Geo: 54.5721, 88.7695Trans Siberian Express 12th - 15th JulySo the 'Rosea' is a train and a half, we were in 1st class this time which mean the beds are pre-made (ohlala), we have a/c as opposed to a fan and there's a tv (which didn't work but no matter), meanwhile are new mates are in a regular carriage that has broken a/c so thay was pretty rough - we lost the a/c for the last day and it was yuk. Amazingly Siberia in summer is hot and sticky. Also the dining car has chips and eggs so woohoo. 1st stop that evening was Zima at 21:52 where we all unloaded for ice creams then we hung out with our aussie mates til sunset at 11pm which was AWESOME as the aussies say, but it really was. ... read more

Geo: 50.8476, 106.172So we trundled across Inner Mongolia via Darkhan in the night, stopping in the morning in Sukhi Baator (where we could wash in icy water - pretty nice as it was so hot on the train) on Mongolian side and then crossed into Russia ans stopped at 'Haywku' but it's pronounced Naushky in english, this is where Russian soldiers get on train and search the cabins including opening the covers on the walls over the wires etc. Meanwhile a gang of Mongolian "peach" smugglers and a kid with scabies seemed to have no problem concealing their contraband, where I dunno. We saw them give the guards jeans and they snuck some flipflops (to sell later I presume) into our cabin so we were inadvertently accomplices! And so we continued on over the Shuluyk mountains ... read more

Geo: 39.9082, 116.398Trans Mongolian Express ....Departed at 07:45 on 3rd July on the trans mongolian express train number K23, we paid a bit extra (actually it was lot) for a 2 berth cabin this time and it was worth it as it turned out to be first class and even had a shower room which shared with the only other 2 people in our group who had paid the extra. So first stop was Datong at 13:51 after sleeps and lunch (only vege stuff in dining car was eggs & tomatoe but there was beer so all was well plus we had brought crackers and cheese etc. and there's unlimited hot water urns for you to make tea or whatever but you need you own cup and tea or coffee or noodles and cutlery - it's ... read more

Geo: 33.2846, 111.621Xian, China 28-29th June 2007Arrived in Xian at 06:30 am and according to the announcement on the train you haven't been to China if you hadn't been to Xian, so clever us! Hotel was in city centre called Bell and Drum Hotel beside two towers, one called Bell and the other called Drum. So the Bell tower was used to herald day break and opening of city gate and the Drum was for nightfall, they each had a little museum and there was a cultural dance performance in the Bell tower which was very good. The huge Ginwa dept. store is in between the two underground and right round the corner from the Drum is the muslim market where we had gorgeous vegetable dumplings. A few km away is the Dacien Si Temple which ... read more

Geo: -18.0877, 178.384Pacific Harbour, Deuba, FIJI 16th-22nd June 2007Hit the road again 1st thing for lunch time flight to Nadi, Fiji with Pacific Air who are good. Movie time 'Catch and Release' (Ok 20-something buddy type thing w. Juliette Lewis). We are staying on the main Island Veti Levu (called Fiji as Capt. Cook misheard it) in a village called Deuba in Pacific Harbour (nearer the Suva side) in what we have discovered is the best hotel in the area 'The Pearl South Pacific' - well we knew it was nice but it was booked ages ago so we forgot - so that was a nice surprise. Only we flew in to Nadi airport which is a 3 hour drive away so we rented a 4 wheel drive yoke and found our way in the dark ... read more