Not the Midnight Train to Georgia.

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The Tashkent Ekspress

Almaty-2, the city's main station was originally built in the 1930's, but reconstructed in the 1970's it handles on average 5k passengers daily. many international routes run from here mainly into the major cities of russia and more recently china.

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The soldier and the farm worker, relics of a Soviet past.

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Not the most exciting nor photogenic of places

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Nor easy to understand, nothing bilingual here.

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But there it is: 001 18:25 departure choo choo Thomas, still got a bit of time to kill so lets see what is on the platform.

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Just as I expected: Trains.

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And people.

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And people selling stuff.

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Here is the iron horse that will be carrying us across anonymous dark landscapes.

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Now seeing that gladdened my heart somewhat.

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Ticket to ride, a 15 hour journey through the night,(though that includes a 3 hr stop to clear the border checkpoint at 6am), covering a distance of some 500 or so miles. Farewell Kazakhstan.

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Are you fucking kidding me????

I need beer!!!

We wuz photobombed

Several beers later who cares

Let's get this party started

https://youtube.com/shorts/7X-0LKyhd3g

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Beers drunk, bar closed and so to bed...well if you can call it that. jesus it was a cramped, I just really hate sleeping on my back, unable to toss and turn in my sleep, and waking up for breakfast?

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FFS, I think I will pass on that!

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40 comments
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The guy entertained the train with his singing, how cool others joined him ;) was it as an effect the drinks made or just a famous song? The juice, omg hahaha

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Well the singing started before too much beer was enjoyed, it was a wonderful experience, I guess it is natural with these warm friendly people. The juice, yes...moving on swiftly

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Hahaha what a train ride.
I can imagine how uncomfortable the bed was.
Alcohol does do wonders… !LOL
A good way to travel long distances is still the night train. 🚂
Have a wonderful day 😊

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yes a great but uncomfortable night. Enjoy your snowy weekend

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Night trains are great fun, pity no pics with sleeping quarters.

Awesome pictures of insignia, reference plates on train itself.

Bet that Cok Juice was refreshing next morning of drinking session with singing.

@tipu curate

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Yep, all you need is a few beers to get a great vibe going, I was expecting a vid of you singing. Don't be shy next time 😉

That train ticket, reminded me of air tickets in the 'old days'. What a way you travel back then

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A big no to that, I am totally tone deaf it would be embarrassing ....even after several beers, happy app free apple wallet free days

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It's so easy for me to read what that ticket says.... a piece of cake! Just like the departures from the big screen.
Well, fun you had, cool that singer... and you must have tasted that juice and now you don't want to admit it? hahaha....

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You have talent in reading all that!! It was great fun indeed, fellow travellers were really friendly a great but later uncomfortable night LOL, erm nooooooo! the name put me off

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damn Shimkent (or more right Chimkent) i spent there 27 years of my life...

!PIZZA

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Hi
i'm sorry, just commented below from my community account
it's me i spent there 27 years of my life... :-)))))
good memories. and looks like not many things changed since then i'm 31 years not there
!PIZZA

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GOT it !! lol cheers @victorbz I loved my journey through the Stans, I would love to be a time traveller and visit these places earlier

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envy you
i really dream to visit there but as one who lived here i know all the bad background and see on the happening there without the tourist's glasses.
when i walked in Geneva through some "latino" quarter, my friend, living all his life in Geneva, said me to be careful there and to avoid openly taking images.
If I hadn't heard this, for me these were the regular blocks with the regular restaurants.
knowing is not always helps us :-(

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Yes, I have just got hold of a book called "murder in Samarkand" that will be an eye opener. Corruption, child trafficking et al.

I guess there are areas all over the world that are unsafe, the only real opportunity I had to walk the back streets was in Bukara and Khiva.....what a contrast to the tourist bits!

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Yes, all the area was very problematic in its' background all the time, and the pick was after the perestroika, when i finished my Army service.

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Oh my days, I guess you have dealt with some shit

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absolutely right. finally i left the country in 1993 but they took everything - the citizen passport, the penshinie pension money and insurance.

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Wow 5k passengers daily, hold up do there serve beer on the train? Now this is the kinda train I will love to hop in

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I did a similar trip to Tbilisi a few months back. Yerevan to Tbilisi. My sleeper train wasn't so cramped though. Such a wonderful experience. Arrived in Tbilisi on such a rainy night with so much luggage.

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cheers @namiks thanks for dropping in, night trains are an experience I agree, did you enjoy your trip, I did it by road 3 years ago, loved both those countries ( a great Irish bar in Tbilisi too LOL)

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