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Alex Mumzhui with his Brompton on Silk Route to China.

Silk Road

Alex Mumzhiu
2006-03-20 17:44:21

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a long time under Soviet control and it acquired some Socialistic hobbits. The main Socialistic rule is this: It should be some sort of shortage, if not it should be created. This is the only way for these who distribute the goods to get some extra income. Tickets from Ulan Bator are notoriously difficult to obtain. It was no tickets to Beijing at railway station. However it was an agency there called. Intertour which promises the travelers to help. They helped me to buy ticket to Chinese border for extra $5 and promise to buy ticket from the border to Beijing, for which they taken money in advance, but give no ticket. When I and six other travelers exited at final station at Chinese border we were met with representative of Intertour who told us that our money was stolen so we probably have to buy another tickets. Our group consisted of one Mongolian man, who also speaks Russian, a guy from Israel, about whom I wrote to you before, two girls from Israel and two Japanese guys one of whom fortunately speak Chinese. Intertour representative speaks only Mongolian, so Mongolian guy translates his words in Russian and I translate it in English to rest of group. We decided to go to Chinese authority and explain them this story with help of Japanese man. It did not help, Chinese said it is not their business. When we called to Mongolia to guy who sold us tickets. After this we get first offer from our hijacker (Intertour representative): to deliver us to Beijing on bus. We refused, when he offered to sent us by sitting train, not sleeping for which we pay. After several steps we achieve the point where he offered 3 sleeping tickets and 4 sitting, but these who will sit will get also a refund of 100 yens ($12) It looked like we cannot get more, so we agreed on this offer. During the process of negotiation our team became very friendly and cooperative with each other. By the end we drink some vodka which I had (y nas s soboi bilo). And shout :Cheers, Lehaim, Na zdorovie ...