The Night Train to Windhoek

Everyone I spoke to had different opinions regarding the train. Most of then did not know much but still had something to say. Goofy said that it was dangerous and that I would need to be able to fight. The owner of the backpackers said that in the good old days they traveled by train but now all the blacks took over. Michael Mackenzie that gave me a lift to the flamingos said it was awesome and a cool experience.

I was at the station an hour before departure. The train came in from Walvis Bay and was an hour late.

Whenever you board a bus or train you always look at the people around you thinking who would I sit next to? Leaving for Namibia in June 2008 I sat next to the coolest girl I’ve ever met on public transport – Sam Murray. This time would not be the same.

The train arrived and everyone boarded. It was empty and we could choose our own compartments. I walked into an open compartment and put down my bag. Behind me stood a figure that I could smell a mile away. This slangoog (snake eye) character asked me if he could share the compartment with me. Not wanting to be rude I said yes. The whole train was open, why share with me. Then he started going on about how he was not an Alien but a Human being and I should not judge. He was drunk and repeated himself several times. I was quick to say: “sorry friend, you speak too much. I am finding somewhere else to stay”.

I ended up sharing a compartment with a middle age black man and his young son who were on their way for a doctor’s check up. The compartments did not have doors and the Alien luckily did not bother me again.

In Windhoek Norman picked me up in the city centre. Emile was only arriving the next day. I made us a filling chicken stir-fry and we just chilled at the flat.

The night of Emile’s arrival we went out in Windhoek for some beers. Norman, Emile and I pub crawled between Joe’s, Zanzibar and Kiepies. In Zanzibar and Kiepies I met some of the guys I played pool with in Swakopmund on the weekend. I also met an old Simonsberg friend of mine, Frey Ulrich. Namibia is such a small place. Everyone knows each other.

I find Windhoek to be quite behind. Behind in terms of music, fashion and trends you’ll find compared to cities in South Africa.

If there is one thing that will never ever be behind in a small town or a place like Windhoek then it will be the latest in Afrikaans Sokkie Music. Kurt Darren’s Kaptein span die seile is more prominent than all the Chinese investment being pumped into Namibia.

In Windhoek I mainly spent my time with South African pilots. If there is one thing all these pilots have in common then it is that they don’t want to be in Windhoek.

I only spent a short time in Windhoek. I wanted to take the train further south to Keetmanshoop before the weekend rush. Thursday morning Emile took me to the station and I booked my train ticket for that night to Keetmanshoop.