The Random Factor states that if you and your friends have a heavy session of drinking with a lone random he will at some point during the night (a) need medical assistance, (b) disappear, or (c) get in to a fight.
Well we spent a couple days up at Lake Baikal (the largest fresh water lake in the world) and to be honest I didn't really like it. The lake itself was very impressive. Its frozen over at the moment with about 70cm of ice, and then snow on top, so we were able to walk on it. People were even driving on it.
The town itself, however, was like a cross between The Shining and Deliverance. Pretty eery and I felt a bit uncomfortable the whole time. I also think 'Lake Madness' was getting to us. Is it true that large bodies of water can mess with your head? I definitely started losing it by the end. The lake was beckoning me.
We stayed in a homestay again and it was grand. Our Russian 'mum' was nice enough. The dad was a bit of a dick, but he apparently spends 5 or 6 days a week on the lake so we didn't have to see him! Bizarre.
They had a son who I'm convinced was a ferrel child. He slept on the kitchen floor. Seriously. I think Mike stepped on him in the middle of the night. And I'm not sure if it was him but I kept hearing animal noises.
But anyway, I'll assume he was, thus crossing off 'meet a ferrel child' on my list of things to do in life. Next on the list are 'Meet the manzee' and 'Hug a penguin'.
Things took a turn for the worse on the last night, just as Mike was complaining that nothing interesting was happening at the lake. We got talking to some Russians and played some 'Rooskey Billiards'. The girls were real nice and spoke English and the guys were alright. Everything was going great but then out of nowhere, at the end of the night, one of the guys threw a punch at Rodney...we thought he'd broken his nose.
All hell broke loose and a table got turned over and security came down. Nobody really knew what was going on. Blood everywhere. Mike, the girls and I tried to settle things down.
Basically it came to the point where we got Rodney out of there, but the management, though nice enough, wanted money for the table. We had none left as we had spent it all on vodka, but they wouldn't let us leave.
So in the end Mike went off to get money while I stayed, guarded by a security guard with an automatic weapon. He turned out to speak English, having studied Agriculture, and was a very nice guy. I probably would have been a bit more uncomfortable with his machine gun pointed at my knee cap, but I was pissed.
We really needed the Bull McCabe there.
Anyway, we got out alive. Still dont really know what happened. The girls kept apologising and the explanation they had for the fight was "We are two beautiful girls and our friends (the guys) are not beautiful."
Women!
We've since left Russia. Seems like we were there ages but actually wasn't too long. Kind of sad to leave but I know we have to press on and get heading towards Oz. It would be difficult to stay much longer anyway cos of the visa malarkey. It's been an absolute blast though.
Also, Mike is far too popular with the ladies here. He's like a God. And to rub salt into my wounds he has a girlfriend, so no scandal^. We definitely need to move on.
Spazibar Russia!
We left the lake and got a two day train to Ulaan Baatar where we are now.
The train was good, as always. Rodney was next door to us this time, sharing with 2 American girls, Kim and Lisa. Very nice. Very American. So alot of the time was spent in their cabin. They work most of the year in Antartica, believe it or not, and are able to travel a few months of the year. They're heading off to climb Everest. I know it all sounds very made up but it's not!
Mike and I shared a cabin with Gana, a Mongolian dude on his way back from a Russian holiday. Really nice guy. He had bought a bunch of fish for the trip and laid them out on the spare bed. Gave us some of it and they were actually very nice.
Eventually a 4th (Fish-bed) came in to our cabin but he never slept.
The border was a hassle and it took us about 5 or 6 hours to cross.
Have since parted ways with the girls and Rodney. Seems strange as we basically have spent the last couple weeks traveling with Rodney. But he's heading off to Beijing shortly and then home to Australia. He had quit his job and sold his house to go traveling in search of 'something'. He found it in the form of a 25 year old Bolivian cello player. Now he's rushing home to fly her back.
In fairness, aren't we all in search of our own 25 year old cello player? Is there anyone out there in search of a 24 year old ukulele player??
Anyway, Mongolia seems cool so far. Still just getting our bearings. People seem alot friendlier than Russia, and there's more English words around the place. Loads of bars.
A Mongolian cover of Y.M.C.A. is currently playing on the radio.
Still no USB port...still no photos...
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