The Trans-siberian Express 5 - 11th April 2006

Another sweaty journey to the train station we needed (there are 9 in Moscow!) with just one diversion. The train was due to leave at 21.30 so we had a good time to wait around the station watching the characters and drunks, hoping that we wouldn't be put with any of them. Once boarded we discovered who we were to share with, Mandy is from Holland and is travelling on here own, destination Mongolia (1 month) and then carrying on to Beijing.



We took ages to settle in but once comfortable we swapped stories, drunk vodka and the motion of the train rocked us to sleep. The carriage is comfortable and there is a constant supply of hot water for tea and food, with all this liquid coming in we soon learnt when the next stops were and therefore to plan our drinking wisey (the loos are shut at platforms and border crossings). On the first day we walked the train from front to back - the most excersize we did in those 6 days.



The time flew on this train, helped by the fact on the first day we passed 2 different time zones and every other day we had another. At most stops babooska's where selling food of various quality and price - my favorite food on this journey was fish! Dried, cured, smoked and fresh cooked available all delicious. Mandy met some email friends at Perm who packed her back on to the train with all sorts of lovely goodies that we scoffed. The stops were also time for the train to be filled back up with coal to fuel the heating and hot water. Chess and cards are good entertainment when the plasma T.V. is off (window).


Some of the sunsets were very impressive

In each country you get a different restaurant car. The russian one was only visited once for food (rest beer), the menu was completely in russian and the guy had limited english so being budget consious we ordered blindly by price. Mandy recieved a great soup, me and david got a plate of spam like meat and a bowl of olives! Good job we have supplies in the cabin. The restaurant car was where we met Anna and Darren who we enjoyed a drink with in Russian style and sweltering Mongolian car style (but very impressive with all the wooden carvings).

The weather was on and off depending on the location. Some areas where full of snow and below minus - my nostrils were freezing up at one point I could really feel it as I breathed. The scenery went from woods, tundra, woods, mountains, valleys, desserts dotted with industry, cities and small settlements (even gers in mongolia). Many sites where viewed (and missed) one of the impressive being Lake Baikel, you could see fisherman sitting patiently for a catch on the ice, the whole thing was frozen and it's a big lake! A treat laid on for us was passing the great wall of China - the stop was long enough to exploit our first wall camera opportunity.


Train stops were a chance for the train to get refueled with coal

The train temperature was always nice and toasty, that was until we road tho' the later part of Mongolian when the train became a tin can heated by the sun - 32 C!

Everyone in our carriage was pleasent (good mix of locals chinese and us). David particularly bonded with some Maldavian gold miners the more they drank, the more they understood one another - you know how it goes, swapping photo's etc. They only work 9 months on the year in Mongolia 'cos it's just too damn cold otherwise. The lady's next door are not quite as pleased with there cabin as we are. They originally wanted first class but they'd all gone, alternatively they'd booked a whole one hard-sleeper to themselves! We bid Mandy farewell at Ulann Bator and greeted Linsday who we where to share with till Beijing. Linsday is American and is also travelling on her own and is also excellent company. Alex is also travelling on her own and is staying a few carriages down, she is going to Greenwich next year for Uni ..wow small world! Alex is another single traveller until she meets with her partner in India and is staying in the Beijing hostel we plan to!

Border crossings where long and drawn out proceedures, it was good to have each other for moral support as the travellers tales of scams flew around the train. The Russian - Mongolian border was a dull affair. David particulary enjoyed the chinese crossing ... he thought someone had arranged strip-o-grams. The woman officals wore short skirts, black shiney boots and red lip stick!

We arrived in Beijing 14.30, keeping up with all the time zone changes really paid off as we can now get off the train no probs.