Blogs from Russia, Europe - page 324

So I have to recap on what the hell happpend to me since the last time I really wrote. I have One half hour, so i'll do the best that i can. After taking the train to Novsibirsk and getting out without knowing a damn thing, I made my way to a hotel and spent WAY too much money on a crappy little room. A room with a shower was double, so alas another day spelling like myself. I ventured out into the -30C night and found my way to the center square with what I assume was a Lenin statue. I had fast food because to be honest it's all you can possibly afford in Russia. I then found the Internet cafe and attempted to write a few emails, but i got caught up in ... read more

I should add that one of the criteria of a good place to travel to is that your money takes you further than it would if you were home. Of course this is impossible if you live in the so-called third world, but it is important, when on vacation, that you do not have to worry about how you will ever pay back your loans once you get back. I always have a budget, and only on several occasions have I needed the services of western union. Moreover, you will enjoy eating out every meal and going out every night while only spending what you would make at home in an hour. Maybe I am a "bad" tourist, but at least I'm contributing to their economy. Circumstances again brought me to an interesting country, that of ... read more

Right So my trans-siberian adventure starts in moscow (obviously) Spent a few days there its enormous, lots going on and lots to see- then one evening i realised id seen enough and was itching to become an intrepid adventurer, so i headed on over to the train station, arriving at 9:15, after a couple of minuites i decoded the Cyrillic timetables (with the help of lonely planet of course) and discovered the train to Novgorod left at 9:20. so, after a moment of feeling smug that i had timed my arrival at the train station well i realised i need a tiket. cue mad rush to 'kacca' to buy ticket and 15 minute queue. never mind i thought, and with the help of russian english student i took the next train east to Vladimir- which is ... read more

In Battlestar Galactica, two hapless aliens come down to 1980's LA in order to rescue the Earth but seem to spend most of their time trying to fit in and inevitably end up getting into countless culture-shock japes. As I emerged from the train into the new day in St Petersburg with Spanish guy in tow (Miguel) acting as tour guide that is exactly how I felt. One must at least *try* to fit in if only to not be stopped by the Rusky Fuzz and either stiffed for cash because you haven't yet registered your visa (more red tape) or because they now have your passport and will not give it back. I saw one Jonny Foreigner having this done to them. Luckily, Seville were playing St.P. and next to a few hundred pissed Spanish ... read more

Oct. 26 - SEA-SFC-PEK Arrive PEK the evening of Oct 27. 5-6 days in and around Bejing and surronding areas. My russian visa is not valid until november 27. I therefore have a month to explore the parts of china and mongolia that i feel like. This part of the trip is still very up in the air. I don't think i'll want to spend half that time in china. i'll most likely want to get away right away, and onto the mogolian portion. due to the expense of overland travel in mongolia and i need to stay in ulaan bator for more than a few days to get my bearings. i will most likely therefore stay 5 days in Bejing, head up to Harbin in china, then make my way slowly to the mongolian border. ... read more