Russia and the Trans-Siberian

Been traveling about a couple of weeks now...


Started in Tallin, Estonia. Lots of young travellers just wanting booze and good times, so pretty soon we Moved on to Moscow.

The Russian border stop was a trip: crazy Soviet guards with automatic weapons and aggressive looking dogs turning everyones bags inside out looking for contraband. A fitting start to our time in Russia, or so it seemed.

Moscow was like any other European city, and as such not that interesting to me. Red Square, the Kremlin etc. all visited, but I'm not one for static sights. My hosts were extremely gracious though, and so very eager to help with informing me about the great city.

Spent the last night on the 34th floor of a decandently expensive hotel bar, sucking in freezing Moscow views. Spectacular! Then we headed to an underground bar: had the atmosphere of a pre-communist conspirators meeting point. This impression was given creedence by the Trotsky lookalike and his Bolshevik compatriots on the table next to us. A very cool place.

The next day I got on the Trans-Siberian headed for a place called Irkutsk, Siberia. Took four days, but we made it eventually. My thoughts turned inward and I developed a kind of meditative state throughout the journey.

Time lost its power and importance as I watched the timezones skip by one after the other. Sleeping was hard, so I medidated at night.

I ate instant noodles everyday and felt happy for them. Intermittent train stations gave respite to the endless repition of locomotive rythym.

When I got to Irkutsk ten thousand gold toothed taxi drivers greeted me hungrily. With the golden wolf pack left behind I was free to navigate myself to the IF Hostel, a wonderful place run by a young Russian, Dimitri. Dimitri is creator of Baikal Сlub and a fountain of knowledge for all travellers to this region.

Tomorrow I head to Lake Baikal, 20% of all the fresh water in the world is there. It's more than a mile deep and heaven on earth, so I'm told. I'll steam in Saunas and freeze in ice cold water a million years old.

once I've secured a VISA for the place, the next stop is Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia.

More soon...

djb.