We got up @ 5:30am this morning and grabbed the metro to the train station. We got there about 7am and after the quick security check we walked straight onto the train. We had a 1st class cabin equipped with bunk beds, a small table, lounge chair and a bathroom we share with the next cabin. The room was very comfortable and we were excited to get the trip started. The Chinese countryside is very beautiful, with lots of rugged mountains. Meredith and I played a lot of cards on the trip. It helped pass the time. We ate dinner in the dining car, which was very cool. The food was surprisingly good.
We hit the border at about 10pm. Border patrol got on and checked our passports. It was relatively painless. The toilets got locked and since Meredith needed to go she got off the train. As she walked into the station they chained and locked the doors behind her. I was left on the train by myself to witness the bogie changing. It was a bumpy ride!
A couple hours later Meredith woke me up and we were on our way again. Mongolian boder control did their thing, but overall it only took about 4.5 hours to cross the border.
We woke up the next morning to the Gobi Desert outside the train. The scenery was very flat all the way until we reached Ulaanbaator (UB).
