Russia does not have a reputation for exceptional efficiency, but our experience taking the bus/ferry from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island (320 km) taught us otherwise.
For instance, if you have a van that could safely seat 9, why not pack it with 15 seats, and 16 passengers? Removing seatbelts not only improves mileage, it boosts your top speed! While fuelling up, who has time to turn off the engine? And you may as well multi-task and take your smoke break while manning the pump. When a large, heavy, structural-looking piece falls from the ceiling, just keep driving, it probably isn't necessary to support the 700 pounds of luggage on the roof. To save time later, continue at full speed ahead while you turn around to look for the large hunting knife that was tucked into the structural-looking piece and is now somewhere among your passengers. Dead horse on the road? Just carefully swerve around it; let nature run its course.
In a store in small town, a shirtless Russian guy gave us a rouble when we were one short. He gave us a ride back to our hostel too, and turned to talk to us throughout the short drive. We felt it would be rude to point out he was driving on the wrong side of the road... but the wheel was on the wrong side of the car, so maybe this corrects things somehow? He was a engineering student from Saghalien Island, majoring in road safety.
What a hoot! Why that particular island? Andrew: how are those socks doin' caroline
ReplyDeleteIt's the only populated island on Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal is super nice.
ReplyDeleteThe socks are impressive. I think Andrew should write to Nike about them... maybe it could be developed into a "true story" advert?
-Cameron