Almost Famous

As I cross the tracks and approach the train to take my seat in preparation for my Death Railway Experience, a group of children on the platform a giggling and appear to be taking photos of me. At my seat, with the big window pulled down, all the children are two sets of tracks away, but directly opposite. Now I notice unmistakably that the pink uniformed children, aged around 10, are engrossed in me, most with cameras and finding the situation really amusing. One particular group of girls are more interested than the rest and encourage each other to edge closer to my window, and eventually actually step on board to take photos at point blank range before dashing off. I can’t get my camera out quick enough to snap them in the act.

I’ve not experienced any of this since China, and this is something else anyway, a lot jollier and more upfront. So, feeling kind of like a goldfish, I decide that I'd best wave to them, who are all now back on the platform comparing shots or poised for another Kodak moment in my direction. They love this and cheer, and one girl immediately runs over and tells me I’m beautiful, which I realise will just be a phrase the teacher has told the excited child would be nice to say to me, but it's quite sweet all the same. And as it’s my story, I’ll say they'll all have mistaken me for an A-list celebrity or something, but actually I can guess that with all their cameras they’re probably on a school trip and probably from a town that rarely gets to see real live Westerners in the flesh, only in the movies.

Well this one girl has just been taught another phrase and runs over to ask me my name. The other kids, maybe 50 of them, all watch in anticipation. I introduce myself and reach out to shake her hand. The other kids all cheer. Feeling a little braver, a couple more run other and want to shake hands too. The girl learns another question or two so I feel it’s about time I got my trusty phrase book out, but steer clear of James Bond lines for a change. I love it when this happens! Things soon quieten down for a while but a few more tourists bored the train which keeps the children on edge.

Suddenly about 20 of the kids run over to me with their hands outstretched, so I lean out and shake every one of them, and enjoying it, the kids approach some of the other windows looking for more hands to shake. They're lovely and having a great time and I’m feeling pleased my train is so delayed on leaving. They’re keeping me so entertained that I think it’s only fair I make an effort and approach them for a change. The moment I appear at the train door they all jump up and begin to cheer and clap once more, and as I walk over they get louder and instantly all crowd around me before near on 30 cameras appear in my face. I manage to gather some for a picture, show them the result and shake some more hands before resuming back to my seat. Some of the others on the train look bemused by it all, but us outside have all been having fun so it doesn't matter. The kids pose some more on the platform for any lense they see until their train arrives and they wave goodbye. The End.