On The Road

Sometimes, only sometimes mind, the best part of my travels is not the destinations themselves, but the actual journey to them.  Whether it is by bus or by plane the thrill of journeying to some new place which you have no real knowledge of or what to expect of it.  Sure, you may read up about it in your guide book or take on board the advice and suggestions other travellers have imparted upon you, but when it all boils down that initial arrival is a complete surprise.  So it is on the journey where your imagination has the time to run wild with all the possibilities that are in store.

In my time as a 'migrant worker,' I have travelled using conventional modes of transport such as bicycle, motorbike, car, taxi, bus, train, boat and plane.  I have also used less traditional methods such as donkey, horse, camel and elephant.  I love each one of them because of the different moods they have generated while using them.

Most recently, the was a period where I spent the vast majority of my time in transit.  Because of the shortage of my time on my trip around Vietnam, I opted to try and make the most of my days, by using the night to get to where I was intending.  This is something I highly recommend as it not only makes your time more efficient, but save you money on accommodation.  My favourite method for this it to take a night train.  In China and India it goes without saying as the distances you travel leave you with no other choice than to spend at least a portion of the night on the go.  However, even in countries such as Vietnam, taking the night train can be useful for shorter trips.  Unlike in the UK, where the idea of riding on a train can be unappealing, let alone trying to get some sleep on one, sleeper trains are a common occurrence in Asia.  Whether it's 'hard' or 'soft' sleeper (don't be confused by the names, both are comfortable), reclining on your bunk as the train thunders through the dark can be a blessing.

This fella didn't get me very far...

From Hanoi, I took such a train up to the northern region of Vietnam and again for the return trip.  Immediately after, I spent the night on a boat, cruising along the eastern coast, before then jumping on a sleeper bus down to the central region of the country.  Four out of 5 nights sleeping on the move, but each not one a chore.

The other advantage to travelling is the countless opportunities you get to meet other people.  I'm not talking about Dave and Sharon who are also backpacking their way around South East Asia, but the locals who are eager to welcome foreigners and show their hospitality.  The number of times in China that I got talking to a family who had offered me food and drink with no ulterior motive.  It helps, of course, if you speak the language, but I think that even if I hadn't been able to, they would have still have behaved in the same way.  How different from those commutes back home when everyone is afraid to make eye contact with the person next to them!

Of course, it's not always plain sailing.  Sleeper buses (buses not with seats, but horizontal bunks) vary from place to place and as such you may find yourself in a tight spot.  In the south of China, for example, people tend to be a little shorter than average and you'll find the bunks are designed with that in mind.  Even I, no giant by any stretch of the imagination, can find it a little uncomfortable after a prolonged period.  In the north of China, on the other hand, where the people are slightly bigger than average, you will find that you have a little bit more room to manoeuvre.  In India, it's not space that can be an issue, but the incessant music blaring out over the speakers seemingly all night.  If that wasn't bad enough, the speakers tended to be knackered and the music was so distorted that it could no longer be called anything other than noise.

The worst incident I've had, though, was in Kazakhstan.  There wasn't a sleeper bus available at the time I was travelling a couple of years ago, so I had had no choice but to make the 12 hour journey using the rickety old coach that was on offer.  With every seat filled, I was lucky to find that my seat did recline.  Unfortunately, that was all it did.  The slightest pressure would throw the seat back, much to the annoyance of the passenger behind.  For the waking hours on board the bus, I had to sit up straight so as not to bother anyone.  To top it off, the space between the seats was to narrow that my legs didn't actually fit and I had to try and make do with my knees pressed again the back of the seat in front of me for the entire journey.  The toilet was out of order and the driver seemed determined to only stop when he needed to.

Nevertheless, good or bad, the journey brings about thoughts of the future and what is to come.  In my experience, it's always better to be going somewhere with some hardship, than to settle for a static life with convenience and comfort.