Traveling by train in China is always an interesting experience for a foreigner.
On my way back to Canada this year I took an overnight train from Anqing to Beijing. I had booked a "soft sleeper" which has nothing to do with the quality of the bed . The "hard sleeper" has 6 beds to a compartment and the soft four. On this occasion there were a couple of younger fellows as well as an older lady on her way to visit her son in Beijing.
We all hit the hay quite early and were up to greet the morning sun. The lady had her breakfast and then pulled out a bag of peas and began to clean them on the bed. I am preparing dinner for my son tonight she said. What else will you have I asked? She promptly reached under the bed and pulled out a large sealed bag. Inside the bag was a large pot filled with water containing four rather long snakes. My son loves to eat snakes and I cook them a special way. Do you eat snakes in Canada she queried? I was so glad that I did not know about the snakes until morning otherwise it would have been a" no sleeper".
By the way, do you realise that the snakes were alive.
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