Diamonds over Siberia
This is my first night in a proper bed but I cannot sleep. For five nights, I was soothed by the gentle left-to-right rocking of my train. This same rocking put me to sleep...
Category: Trans-Siberian
Russia, in photos
I’m writing this thousands of miles away from Russia, a country I was very sad to leave. I never thought I would enjoy Russia as much as I did – even now in Beijing,...
Tips for the Trans-Siberian Railway
There are two main points about the Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian Railways. The first is that the Trans-Siberian proper runs from Moscow to Vladivostok and the second is that the railway branches out from Ulan-Ude...
Moscow to Irkutsk
Three days ago, I boarded a train from Moscow. My destination is a town called Irkutsk, the main stop for Lake Baikal. This is a four-day journey and I’m expected to reach...
Arriving in St Petersburg
When does one start feeling for a city? What is the IT factor that makes you either hate or love a particular place? St Petersburg started out badly for me. I don’t...
The thing about money
Something has been happening lately- ever since ‘news’ of my big trip leaked out, people have been asking me how I saved up for it. (They obviously know I’m not rich). To me there’s really...
Russia to Malaysia, overland
Ten years ago, I had this crazy idea that perhaps I could fly to Moscow, hop on a train and ride it right through to Beijing and from there, fly home to Malaysia....
Books: The Great Railway Bazaar
I’ve written about books here and here, but I thought I should go back a little and have a look at those which first inspired me to travel. In short, books which told me to wake up,...
