The Speedy Train

A week ago, against the advice of most of our local friends, we put our lives in the hands of Asian engineers that have now famously cut corners to build one of the world's fastest built bullet trains ever. We were scared, but alas our desire to not waste our tickets and the need to get to the capital was greater. Somehow we managed to score the best 1st class tickets on the entire train. We were in the last car (we are going backwards about 200 miles an hour) which only seats 5 people. Two of the seats were VIP and the other three were 1st class. Since we did not see the need for Internet connections and a flat screen on an hour and half train ride, we decided we would save the $100 and just ride first class. We generally avoid economy since in economy we get starred at like a monkey at a zoo. They also like to provoke us just as people like to provoke monkeys at a zoo. On the trains there seems to be a distinction between those who have had exposure to foreigners and those who have not, and that distinction is economy and first class.

That red suitcase with the neon strap is our most faithful of all our suitcases. It is a hard Samsonite and it goes everywhere with us. After our disastrous return trip from the US in March. We made a pact - we can only bring one personal bag per person capable of carrying a bag and one suitcase for the entire family. KB even went so far as to forget half of his shirts, you know, for the family. He had to wash his two shirts on this trip.

I looooove our iPad. It has so many great uses, but the greatest by far (in my book) is its ability to keep AB's attention for an entire train ride. Thanks friends for giving it to us!

Folks those are nice red leather seats and smelled like nice new red leather seats. However when we were done with them they were nice red leather seats with crumbs in the seams : )

All in all it was a very nice train ride and we are glad to have survived. However we have been sufficiently scolded by the majority of our friends for taking the train and might just fly next time. It costs almost the same.