Accommodation Review – Baikaler Hostel

The Baikaler Hostel in Irkutsk, Russia, has a pretty good reputation and I was very glad that I was able to get a room there – especially as there was only one private room in the whole hostel! Apparently it is owned and run by an interesting and friendly character named Jack. Unfortunately for me …

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PanRussia Panorama – Irkutsk, Baikal and Ekanterinburg

Howdy folks and welcome again to another feast of wide photos! I’m splitting my Russian Panoramas into two sections, and today it’s, well, everything bar Moscow. The border town (with Mongolia) of Naushki was not a place to remember, but I feel this photo shows the viewer why. Irkutsk was a surprisingly pretty town which …

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A Great Hostel Experience in Ulaan Baatar – Zaya Hostel

And in Mongolia I returned to the ol’ ‘hostel’ experience. Which I have to say, was pretty bally splendid! It’s been a long time since I can say I stayed in a place that was good in so many aspects as ‘Zaya Hostel’, in the Mongolian capital of Ulaan Baatar. Firstly I was met by …

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Train Journeys – Ulaan Baatar to Irkutsk (Trans-Mongolian Leg 2)

After four days in Ulaan Baatar and Terelj, it was very quickly on again by rail travelling a further 1114km to the Siberian city of Irkutsk, not far from Lake Baikal (around 60km). This, it turns out, was the shortest journey of the four legs of my Trans-Mongolian as far as distance covered. However, it …

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Taking a … Journey to the Center of the Earth

As far as journeys go, this might be the ultimate ‘World Journey’, well, okay, the real thing, not the ride. When I think of Disney movies that deserve a ride, this would probably be far from the top of the list. Not that I have EVER seen a movie of Journey to the Center of …

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Train Journeys – Beijing to Ulan Bataar (Trans-Mongolian)

Okay. Well here I am ready to start reviewing the four segments of my journey from Beijing to Moscow, around 8000 kilometres away, via Mongolia. The trip to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bataar was 1426 kilometres, crossing the border at Erlian (China) passing through Jinignan, Zhurihe and Dzamynude and other towns that perhaps I …

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In China. That Wall Thing. (great!)

When I went to China at the beginning of May this year, more specifically to Beijing, it was about 95% to catch the first leg of the Trans-Mongolian train journey. However, as I was going there, I decided that I wanted to get to two of China’s great historical landmarks, the Forbidden City and the …

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