Tips and tales for anyone intersted in travelling
After two days travelling on the Trans Mongolian railway from Irkustsk to Mongolia – complete with an eight hour, toilet free customs stop at the border – we rolled into freezing Ulanbaatar very early in the morning. Still dark, we were greeted by our two guides Batar and Bata (pronounced the same but never were…
The ritual of the Russian “Banya” was something I thought I could live without. However, I was persuaded otherwise. Following a motivational talking to and a pep talk to get over my bathing suit body issues from a very kind, yet matter of fact Bristolian buddy, I donned the ill-fitting cozzie, hiking boots and a…
[slideshow]Heading down the icy stretch from the Guesthouse to the roadside it was impossible to not be in impressed by the view of the worlds’ deepest lake (up to 1637m deep in fact). Lined with a mixture of soviet style tower blocks and capitalist condominiums interspersed with wooden chalets and shacks, the road to the Lake…
[slideshow]Arriving at a bustling Irkutsk station at 10.45am we were ready for a decent breakfast (which did not consist of noodles), a healthy dose of fresh air and a good wash! Met at the platform by an enthusiastic “Costa”, who was to be our guide for the next few days, we marched across the crowded…
After a gruelling four day stretch on the Trans Siberian Express from Moscow to Irkutsk we had quick conflab in the carriage to offer fellow travellers some survival tips: MUST DO’s: Pack Baby Wipes – ESSENTIAL for every eventuality and main source of washing (as no shower on board and toilets are locked at illogical interludes for…
Expecting to board my first overnight train with my new found friends, I was somewhat put out to find that I was on the half an hour earlier train…by myself. Fortunately their guide was kind enough to let me join their transfer to the station and to take me to the relevant carriage, but after…
[slideshow] Although not overtly welcoming to tourists during the winter season, St Petersburg or “Piter” as its affectionately know by the locals (and previously known as Petrograd and Leningrad), has plenty on offer for avid sightseers such as myself! Few of the descriptions at main attractions and museums are in English, but the architecture, alley ways…
Arriving in Russia, during winter, as an unseasoned traveller is a daunting experience. Many of the well travelled people I’ve met recently have said Russia is the hardest place they’ve ever visited, so as a first timer I was comforted to know that I wasn’t alone in finding the going tough. It is however a…
I’m due to start the big trip during the Russian Winter at around -20 degrees celsius and then travel to Mongolia with temperatures dropping below -30. I’ll be arriving in China at the start of Spring and heading through South East Asia through the warm, yet rainy, season ready to arrive in Australia for the scorchin’…
The relief I felt when signing for my special delivery package containing the long-awaited Russian Visa was indescribable. Granted it doesn’t compare to the relief of the passing pain after childbirth (so I’m told) or the relief of being given the all clear after a turmoil ridden wait for test results (I can luckily only imagine),…