What a ride!!!
Over the last week we’ve ridden a total of 6 trains traveling from Moscow to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia. It was an experience, to say the least. Annette and I can now write a book about the Trans-Siberian and how to elbow middle-aged Russian women trying to cut in line, as well as how to spot the only English speaker in the buidling. Actually, by the time we got tickets for train #6 we didn’t even need a translator.
We made the decision to get off the train in Siberia (many people just ride the train straight through), which of course made the journey more difficult, but also more rewarding. We’ve experienced a good sampling of Siberian towns, villages, and cities, and given that we were almost always the only English speaking people around, it’s apparently a pretty rare experience.
The train itself was GREAT the first three days. The sounds. The relaxation. The new friends we made. The countryside unfolding around us. The last few days have also been interesting, but we have been on the train, off the train, waiting in train stations, waiting at the Russia/Mongolia border crossing (8 hours just to get a visa exit stamp!!), and we’re pretty exhausted and looking forward to settling in one place, if only for a week or two.
The Siberian Countryside
The hallway of the second-class train carriage. There are 4 people in each compartment, 2 bathrooms on each side of the carriage (but no showers), no air conditioning, but plenty of windows to keep the air flowing, until you stop for 20 minutes, which is an especially fragrant experience when you haven’t showered for 3 days and neither have any of your neighbors.
Having fun with the Russian phrasebook with our neighbors.
Train station in Krasnojarsk, Siberia, where we spent 10 hours waiting for our next train.
Our friends who could speak some English and helped us battle the evil carriage attendants who tried to sabotage my train ticket. It’s a long story. But they were really nice.
A mural of Lenin and his comrades at a train station in Siberia. Lenin is still a hero here. Every town we stopped in had a statue of Lenin and a street named Lenina.
Tags: Amanda Formoso, Russia, Siberia, Trans-Siberian, Travel
Amanda
Sabotage your train ticket???? Not sure I’m liking that….
Your pictures are coming through so clearly.
Hi,nrI enjoyed reading your experience on and along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The photos are fantastic, too. nrI have been planning to go to Siberia, too, and wonder if you had to book your hotels via a travel agency before your arrive there or if it is possible find a hotel ad hoc. nrnrAny advice would be much apreciated.nrNara
Thanks for reading Nara! We did everything independently. Getting train tickets was sometimes challenging and time-consuming, but I think you learn alot about the country and culture by putting yourself in situations like that, so I enjoyed it in a weird way. You’ll be fine not booking hotels in advance, too. Not booking everything in advance gives you a lot more freedom while you’re traveling. I guess it all depends on the kind of traveler you are, but if you’re a little adventurous and like a challenge, you’ll be fine going independently. Please let me know if you need any more specific advice, Amanda
Thank you very much for the prompt reply, Amanda. I wished I should have asked for your advice earlier. I have been waiting for a travel agence’s arrangement for several weeks because I was told that getting visa is very difficult without arranging everything in advance. I arealdy bought my ticket for flying out from Sydney (Australia) to Vladiostok on 5 August . My plan was taking the train from their to Irkutsk making a couple of stop-overs in Khabarovsk and Ulan Ude. Since I still havn’t been able to launch my visa application, I wonder if it is too late for the plan and wonder if I just cancle the trip to Vladivostok and instead going to Ulan Ude from Ulaan Bataar. Do you know if a foreigner (tourist) can apply a Russian Visa nrin Ulaan Bataar?nrI am sorry for the long message. nrMany thanks and kind regards, Nara
Hi Nara, I think you can apply here, but I’ve heard it can be a long and difficult process from Mongolia. I didn’t have any problems getting the Russian visa on my own, but I don’t know what the application process is like in Australia. I would call your embassy and ask about applying in Australia and Mongolia. Vladivostok to Ulan Ude/Irkutsk sounds great. I’ve heard Vladivostok is a nice, sophisticated, city and I really liked Irkutsk. I’d suggest at least 2-3 days there, and even more if you want to go to the Tuva Republic and Lake Baikal. Good Luck!!
Hi Amanda,
You are wonderful. Thanks for the reply.
I will be in Mongolia in early August and than probably to Ulan Ude if not to Vladiostok. I will let you know it goes.
Enjoy your stay in Mongolia.
Nara