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It takes a train to cry
posted Tuesday, 8 August 2006
I'm off travelling. A short trip north to the neighbouring province of Hunan, where I lived 10 years ago. Looking forward to seeing old friends and eating the wonderful food!
However!
This involved buying a train ticket. It is a matter of deep religious and moral principle that I will not enter the bowels of ticket hell that is Liuzhou ticket office. And I'm an amoral athiest! But I have limits!
Luckily, there is a small and seldom used ticket booth very near my home. I wander up, peer through the window and spot the youngish girl behind the counter. She is fast asleep.
"Hm Hm"
No reaction.
Louder "Hm. Hm."
She opens her eyes, seems to having problems working out where she is, then is confronted by my handsome but foreign face peering at her hopefully through the window.
That wakes her up.
The conversation proceeds. (I have cunningly consulted the timetable pasted to the wall before attempting to purchase ticket.)
Me: I would be delighted if you would do me the honour of selling me a ticket on train number XXXX on blah, blah date to <destination>. I want a sleeper ticket please. It is an overnight journey and lying down is one of my hobbies.
Her: That train doesn't have sleepers.
Me: Excuse me? I have used that train many times and always had a sleeper.
Her: It changed. No sleepers now.
Me. Is there any other train serving the short distance between Liuzhou and my required destination which is either a day train or a night train with sleeper?
Her. Wait
She taps away at her computer for a while and asks where I want to go to. I've already been assured that there are no sleeper trains to my destination - five seconds later she can't remember where i'm going?
I tell her.
Her: When?
Me: Thursday!!!!! I just told you!!!
Tap. Tap.
Her: OK. Sleeper ¥120
Me: OK. Which train?
She then informs me that she is about to issue me with a sleeper ticket for the very train that I originally asked for, but which she, less than two minutes ago, insisted had no sleepers.
I hand over my pictures of the chairman, she hands me my ticket and I wander off happily.
One of the least traumatic China Rail ticket buying experiences ever.
However!
This involved buying a train ticket. It is a matter of deep religious and moral principle that I will not enter the bowels of ticket hell that is Liuzhou ticket office. And I'm an amoral athiest! But I have limits!
Luckily, there is a small and seldom used ticket booth very near my home. I wander up, peer through the window and spot the youngish girl behind the counter. She is fast asleep."Hm Hm"
No reaction.
Louder "Hm. Hm."
She opens her eyes, seems to having problems working out where she is, then is confronted by my handsome but foreign face peering at her hopefully through the window.
That wakes her up.
The conversation proceeds. (I have cunningly consulted the timetable pasted to the wall before attempting to purchase ticket.)
Me: I would be delighted if you would do me the honour of selling me a ticket on train number XXXX on blah, blah date to <destination>. I want a sleeper ticket please. It is an overnight journey and lying down is one of my hobbies.
Her: That train doesn't have sleepers.
Me: Excuse me? I have used that train many times and always had a sleeper.
Her: It changed. No sleepers now.
Me. Is there any other train serving the short distance between Liuzhou and my required destination which is either a day train or a night train with sleeper?
Her. Wait
She taps away at her computer for a while and asks where I want to go to. I've already been assured that there are no sleeper trains to my destination - five seconds later she can't remember where i'm going?
I tell her.
Her: When?
Me: Thursday!!!!! I just told you!!!
Tap. Tap.
Her: OK. Sleeper ¥120
Me: OK. Which train?
She then informs me that she is about to issue me with a sleeper ticket for the very train that I originally asked for, but which she, less than two minutes ago, insisted had no sleepers.
I hand over my pictures of the chairman, she hands me my ticket and I wander off happily.
One of the least traumatic China Rail ticket buying experiences ever.