Day 8 bamboo train, temples and vineyard

11th November

We spent the night at Lux Guesthouse. Bargain price… £10 for two people per night.
It’s basic and mostly clean. What you don’t get is a lift, and it’s a lot of stairs to the third floor. No air con, just a fan and no breakfast (although it was very easy to find cafes open serving breakfast.)

The Tuktuk driver that picked us up from the bus stop yesterday had arranged to take us to the bamboo train. His name in Pin (pronounced Pen to us) and he used to be a tour guide before buying his own Tuktuk and motorbike.

He speaks really good English and explained lots, answering any questions we asked. Message him on FB Boy Pin, should you need a very good Tuktuk driver in Battenbong.

It was approximately 30 minute drive to the Bamboo Train station. Pin took us to the station master who told us to pay the Conductor $5 each. We then. Got ushered towards our train. The train is made of a flat base made from bamboo. This slots onto 2 sets of roller wheels. We were given a cushion each to sit on, the station master took our photo using our camera and off we went. Our driver sat behind us controlling the small engine.

It was a very bumpy journey along miles of straight track. We passed some small homesteads and cows grazing on the side of the track. Over a couple of wonky old bridges with murky water below.

The excitement comes when you meet another train coming in the opposite direction. It is single track after all. We were asked to get off the train and stand on the side. Our driver with help from the other driver then lifted the platform of the train off its wheels and onto the verge. Next came the two sets of wheels.

The passing train proceeded and we were left standing. The reason being, several more trains were about to pass. The last train passed us, then stopped and the driver helped our driver put his wheels back on the track, then lifted the heavy platform onto the wheels. On we climbed and off we went.

The destination was a small shantytown with a few stalls and children selling bracelets (they said they made themselves!!). Off the train we got to be surrounded by children chanting ” buy only from me, promise if you buy, you buy only from me” With that there was a joining of little fingers , which they took to be a promise. Sadly two girls at once interlocked with me fingers.

The children continued to gather round us, playing jokes and laughing. One touched the back of my leg while another shouted “snake”. They all went into fits of laughter when I jumped.

I decided to try and give something back to the village and purchase a bracelet. It was 2000 local money, less than £1. The first little girl I had made “a promise” with was delighted I chose one of her bracelets.

The second girl had quite a strop and said I had promised her also and we had joined fingers. She kept telling me I must also buy from her. I suggested next time I visited I would buy from her. She knew enough English to understand that and stomped off muttering that that would never happen. Anyway I have a very pretty pink and blue bracelet as a memory.

Time for the return journey. While we had been “shopping” the drivers had dismantled the trains and turned them round ready for the return journey. About 10 trains left at the same time. Luckily we did not have to disembark again as the upcoming trains were already waiting at the verge side.