paid about $2.50
for, 1/20th the cost it took me to get here. I have know idea what the
hell is going on right now, but the cold bus (because the driver keeps
his window open so he can smoke) just stopped for 15 minutes in the
middle of nowhere. The driver said something, and some people came to
the front and gave him money while he was writing something, the what
appeared to be several small arguments broke out between him and some
old ladies. Now we are going and it will be my first mission when we
arrive to find a toilet... tge coffee and water I had for breakfast
was maybe not the best idea before sitting on a two hour cold bus
ride. Then I will walk around the city in about -10c weather for about
4 hours with my bag on my back and then hopefully find an Internet
cafe and send a short update (that will of course post before this).

This homestay that I did was really just renting a cottage on the
cheap. I had the place to myself the whole time and only saw the host
when I paid her 4 hours after I arrived. Couple that with the sparse
population and the remoteness of the location and I was pretty much
completely alone for two days. I would sit around at night watching
the Russian news channel (one of only two available out here), review
pictures, and drink a few beers every night. I am not sure if I will
remember how to talk to anyone when I return!

I fully expect to be able to talk even less to people in Mongolia, but
for the first day I should be around some people, and the last night
there I am staying in a popular hostel near the train station, so
perhaps there will be some people to hang out and drink/talk with.

- The Dues