Trans-Siberian 3 20-21 January

Up bright and early this morning at 5.45 am to board the train for our final leg to Beijing. This time we had a 2 berth compartment and to our surprise it was more spacious than the previous 4 berths that we had - we even had a little arm chair in the corner this time! Also, much to our delight we had a toilet/wet room which we shared with the adjoining 2 berth cabin. Luxury indeed, one toilet between 4 rather than 2 toilets between 40!!

The train ride through Mongolia was probably the most scenic yet. The views were pretty spectacular and we also saw some herds of camels and goats plus a few horses and donkeys and tried to keep on the lookout for the Ger camps. We treated (!) ourselves to dinner in the buffet car. I had chicken (apparently) and Dan had beef. Washed it all down with a nice glass of Bordeaux.

Later in the evening we crossed the border from Mongolia into China. Overall this took about 6 hours but this time it was a border crossing with a difference. After the usual rigmarole of filling in forms and checking passports (and Dan almost having heart failure because the Chinese Immigration Officer wasn't convinced that he was the same person as the photo in his passport!) we then went through the process of changing the bogeys (nothing to do with nose picking - I promise). Essentially this means changing the wheels as the Chinese rail tracks are a different gauge to the Mongolia/Russia ones. Bizarre!

Basically this involved our train pulling into the train equivalent of an aircraft hanger where the train was then broken up into 3 sections across 3 parallel tracks (lots of going backwards and forwards with engines at either end to get all the carriages (18 or so) in the hanger). Then each carriage was separated and individually hoisted up about 8 feet into the air, leaving the entire bogey on the track. The original bogeys where then wheeled out and new ones wheeled into position. All very impressive and a neat solution to a rather peculiar problem.

By the time that was all done it was past 1 o'clock so we both crashed for the night. For some unknown reason (probably the thermals!) I temporarily transformed into an electricity generator and every time I moved the covers on my bed the sparks of static from the end of my fingers turned into little lights beneath the sheet. It was a bit creepy to say the least!!

Woke up the next day about 5 hours outside of Beijing and took in the scenery for the rest of the trip. Not nearly as picturesque as Mongolia - very industrial - hopefully we have already seen the worst that Beijing has to offer!

TTFN

Dan & Sue