Blogs from Irkutsk, Siberia, Russia, Europe - page 7

Advertisement

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk July 16th 2010

Now in Irkutsk which is a very large Russian city and our last port of call in Russia, jumping on the train at 10pm this evening and heading over to Mongolia to stay in a Ger camp. we have spent the last few days chilling out near lake Bakal which is I am told the worlds largest lake - it certainly looked pretty big to me - staying in a log cabin the legs are starting to ache with all the hill walking - really hoping I can swap my shoes for a horse over the next few days which has to be the only way to travel in Mongolia?... read more
chugging along
breakfast
snack stop

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk July 13th 2010

Lake Baikal By the time the train finally pulled into Irkutsk we had been on it for about 91 hours. That’s almost half of our total travelling time so far and in the baking heat it became more like the game show Endurance. “For my next challenge I will eat two packs of rehydrated noodles without flavouring in 35 degree heat on a crowded train…” Luke became fixated on Ladas and goats; I on the other hand could think of nothing but taking a shower. In my last blog I said that we thought that going into Russia felt quite exotic and it didn’t disappoint but it turned out to be far more European than I had imagined (obviously I have a poor imagination). Think café culture, opulent cathedrals, dodgy politicians and driving like the devil ... read more
'Russian style' house
I'm looking to see if my feet are still attached!
Luke decides that's far enough

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk June 5th 2010

After the first part of the train trip I arrived at Irkutsk where I planned on staying a few nights to see the Russian Siberian. To tell you the truth the city reminded me of a city in South America, it had an European look, but had years of neglect and dirt everywhere. I had little interest in the city and the first day I was not in the mood to do anything at all. During my time there I did meet a couple British guys who I latter met up with at a town called Lithvyanka. It was a small town located on Baikal Lake. The lake is suppose to be the deepest/cleanest/largest fresh water lake in the world. We didn't go to the lake together, but there were about 15 people in the area ... read more
Lithvyanka
Lithvyanka
Irkutsk

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk June 4th 2010

The Trans Siberian Railway this grand journey that I built my entire trip around. This spectacular rite of passage where at the end there will surely be someone ready to hand me a certificate qualifying me for all that I want in life. Before leaving on the trip I heard of people getting tour groups where the whole train is foreigners all speaking English, laughing, and having a good time. But they were not really experiencing the train trip. Clearly they would not be getting the certificate. I actually pitied these people not being with the locals. I'm not sure if I had some grand illusion of being in a cabin with three beautiful girls and in between pillow fights wanted to practice their English. However, about two hours in I would have paid any amount ... read more

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk May 19th 2010

Saa har vi efter laengere tids soegen fundet os en lille netcafe i Irkustk. Irkustk er en by med omkring en halv million indbyggere, men den virker ikke saerligt stor (maaske fordi vi lige er kommet fra Moskva?) Byen er meget forfalden, og de beroemte sibirske traehytter er meget forfaldne og ligner ikke noget mennesker burde bo i. Det er en ret grim by, uden noget at lave, saa vi er glade for vi kun skal vaere her til i morgen. Det var meningen vi skulle have vaeret ud paa Olkhon oeen og bo, men der er for meget is paa Baikalsoen til vi kan komme derud med faergen, saa i stedet maa vi bo ved kanten af soeen. Jeg glaeder mig meget til at komme dertil, det skulle vaere utroligt smukt. Det er verdens dybeste ... read more

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk April 16th 2010

Irkutsk felt much more Russian than the bigger cities. It was -5 when I arrived so at last my winter coat came into play. As on the train, very few people spoke english so finding my hostel was a bit of a mission. After wandering several back alleys and madly gesturing at locals I found the totally unmarked door in an un-named square behind a camera shop. As it turned out, both the hostel and the town were quiet and friendly and a really nice place to relax for a few days. Irkutsk is well known for being the once home of political exiles, most famously the 'Decembrists', who following the defeat of Napolean, revolted against Tsar Nicholas I and imperialist Russia. For a long time the city had an odd mix of upper class revolutionaries, ... read more
The tourist office
The wooden house museum
me and Lake Baikal

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk April 15th 2010

In Moscow, my route joined the Trans-Siberian railway. Mainly for price reasons I decided to travel platskartney (third class) as I ventured across Siberia. My guidebook told me that this was a bad idea but the writer must be a bit of a wimp because in reality it was fine. There are number of trains that go east from Moscow. The concept of the 'Trans-Siberian express' is a bit of a mis-translation however. There is no train by this name, although many trains follow the route of the Trans-Siberian railway. Siberia used to be a very harsh and inhospitible place. Actually it still is. There have been settlements here for thousands of years as well as a booming fur trade but it was not until the Russian exile system in the 1800s that it really became ... read more
From the train
My bunk
From the train

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk February 19th 2010

Haven't had internet access for a while now and I now only have 15 minutes! I'm in Irkutsk and just about to get back on the train to head to Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia before heading out to the Ger Camp in the countryside. The 4 days on the train were actually lots of fun and I didn't get bored till the very last few hours. Time zones still mess with your head a bit though. Lake Baikal was amazing and I'm sad to leave so soon. Our Honcho (who is an idiot) is taking us round Irkutsk in a bit so we will see how that goes. Long story surrounding why we all think our current Honcho is an idiot which I will fill you in with later when I have more time. Finally went ... read more

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk December 8th 2009

Lake Baikal So .... 3 nights on the train. Oh my god! To make it worse I was ill. Not a cold but a throat infection and I nearly threw a fit when I found out the train was delayed a few hours. All I wanted was to get to a doctor. I spent most of the 3 days curled up in my cabin which I was sharing with the locals as it was my turn in the group of 5 to be cast out to the next door cabin (cabins only slept 4 people). Lemsiped up and drinking so much water, nothing was working. We arrived in Irkutsk in the morning and I begged our new Honcho, Ted (Tulya) to take me to a doctor. Ended up being taken to the hospital in the town. ... read more
View from the balcony at the chalet
Saxon, Andy and Peter
Country Roads

Europe » Russia » Siberia » Irkutsk December 4th 2009

Wow, it really is true what they say about time. It flies! In just over 9 months, I will be packing my backpack and saying my last goodbyes for another 8 months. It almost doesn't seem like it's real. It feels like it should be a part of somebody elses life. Perhaps when I actually start to gather my gear, get my shots, and buy my first ticket, it will feel real, but untill then I am left to read others' blogs and guidebooks and meerely dream about what is to come. As the monthes fly by as surely they will, I know that I will be ready for this adventure of a lifetime:) I look forward to making a packing video and reviewing the few carefully consitered idems I will be bringing and talking about ... read more




Tot: 0.195s; Tpl: 0.006s; cc: 5; qc: 84; dbt: 0.136s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb