Trans-Siberian Journey | Once Upon a Time in Kazan | Russia

© 2015 Wazari Wazir | Trans-Siberian Journey  | Kazan Railway Station

Train number 002 stop to a halt at 9:27 Am in Kazan Railway Station after 12 hours and 35 minute journey from Moscow, yes, it was sharp on time and it was freezing cold outside, maybe somewhere around -5º to  -10º Celsius. By Russian standard, 12 hours journey by train is nothing to shout about but for Malaysian standard, that is among the long journey home, train from Kuala Lumpur to Arau Perlis, Northern State of Peninsular Malaysia normally takes 10 hours.

Since my the train leaving Moscow during night-time, I don’t feels such a long journey, after talking to one of the Kazan student who were on the way back to Kazan from Moscow, I fell asleep and woke up at sunrise and few minutes later arrived at this station.

There is a hive of activity here, some people are expecting someone to pick them up, others are on their own just like me but the only difference is I don’t really know where to go. I mean, yes, one of the reason why I chose Kazan as one of my destination along my Trans-Siberian journey is to visit Kazan famous Kul Sharif Mosque, but just to let you know, Kazan is not really on the map of Trans-Siberian Railway Line, so if you bought a Trans-Siberian book either by Lonely Planet or from Trailblazer, you will never see Kazan mention in the book, maybe some words about “Kazan” but nothing much then.

So, I’ve to do some kind of research online to get to know on how to get to my destination, especially to my hotel. I was at a total lost there, when I was standing at the bus stop just 50 meters from the railway station, I feel blur for a moment, I can’t figure it out the right way, should I waiting the bus on this bus stand or should I wait for the bus stop across the road. I don’t know where should I go left or should I go right.

Then, came this old man wearing an artist cap, something like French Beret, made from brown wool. He asked me “taxi”, I said “No, “I’m waiting for the bus” I said. So, he just stood few meters from me and staring at me. After a while I gave up and show to the man the booking hostel map that I’ve printed back home to the mysterious man. Then he made a phone call, probably to the hotel. Few phone call actually and I don’t know what’s the conversation is all about because he speaks Russian.

Then, he asked me to follow him to his car, it was just a normal old car, its looks like a broken car from the outside, in fact it was a Russian made LADA car but I don’t see any sign of “TAXI” printed on the car but I just pray to God , hopefully everything will be fine. Thank God, within less than 20 minutes I was arrived in front of the Hotel and just across the road from the hotel is Kaban Lake, it was frozen and that was the first time in my life to see a frozen lake.