again, a few comments on the trans-siberian railway by an adventure travel site:
The Trans-Siberian Railway
This week long, non-stop 10,000km [6,000mls] or so ride travels from Moscow to either:
- Vladivostok on Russia's Pacific coast.
- via Mongolia to Beijing.
- via Manchuria and Harbin to Beijing.
This is reputedly one of the world's great train journeys but does not necessarily deliver a comfortable or fascinating experience for everyone.
TS train downside:
- there are no showers, except for a few lucky 1st class travelers.
- conditions will be cramped.
- dining car food will be abysmal.
- the scenery is mainly dull, tending towards endless forests and grassy plains, interspersed with the occasional log cabin, log village or vast lake. The train stops for 10 minutes a few times a day, leaving no time to explore, just time to aquire emergency supplies from the platform.
- As a consequence, life on the train is paramount, and this depends on various factors coming together. Is your car attendant cordial? Are your fellow passengers interesting? Does anyone snore? Do you mind living off fairly basic food for six days? Can you happily stare out of a dirty window looking at birch trees for hours on end? Is TV an integral part of your life? Do you have a good selection of books with you? Do you like vodka? And so on...
TS train upside:
- you can arrange to take a stop over at key points en route, for example attractive Irkutsk and nearby huge, mountain-hemmed Lake Baikal. Siberian timber buildings are often charming, colourfully decorated and carved.
- due to the fame of the train and the number of serious travellers on it there will almost always be someone interesting you can find to chat to for days, though a good companion and a monster picnic hamper [loaded with - you've guessed - vodka] would be a useful starting point.
- if you are actually going east/west for a purpose - such as for work in Japan or China - you will be saving the air fare.
Train Survival hints:
- don't drink the tap water. A samovar [hot water pot] in each carriage supplies sterile water.
- clean your window to improve views and photos.
- stand well clear when flushing the toilet, it can backfire if the train travels at speed.
- learn a few key Russian phrases to charm your surly attendants.
- take lots of vodka with you. You can buy some snacks, fruit, cigarettes etc during 15 minute stops at stations, but no alcohol, and you will be doing a lot of socialising!
Monday, January 29, 2007
a few comments on Russia by a travel site
i just have to share these comments on Russia by an adventure travel website:
Why Travel to Russia?
This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly. Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da!Big, brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller.
Downside:
- Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available.
- Hygiene can be a problem.
- Officials are often unpleasantly boorish.
[i think i would use a different adjective to describe russian officials...]
- Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye.
[no shit, Sherlock...]
- Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record.
[yipppiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee.............................]
Climate:
Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet. Worst: Nov-March (winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill!)
Drinks:
Most of us know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine, passable tea and effective coffee.
Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging.
Travel Health:
Do not drink Russian tap water, not even for cleaning your teeth.
[i don't agree with this for every city in russia - moscow is fine, but tap water in st. petersburg is indeed famous for its bacteria...]
Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant.
[seems like they recommend you get vaccinated against anything possible...]
Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance!
[definitely!!!]
Costs:
Moscow is now the most expensive city in the world, but elsewhere Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places.
[sigh.......................................................................................................................thinking about my monthly rent......................................................................................................................]
Why Travel to Russia?
This vast and diverse country, occupying the top chunk of a continent all the way from Poland to Japan - and a big chunk of world history too - demands travel attention. The architecture is both glorious and hideous, the history is monstrous, the art is sensational and the people can be touchingly friendly. Absurd Fabergé eggs? Extraordinary onion domes? Caviar crepe? Yes, please. A hard day's White Night in St Petersburg? Slamming vodka with your taxi driver? Da!Big, brutal, beautiful and intriguing, Russia is an enigma that's got to be sampled by any serious traveller.
Downside:
- Accommodation is hardly cheap if comfort is an issue, though plenty of budget options are available.
- Hygiene can be a problem.
- Officials are often unpleasantly boorish.
[i think i would use a different adjective to describe russian officials...]
- Crime and corruption in the cities requires an ever-open eye.
[no shit, Sherlock...]
- Despite the size of the country, internal flights are unreliable and Russian airlines have the world's worst safety record.
[yipppiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee.............................]
Climate:
Best: May, June, Sept, Oct. July/August can be wet. Worst: Nov-March (winter is long, dark and extremely cold with short days, but the snow scenes will be stunning. Early Spring is muddy, slushy and falling icicles kill!)
Drinks:
Most of us know the varied pleasures of vodka, particularly drunk chilled and in one gulp, but Russia also does a fine line in local beers with lively flavours, good champagne, not such good wine, passable tea and effective coffee.
Russians love to press drinks on foreigners so prepare your excuses now. Or practice chugging.
Travel Health:
Do not drink Russian tap water, not even for cleaning your teeth.
[i don't agree with this for every city in russia - moscow is fine, but tap water in st. petersburg is indeed famous for its bacteria...]
Check you are up to date with all jabs, and consider including vaccinations for diptheria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B. A flu jab is also useful if you plan to travel to Russia in spring or autumn when the bugs are rampant.
[seems like they recommend you get vaccinated against anything possible...]
Foreigners usually prefer to be treated at private clinics, which are very costly. Get Insurance!
[definitely!!!]
Costs:
Moscow is now the most expensive city in the world, but elsewhere Russia can be good value if you don't mind slightly crude accommodation and eat/drink at local establishments rather than typical tourist places.
[sigh.......................................................................................................................thinking about my monthly rent......................................................................................................................]
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