the other Jude

And so the Aussie odyssey is over. I loved Australia as I knew I would, and I'm sure I'll be flexing my dual nationality and heading back soon enough. Thankfully, and contrary to expectations, San Francisco is not in the grip of a freezing autumn but has welcomed me to the US of A with clear, blue, sunny skies. Good call on throwing out my last bit of sunscreen before leaving Sydney then. My body clock's all over the place and I can't comprehend the fact that I lived Friday 5th October twice. Having existed in the future in relation to England for the last 3.5 months I've time travelled back behind you now. Luckily I woke up the next morning and it was definitely Saturday 6th, so there was no need for any Groundhog Day-style ... read more

Long time no blog, but I'm back on the case again. There's a big old chapter missing but to cut a long story short I'm now in Bali. I've also just realised it's Monday morning and am savouring that knowledge. The TravelBlog site wasn't operational for days and when it reappeared all my entries had been lost in a server crash type thing. Got in a bit of a strop and refused to have anything to do with the internet for a few days after that! Mature, I know. However, we have now made our peace and thanks to a godlike techno-genius in Brum most of what was lost has been recovered and I'm trying to sort out the most recent entry which I've found the text for but don't seem to be able to upload. ... read more

Ah yes, I'm in Outer Mongolia in a much more cheery mood than previously. I guess this is going to be characteristically long so for those who can't tolerate the featureless text I'll say at the beginning: thanks to everyone who's been getting in touch. Even if I can't reply to all straight away it's very much appreciated. Went off to Olkhon Island by bus (funny how an 8 hour bus journey seems like a bargain after 2 days on a train). Stopped halfway at a strange little cafe in the middle of nowhere and there was a brief 'Hostel' / 'Wolf Creek' moment when the bus buggered off with everyone's stuff on board. However, it only went as far as the petrol station so that was a very minor drama indeed. Arriving at the ferry ... read more

UntitledCHRIST THIS PLACE IS HUGE!!! There, that's the bloody obvious out of the way and now I'm lost for words. Actually not lost for words, just too many bouncing about to collect them properly. I'm not totally convinced I'm having a great time but it's certainly an experience. The cities are pretty much like cities everywhere with terrible traffic, high prices and a vague undercurrent of hostility towards foreigners. Both Moscow and Yekaterinburg were covered in dust from the ubiquitous luxury apartment developments. There's a lot of money here (for some) and the whole country seems to be developing at a crazy pace. The sights of Moscow were incredible, as much for the simple fact of being allowed to be there as for their intrinsic qualities. Finding the office of my trans-sib ticket agent was ... read more

UntitledVirtually hallucinating as it's now 36 hours since I last slept (unless you count repeatedly passing out and hitting my head on the window of the coach to Heathrow), but I've definitely arrived in Russia. Oversize baggage at Heathrow lost my boarding card and passport control at Moscow airport was as fast moving as a glacier but despite my total lack of Russian I made it through the train and tube systems unscathed. Realised I didn't have a map to my hostel (clever) but a helpful lady in a kiosk bullied her son into showing me the way. Faith in humanity duly restored I've managed to buy some very random food for dinner and am heading to bed in my cozy dorm for ten. Much fun to be had with the resident kitten known as ... read more

OK folks, I need to know if this is working (i.e. if I've done it right and haven't succumbed to my usual techno-peasantry). Apologies to those who have no interest. If you don't want to receive any more of these while I'm away please let me know. Jude xx... read more

Beginning the countdown now and what better time to do it than when you've spent the morning getting vaccinated and debating the merits of getting a private prescription for the "always fatal" rabies. Still cheaper than the last vet bill for the lads but then I should have expected that after their life insurance cost more than mine! At least I know where I stand in the grand scheme of things. Return journey from Acocks Green to Hall Green swift and uneventful. Made a point of savouring the smallness and ease of it all compared to the epic journeys ahead.... read more