Train to Siberia
Trip Start
Nov 21, 2007
1
99
158
Trip End
Oct 01, 2008
Irkutsk,
Siberia,
Russian Federation
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
We got on the train at 9:10 pm in UB. We pulled into the Mongolia/Russian border at 5:30 am, waited for the immigration staff to come to work around 9 am, traded documents and got sorted out for Mongolia. Then, we rolled to the Russian boarder where we were searched by dogs, customs agents, military persons, people looking under window seals and tables, and who knows what else. It was VERY apparent when we crossed into Russia. Ian, one of our travel mates, said "WELCOME TO RUSSIA!" which a GREAT Russian accent which sent us all howling with laughter
Anka's bday cake for us
. It was really remarkable to see the immediate difference in setting. We wish you could have heard the immigration officers say "Jana Elizabeth" and "Layton Doyle" with her thick accent while looking at us and our passports to confirm it truly was us. The lady wore a surgical mask but her green eyes looked us over many times! You did not need to see her whole face to know this was serious business. We spent another few hours connecting, disconnecting, reconnecting train pieces...and pulled out at 2:30 pm! The border crossing took about 9 hours or so! UNBELIEVABLE. We were able to get out of the car for a while which was very nice to stretch out, go to the toilet (they keep the toilets locked on the train when it's not moving), and the interactions kept us entertained to make the days pass by. We took a nice nap to the rhythm of the tracks and woke up to some great Siberian scenery. The Russian houses we are seeing are made of wood and all similar designs. However, each house has very nicely painted shudders with either green, blue or purple colors. It really makes for a quaint setting. Oh! Each house also has a sizable garden which was lovely. We are seeing "normal" looking cows now too.
We pulled into Irkutsk at 7:50 am. The service ladies on the train woke us at 5:50 am to take our sheets...we always wonder why they have to wake us so early when we still have 2 HOURS on the train!? : < )
RANDOM: We shared a cabin with Krishna (Australian) and Jirina (Czech) this time which was so fun! Jirina says great things like "I love everything except fried onions" and.... "The people in my country", "Don't say stupid, say traditional", and a great very contagious laugh!
Ian also keeps us in stiches. He set an alarm that sounds like a rooster. He also said things that made us laugh like: "WELCOME TO RUSSIA", "NELLIE, MOOOORE" and many others that are more inside jokes of the group we were with.
