Huw's Bit Got into Irkutsk at 7.15am. 36 hour journey, 7 of which spent sitting on butts at border security - Mongolians bearable, Russians just bloody rude and behaved like extras from SPECTRE! Have put the Russian people on notice that they have a lot to make up for after yesterday's trials! Got off to a good start with the bloke picking us up speaking good English and having a great understanding of Siberia and Lake Baikal. He also didn't try to rip u...

Decent sleep and porridge for breakfast - eeeeuch! No buffet car on this train! Arrived at Mongolian border at 7am. Worth noting that they lock the toilets at this stage and don't open them again until we have cleared Russian security. Finally cleared Mongolian security/customs/passport at 10.20am!!!!!! 3 1/2 hours! Travelled 30mins across Russian border which is full on with barbed wire, fences, sentry towers! Russians clearly paranoid! Arrived at securit...

Special start to the day - went to Gandantegchenling Monastery (which means 'Great Place of Complete Joy') a 5 min walk from hotel. Got to sit with monks as they chanted their morning prayers, complete with drums and cymbals. Felt very privileged to be with them and the local people worshipping. Part of the monastery is the Buddhist University of Mongolia! Wasn't all peace, enlightenment and tranquility though! On the way there we had to walk past a local ta...

Huw's Bit Back to UB from the NP and that drive!  Spent the afternoon walking UB taking in the last day of the National Festival.  Walked to the wrestling arena and it was packed - their Grand Final day.  Managed to avoid the pickpockets and spent some time in the city centre.  First ever Korean food for dinner - outstanding!  More sights in UB tomorrow then off to Russia tomorrow, 2 days on the train!    Christine's Bit We were lucky as we arrived at...

Huw's Bit Picked up at 9am for the 2 hour drive to the NP which is 65km away - 2 hours surely not!  I'm going to find it hard to describe what happened next! Basically after about 45mins we turned off the very poor main road bitumen surface and drove on...well the grasslands and dirt tracks. There was a rough 'road/track' to follow but bascially you drive where you want and make up the rules as you go along!  Got invovled in numerous games of chicken and who c...