lauralocket

So after a fab trip on the Trans Mongolian Railway I have arrived safe and sound in Beijing!
The 4 day journey to Mongolia was not as bad as I expected! It was really quite fun, I think the group of people I was with made it. The cabins were really small with 4 bunk like beds a tiny toilet for the whole carriage... I wont go into details I am sure you can imagine!!! The scenery as we went through Russia was lovely, lots of snow around, at one station we stopped at there must have been at least 5 inchs! We stopped at quite a lot of stations but we were only there for 30 minutes maximum so we didn't really get chance to look around much, not that I think there was a lot, just wooden shacks! As we got into Mongolia, after a very painful 8 hour border crossing the scenery changed quite dramatically.
We amused ourselves on the train by playing games, drinking vodka, watching movies on the ipods and making friends with the Mongolians in our cabins. The Mongolians take the train back and forth to Russia to sell goods at the different stations. By all accounts it is big business and local people go to the local train stations as we would go to Rackhams to get the latest handbag or jeans... all knock off though!! It was quite entertaining a couple of stops before the border crossing when they were trying to sell or hide all the goods so they wouldn't have to declare them!!
We arrived in Ulaanbaratar, Mongolia's Capital early in the morning and headed start to the hostel, which was not all bad. Ulaanbaratar is a really dusty place, and after a couple of days it really starts getting to you. There is rubbish everywhere and the men spit all the time and don't care where it may land!!! I can only speak as I find, but the Mongolians were not the friendliest bunch of people I have ever met! The food was also not to my liking with everything swimming in grease and the inclusion of piece of fat is the norm in their cooking. Now I feel I have not painted a great picture of Mongolia so far, which to be honest is how I felt. But then as we went out into the Countryside to stay at a traditional Mongolian Ger Camp my opinion changed! The Mongolian countryside was absolutely beautiful with mountains everywhere you look and animals grazing on the land. Because of the time of year there was no greenery and everything looked barren but impressive non the less. It was one of the girls birthdays when we got back to Ulaanbaratar so we decided to check out what a Mongolian night club had to offer! We were not disappointed, even though it was a Wednesday night there were plenty of people dancing with us to the cheesy English pop music. There were plenty of security guards about and after about the 5th fight broke out we understood why.
It was then time to get back on the train for a short 2 day journey to Beijing. I enjoyed Mongolia for the experience and the fab Countryside but I don't think it is somewhere that I will be heading back to soon!
2 days down in Beijing and I am absolutely loving it here! The people are so friendly and welcoming and there is a really nice if not busy atmosphere. At night time everything is lit up with red neon lights and it looks really impressive. By day you have to be on the look out all the time for the mad cyclists. I think the taxi experiences I had in Mongolia have prepared me for anything to happen on the roads so I am not finding the roads as bad as I thought, but they are still slightly mad when it comes to driving. We all went to watch a Kung Fu show last night at the theatre which was really lovely. It was all about the history of Kung Fu with a really nice story. The acrobats and dancing was amazing with brilliant music and lights. We also had a slap up authentic Chinese meal with Peking Duck which was to die for all for the grand total of 1 pound 99 pence!!! Unbelievable!
Off to a Chinese Acrobat Show tonight... the fun just never ends!!!
I have tried to upload some pictures but it was very painful... there are one or two St Petersburg ones though. I will try to upload some more soon x

So, I have to admit my first impression of Moscow was not that great! After an 8 hour train journey from St Petersburg I arrived in need of a bottle of water. Going to the first stall I could find I tried to purchase said bottle of water. However, after getting over what I thought were language barriers I was informed that the woman on the stall would not serve me as I was not Russian!!!! I was outraged and took my money elsewhere! I am pleased to say that it has only got better since then, I think I favour St Pete to Moscow though, but it is still a really interesting place.
I have been to the Kremlin and visited all the Cathedrals, which were lovely. Red Square was amazing by night with all the lights and the backdrop of Moscow city centre. St Basils Cathedral was as stunning as I thought it would be. Apparently Ivan the Terrible had the architects eyes removed when they had finished St Basils so they could never create anything similar anywhere else... a little harsh I thought!!! Unfortunately Lenin was not at the Mausoleum, he is on his holidays so I couldn't see him, gone for a face lift I believe!
I have met a number of people that are getting the same train as me through Russia into Mongolia which is really good and we have been exploring together. There are about 13 of us altogether, needless to say I am the grandma of the group as the majority are between 18-24! But I figure it will keep me young!!
The vodka situation has been dramatically improved, we visited a vodka museum last night and obviously had to sample the goods! Very good indeed. We even learnt how vodka was made, I was more interested in the sampling though! We then went to a local bar where the vodka tasting continued through most of the night, needless to say I am feeling a little rough today!
I am just waiting to get the train across Russia now into Mongolia. It will be a long 4-day journey with not much else to do but eat, sleep and be merry... I have bought 2 bottles of vodka to help with the merriment! There are showers on the train but you have to pay about 5 pounds for the privilage, so dont think I will bother... I am backpacking! There is also a resturant carriage but it is meant to be really expensive so I have been to the shop today and stocked up on the noodles, cheap and cheerful!
Well I am not sure when I will be updating again as I dont think there will be any internet cafes in Mongolia!! I am due in China on the 19th April and the bikini will be coming straight out!
Speak to you soon xxx

So I am 4 days in and loving Russia! St Petersburg is a really lovely place. Shabby yet chic I would say!
My legs are killing me from 3 days of hard core sight seeing, so much too see, so little time! A little run down of what I have been up to so far:
A five hour walk of the Hermitage... now starts the history lesson... commissioned in 1754 by Elizabeth I (Peter the Greats daughter)and finished in 1762! It is huge, and I mean huge, a green building with gold gilding, really beautiful. Then inside is even more impressive with huge ornate staircases, beautiful ceilings and it is full of some of the most famous works of art, from Van Gough to Picasso. I could have spent a week in there just taking it all in.
Outside the Hermitage is a huge square with the Alexander Column and the General Staff Building which is also fab. There was a big stage being set up on Thursday which looked like it was for the Olympics... Well it was!! And today I saw the Olympic flame come through St Petersburg which was an unexpected treat! Followed by the worst boy band that ever tread the earths surface... I'm not joking there was air guitar and everything!! Good fun though, I have to admit my toes were tapping slightly to the tunes.
I have also been to the Peter and Paul Fortress that Peter the Great Built to protect the Neva River that runs through St Pete, it is very impressive. I stroked the finger of St Peters statue... its meant to bring you luck!! The River Neva looked beautiful on Friday with ice and snow drifting down it and the sun shining in the background. It has not snowed here and it has been quite cold, but the sun has been shining again today and, don't laugh but I think I have burnt my cheeks a little... I know, unbelievable!!
Today I have been to St Isaacs Cathedral, one of the biggest in the World. Trekked up to the top, which about killed me but the views were worth it. I also went to the Church on Spilled blood, where Tsar Alexander II was fatal wounded in 1881 by an assassination attempt. Outside it looks like a typical Russian building and inside the mosaics cover an impressive 7000 sq metres.
So a real action packed couple of days, and now I am ready to get the train to Moscow tomorrow! Some great pictures but no way to attach them at the minute, sorry!
Disappointingly there has been a distinct lack of vodka drank... this must be rectified soon!!
Speak to you soon...Maybe, never know with me!!