[mylittlejewelaa]

Serb

[KitRittyTug]

Siberia

[BurdenRobert]

Hey, I plan to do a similar trip this autumn! Give me more info. How much will the trip cost you? Was getting visas a problem? Are you going it alone or on an organized tour?

[Sandra_18X]

I think Serb was in Omsk.

[Cvo1iRT0]

Thanks for the info. €6000 is what I make in a year so I'll be looking for a cheaper trip
I'd appreciate if you keep us posted with pictures and anecdotes, if it's not too much of a hassle, of course.

[masterboyz]

Originally posted by Garth Vader
I think Serb was in Omsk. Indeed.

Good luck, Mercator! I know You've been planning that trip for a long time now, so I hope it will fulfill your expectations~!

[MasdMnPa]

Oerdin use to live in Sacramento... I lived in Davis for 8 years... Old Sac is fun, go to the comedy club there.

[buyviagraonlineusatoday]

Have fun! I've been to Inner Mongolia (when I went to China in '97). Nice people. Lots of meat & bread. Windy. Never been to Outer Mongolia.

[Vodonaeva]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
I'm heading off to Sacramento on Saturday. Is anyone excited about that?! I'm going to Daytona Beach on Saturday

Then off to Seattle on Monday for a week of meetings

[PypeMaypetasy]

The People's Central Air Defense Headquarters. Where is that, Dimitri?
(listens)
In Omsk. Right. Yes.
(listens)
Oh, you'll call them first, will you?
(listens)
Uh huh. Listen, do you happen to have the phone number on you, Dimitri?
(listens)
What? I see, just ask for Omsk Information. I'm sorry too, Dimitri. I'm very sorry.

[nTDsD0aU]

My report's going to be a bit boring so far. This is my first visit to an Internet cafe here, and I can't connect my camera here (I think) so no pictures yet.

I'm still in Moscow anyway. I haven't done anything particularly exciting here either, except walk around the city.

I did find out the ice hockey world championships are going on, though. There are a couple of Swedes in full fan attire in the hostel I'm staying at.

I haven't seen any of it, though, (the TV in the hostel is set on VH1 classic channel with lots of 80's nostalgia )
and I don't think I'll be visiting any of the matches.


Originally posted by Garth Vader
I think Serb was in Omsk. Maybe he can wave at me in the train station then.
Originally posted by VetLegion
Thanks for the info. €6000 is what I make in a year so I'll be looking for a cheaper trip
I'd appreciate if you keep us posted with pictures and anecdotes, if it's not too much of a hassle, of course. Are you planning a long stay in Mongolia as well, or just a few days? That's probably about half the costs (both in the costs there and the extra money I spent buying a backpack, sleeping bag, hiking boots, warm and light clothes etc.).

Originally posted by Heresson
Good luck, Mercator! I know You've been planning that trip for a long time now, so I hope it will fulfill your expectations~! Thank you!

[janeemljr]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
I'm heading off to Sacramento on Saturday. Is anyone excited about that?!

[/SIZE] I left Sacramento today. My plan was to head south and then east through the Sierra Nevada to Mammoth Lakes. But a Yosemite ranger lady (hot ) informed me the roads are still closed because of snow. So I"m stuck in the Central Valley.

[MipRippoomamn]

Originally posted by Pekka
Let's hope you won't have to encounter any of those Maoist guerillas, ready to chop of your capitalist testicles!

Because then it can be a fun trip if you return with your package .. still attached. This we sincerely hope. That would be in Nepal. But thank you anyway.

*cough* I'm in Ulaanbaatar now (woohoo, finally my flag actually correctly indicates my location ), but I've almost run out of my hour in the Internet cafe (in the central post office, to be precise).

I put all of my Moscow photos online, in case anyone's interested:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mercato...7600188179225/

[avaiguite]

Originally posted by Mercator
*cough* I'm in Ulaanbaatar now That's spelled "Ulaan b etor."

[anxpuna]

@PLATO: hahaha... yeah, that would be the post office. Sukhbaatar square is just around the corner on the right.

@Ecthy: I haven't been out of the city yet, so haven't seen too many tents. Well, I have seen some on the way in the train, and in the Ulaanbaatar suburbs.

I'm the only one staying in the guesthouse I'm at, which is nice in a way, but a bit difficult getting a tour going, unless I want to go expensive. I checked around some other guesthouses today, though, and I think I'll be heading off for a short trip to Terelj tomorrow...

Another thing is, most people are only staying for up to a week or so and they're all headed to the Gobi, while I want to go up North...

[spineeupsenry]

Nope.

Well I would be glad that I am there in the milder months of the year...I've seen the temperature there in the winter...holy crap And they live in tents too

[Muesrasrs]

How did you like the train trip? How long did it take? Does Express mean it doesn't make any stops from Moscow to Mongolia?

What's the weather like in Mongolia anyway?

Pics of horses!

[peemovvie]

Originally posted by VetLegion
How did you like the train trip? How long did it take? Does Express mean it doesn't make any stops from Moscow to Mongolia? The train trip was alright, but not brilliant. It's kind of an interesting experience, but not much more than that. It'll depend on the people you're travelling with though. I did the train trip through a Dutch travel agency, so I shared my compartment with Dutch people. I think that was probably less interesting than Russians or so, but possibly also a good thing, in case you end up with crazy drunk Russians, or Mongolians who stuff every nook and cranny full of their merchandise if you're on the direct Trans-Mongolian train...
The scenery gets old fast too. Lots of birch trees. And be quick on the draw with your camera, because anything interesting (e.g. villages or anything else that isn't trees ) will probably be gone before you get it out.

It's about 5 nights (Mosco-Ulaanbaatar). It makes lots of stops. I think about 30 or 40 in total, though plenty of them at night, and only a few per day for a longer period of time. I read you could buy lots of freshly made things, but that wasn't really the case. Maybe it depends on the season or something... Oh, and be prepared for a looong time at the border.

What's the weather like in Mongolia anyway?

It's pretty hot in UB right now, almost 30C. It was colder up North, though. At Khovsgol lake it was "pleasant" some days, drizzly on others and cold and windy the rest of the time. The nights get rather cold, so be prepared for that. I have a sleeping bag that says it insulates up to -5C and that's been warm enough for me.

Pics of horses! You'll have to wait for that. :P

I've got photos of the Trans-Siberian up to Irkutsk for you though:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mercato...57600188179225

[Thigmaswams]

Thanks for the photos Mercator. Just went through about half of them. What camere are you using?

The train trip was alright, but not brilliant. It's kind of an interesting experience, but not much more than that. It'll depend on the people you're travelling with though. I did the train trip through a Dutch travel agency, so I shared my compartment with Dutch people.

I'm planning to go hopping from station to station instead to taking the express. I was wondering how safe it is.

[casinobonbone]