Step one Get to Russia part 4.

Day Three: Sunday 25th Saptember 2011

Woke up at 05:00 yes  thats right people I was up at 5:00a.m. on the train for a 6:00 arrival in Moscow a bus ride to the hotel then we found out we would not be able to check in until 14:00 so chilled out in some one elses room until 8:00.  Then is was to the Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin and eventually Tchaikovsky Concert Hall which at this point out of shear tiredness we got lost until two very nice russians said they would show us the way to the main road so we would not end up on the wrong side of town, by the time we got there we needed a break which equals a cup of tea and some tiramisu yummy.  Then the long the long walk back a metro ride and back to the hotel via the super market to buy supplies for tomorrow.  Let the fun begin 3 days and 4 nights  (78 hours) on the Trans Siberian hopefully I will get some sleep this time round.  So this will have to do until I have internet access again but keep checking for updates.  I shall be going to the following places Irkustk, Mongolia then China.

                                                                St Basil's Catheral

                                             Outside the doors of Tchaikovsky Concert Hall

View of Moscow from the hotel room. 

Step one Get to Russia part 3

Day Two: Saturday 24th September 2011

Woke up at 8:00 yes I now those who know me will think something is wrong with me getting up before midday. Had breakfast which was museli which is a change (as there were no nuts) and toast.  Between 12:00 and 21:00 we went sightseeing to all the well known plays oh and to change the money I took with me.  First  stop was to get the metro unfortunately we are not allowed to pictures in the metro, from there we went to the Cathedral of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood.

 

Sorry it sideways but you get the picture.  Stop two was to the Author Vladimir Nabokov who wrote Lolita, stop three was to St Isacc's Cathedral

After that we went to Peter and Paul fortress where we got some great panoramic shots.

Ok so my photography needs some work I will have to sort out the pics when I have time.

Lunch was great the Russians seem to love their pancakes so ham and cheese it was accompanied by a cup of fantastic hot chocolate which was so thick the spoon could stand up right as you can see.

Then to walk back to the hotel to meet at 21:00 to walk to the train station to get the over night train to Moscow.  Here are some pics of the sunset and of the rail way and the sleeping compartment.

Step one Get to Russia part 2.

As I was saying I am writing down what ever happens which will be intersting.  So any way here is how the last 3 days have gone.

Day One: Friday 23rd September 2011

Wake up at 03:00 to get the underground to Heathrow from Dagenham.  Arrive by 07:00 have breakfast then check in luggage and go through immigration. Get through immigration realise I need to by a couple of things for flight only to see that the gate was boarding so ran around to find gate.  08:45 boarding get on to plane sit down plane is delayed because they didn't have enough food or the right food for very one leave 5-10 minutes late. 2 hours later we manage some how to arrive 5-10minutes early only to have to wait 5-10 minutes to get off said plane. In the meantime there is a person waiting to take me from the airport to the hotel at 3:35, which I was now late for at passport control contact the people in charge to make sure that I don't miss the transfer, get through passport control etc no problem find driver.

The Driver does not speak any english only Russian yes I now I shouldn't be suprised at this fact as I am now in Russia.  I get to the hotel which I then walk past the entrance which is a side door.  Nobody else has arrived yet.  Meet at 6p.m to meet guide and others on trip.  We then went to for dinner not to others planning to go to Russia make sure you have Roubles even when the itinerary says US dollars I had to go to an ATM to get money out to pay for dinner even though I had money just not roubles.  Should say I arrived in St Petersburg.

Dinner for those interested in russian food consisted of a potato salald which had beans, ham and another veg I think, roasted veg and a chicken burger type thing like a kiev but minus the butter and the breadcrumbs.

Step one Get to Russia

So as my last posting shows I had a few issues packing and here is the proof.

Third attempt complete.

Well you get the picture of how many times it took.  So here I am only 3 days into my 5 months trip, and so far I have walked for a total of 16 hours in two days thats more than I manage in a month of saturdays.  To make sure I don't forget what I have done I have been jotting stuff down in another diary just in case I am not able to update it. 

Finally ready

I have finally finished packing after packing and unpacking about 5 times to make sure I had the essentials ended up using an old rucksack which holds the right weight for me to carry so what ever was left out will be staying at home.

That plan seemed to work and so I just have to make sure I have all my tickets etc. It does mean I have spent money on things that I will not be taking but at least I won't have to by them when I get home especially if prices keep going up.

A week and two days

You would think with a week to go before I start my travels I would be packed by now.  The answer to that is no, the reason I'm still not sure what to take with me current temperature in the countries/cities I will be going to first.

St Petersburg between 16 and 12 degrees, Moscow between 15 and 8 degress, Irkutsk between 8 and 1 degrees, Ulaanbaatar between 7 and -5 degrees, Beijing between 24 and 19 degrees.

Layers are the way forward but will I pack enough cloths to wear in the coldest city in the world?  I hope so. I also hope I can carry it all for the next five months.

I hope to up date this blog whenever possible keep checking for pics and what I have been up to.

Two weeks to go

So I have had all the necessary vaccines Hep B x3, Rabies x3, Tick Borne encephalitis x 2, Japanese encephalitis x2, Hep A, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diptheria, and Polio.  Just need to get anti maleria tablets then I think thats everything. I have all the Visas I need confirmed flight booking, tour bookings and hostel booking.

I just need to pack I have insect repellent and first aid kit, snow boots for Canada, waterproofs, Walkers for hiking.

So here is my route give or take Russia, Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Austrailia, New Zealand, Canada then home.