We were packed onto the train for what we thought was a three day train ride only to later realise that it was in fact a four day train ride (maybe we should have checked the itinery). As I usually go stir crazy on a three hour train ride to London I was pleasantly surprised when somebody informed me that we had actually been on for eight hours and it felt like ten minutes. The banter between the group is as good as ever and at half way through our epic train ride spirits are still high.

The dining cart is an experience as there is a school trip on board and they have booked it for the entire journey so anytime we set foot in it we a acosted by a diminitive women telling us to go (or so we think as none of us speak Russian) until I say the only Russian I know (beva - beer) when they let us buy some (all be it with a face like thunder). The food cart is run by the most miserable people I've ever come across.

The attendents for our carriage are great and help us out wherever possible, even though they speak no English. As the train makes stops at the station everybody jumps off to try and cool down (the heating is always turned right up) and buy drink and food from the small vendors who are selling there wares. The trains set off with no warning what so ever so it's best to keep an eye on the train attendents and when they get back on so do you, or you will be left in the middle of nowhere. The attendents do there best to make sure we are all there (probably because we are stupid foreigners!).

This train ride is one of the most surreal journey's of my life but at the same time one of the best. This is after two days and if it is still the same after four remains to be seen.......

Well the train was definately interesting, and that's to say the least. When the crazy Russians got on at OMsk and proceded to get very drunk very quickly. One of them took a like to Nicola and when he decided to stroke her face everyone retreated to there cabins to try and get away. He then spent the next however many hours stalking the hall way and staring at people.

As the train operated at a steady 30 degrees everybody at one point or another needed to go to the gap between the carriages (dubeed the ice room). During one of Sarah and mine numerous visits to this area, I ran into this man and a coupleof his friends. One of these friends was trying to explain something to us (very difficult when they don't speak a word of English and we don't speak Russian) and proceded to head butt the metal door and hit himself in the face (very hard). Needless to say we made our excuses and made a sharp exit. I spent most of the rest of the day on my bed trying to sleep so my body clock was running on Siberia time and not Moscow time.

The next morning I awoke to find that the other cabin (with Adam, Rolph and Nicola in it) had been plagued by another Russian who was a translator for the army (although apparently couldn't speak Russian or English) and the crazy Russians again.

I was feeling worse for wear (for reasons unknown) and suddenly realised I was going to be sick and rushed to the toilet only to find it was locked (as they are locked twenty minutes before and after each stop as they drop straight onto the tracks). I was therefore ill between the carriages (sorry to the Russian trying to cross).

All in all the four and abit days on the train ride was an experience that I doubt I'll ever forget, including the people on it (like Julliene the 14 year old who spoke almost perfect English and ended up as our tranlator).