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Published: November 2nd 2007
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Let's start with Olkhon Island, an island in the deepest lake in the world - Lake Baikal. We got up early on Sunday morning to catch the bus to the main village on the Island, Kaz something (amazing how quick you forget things like that). We ended up being a group of ; Me, Larissa, Kerry, Finn, Brian, Dan, the three Finnish guys, Aron and a Latitia from France. The ride took 6 hours including a break in the middle of nowwhere to have lunch.
We passed some amazing scenary. Some of the most beatiful I've ever seen. Hadn't really expected anything of this trip so I was surely suprised. think most of us were. The water in the lake has such a beatiful colour and the weater was just perfect.
After the ferry to the Island it was about an hour on not so good roads, before we reach the village and our hostel, Nikita's. Don't know how to describe this village. Wodden houses, no real roads just sand or gravel. An all around it there's amazing nature. Mountains, rocks, the lake, forrests, beach. So incredably beautiful! I'm not even going to try to describe the atmosphere. you
have to experience it yourself.
Nikita's guetshouse is many small houses and a main building where you get three really good meals everyday. And I mean really really good food.
Once we were all checked in, which took us a while since almost everyone had forgotten to get cash before we left, we just went to the back of the hostel and had a perfect view over the lake and the village. Saw he sunset and just sat there and relaxed. Went to bed pretty early after dinner.
The next day most people got on a tour to the norht of the island. I, however, felt that it had been a bit to much sitting in busses and trains latley and decided to rent a bike instad. So me, Aron and the Finns biked for a while, climbed some rocks and then split up after a few hgours. I went on a road on my own into the forrest and just enjoyed being alone with my bike on a road in Sibiria.
After lunch the five of us went to a banja, russian sauna, right on the beach. Got our swimming suits on and then ran
out in the lake. So yep, i've been swimming lake Baikal in the ned of october when it was minus degrees in the air. Was really cold but felt so nie afterwards. We just sat for a few hours in the banja, talking to the russian man who owned it. Funny guy. A storm was comming up so we had to leave before it made the fire blow into the banja.
Was comfortable tired after the day and after dinner and some Uno most of us went to bed.
allthough everyone wanted to stay for much longer we all had to go back in to irkutsk. Everyone but American Brian who we sadly had to say good bye to. Such a great person.
After six hours we were back in Irkutsk and me and Larissa had to go and get hour train tickets for the following day. But we decided to go to the train station and try to change them to go on that same evening instead with all of the others.
We managage to change them and also got Kerry a ticket. We are starting to get good at booking tickets on Russia now.
So only 2.5 hour later after a quick shower, meal and checking the internet at the hostel we stayed at before we left to the Island, we hurried back to the train station and got there 10 minutes before departure. Hadn't had time to buy any food and wasn't fun to find out that it would be no restaruant on the train. 35 hourd without any proper food. So my diet on the train was chocolate and pot noodles.
We had all of us, togehter with some other people from the hostel in Irkutsk and also two german girls from the hostel in Mosocw, ended up in the same carrige. Got on late evening and just went to bed.
Next day at 1 pm we got to the border. Is really hard to get information on how long it's gonna take and how long we can leave the train for, when the pradnitsia (?), the attendatn, isn't the most friendliest person in thw world. Shouts at youm and slam doors in you face when you try to ask something.
So after about 3 hours of waitng something finally started to happen. We got to fill in
The reception at the hostel
notice the little kitten to the left some forms and after some time a police came to check our passports. After some more time another police came to take our passports. About 30 minutes later a third police came to check your custume declaration forms. More waiting and then another police came and asked (shouted at us) to show the luggage and open our bags. Asked if we had any religious icons or antuiqe things with us. After that plice had left a new one came and asked us to go out in the corridor while she searched trough the cabbin. More waiting and finally a police man came back with our passports and with a departure stamp on the visa! Puh.
The tolites finally opend for a few minutes (they are alwats locked during stops since everyhing that goes in hte toilet goed out on the track) while passing nomans land and then we stopped again at the monglian border. More paper to fill in.More police men checking our passports, searching our cabbin, handing in our passports and then an hour later comming back with them.
It all took about 7 hours and was really glad when the train started to move and we
were in Mongolia!
Got to ulan bator 6 am in the morning, yesterday, and were picked up by the hostel. We had lost a few people allready before the border crossing and now the Finns went to another hostel.
After a few hours of sleep me, Larissa, Kerry, Finn and Aron went to the black market. A huge market where you can buy everything. Got a hat, long johns and gloves for 50 kr. But didn't enjoy it very much anyway. Too much people and pick pocket's everywhere. allt he time you felt someone touching your pockets and more than once you saw people taking stuff from others. Wore my moneybelt for the first time and that's was the best I've could have done.
We aslo booked a nine days tour out in the dessert starting tomorrow. So today i bought a real North face wind stopper for less than 200 kr. We are gonna leave with nomand familes in gers and it's going to be really cold.
Ulan Bator isn't a beautiful placew but so chaep! yesterday we got a good dinner for 5 persons and payed 60 kr together.
So tomorrow out in
the dessert, Will stop after three days at some place where they have internet(and showers!) so will see if I can write again then. But mum, don't worry if I don't. Will be fine!
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Michael Myers
non-member comment
jealous
I would have loved to be at the lake with you and see everything. It sounds like such a great adventure so far and I am so jealous. Keep having fun and be safe. Looking forward to reading all of your journals! Michael