Lighting out for the territory nce more in the Middle East. The more I travel the more I want to travel and the longer that I am out of England the happier I am. At present in Iraq and having a wonderful time. really fallen in love with the country and the people. Very glad I came and

Gallery: Train people

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Friday, 5 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Wed 3rd Dec - Train

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Wednesday, 3 Dec 2008 | Views [418]

Breakfast in dining car - eggs, sausage bits and tomato, coffee. The scene outside my window is magical for one who lives in usually snowless England; untouched snow, birches, firs all in a pinky early light. So, apart from the bad cold, bad hip, appalling ... Read more >

1st - 2nd December - Khabarovsk

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Tuesday, 2 Dec 2008 | Views [978]

Sadly, there are no adventures to be had in Khabarovsk. The streets are wide and clean, the park closed, the centre is 3km across so a bit of a trek even down to the river which I decide to skip. It is bright, modern, clean, prosperous and dull. Or dull ... Read more >

Tags: negativity

Good God! I am up to date with blog! First of December!

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Views [391]

Well. Thanks to the wonderful internet cafes of Tibet and China and this one in Khabarovsk. I am up to date and can go off and sightsee and have adventures instead. Hurrah!

Tags: blog updated

Mon 1st December - Khabarovsk

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Views [393]

Russia is certainly different. In 1983 there were no smart people, no spikeheeled boots, no BMWs, no shops that I recall apart from the ghastly and terribly sad GUM in Moscow. No souvenirs except in the overpriced hard currency foreigner only shops. ... Read more >

Gallery: Khabarovsk

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Vlad - statues, kids and trains

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Sun 30th Nov - Khabarovsk

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Views [551]

Wake as we stop and go for a cigarette in the corridor. A woman tells me it is 'Meenus 15' and I believe her as there is heaped snow or frost in the corner by the door. The sun is coming up on the snow and birch trees and it is a very long way from ... Read more >

Tags: snow! trains!

Gallery: Vladivostok-by-the-sea

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Suifenhe

CHINA | Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Sat 29th Nov - Vladivostok

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Saturday, 29 Nov 2008 | Views [698]

Leave bag at hotel after morning on the internet at the business centre at the post office. Getting back up the hill and up to the fifth floor so that I could check out nearly killed me. Memo to self: stay in flat towns from now on. Treated myself ... Read more >

Tags: dogs, guards, hills

Gallery: Harbin, NE China

CHINA | Saturday, 29 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery

Fri 28th Nov - Vladivostok

RUSSIAN FEDERATION | Friday, 28 Nov 2008 | Views [616]

Ho ho! Wouldn't let me in in 1983 but cannot keep me out now. Go looking for Dalintourist and find 'Five )'clock Tea', an English teashop run by Barry from Bolton, Lancashire. An oasis of English speakers like Jessica (US) and Maddy (NZ)who are resident ... Read more >

Tags: beach, teashop, yoghurt

Thurs 27th Nov - Suifenhe, border with Russia

CHINA | Thursday, 27 Nov 2008 | Views [781]

Shaken awake from dead sleep and dream about Kathy Kirby (good grief)  by conductor. I talk to my first Russian. Bit dour. Cab to bus station. Phrase book quite good. Extremely helpful boy who works at the station helps me buy my ticket, shows me to ... Read more >

Tags: chocolate, confusion, customs, theft

Wed 26th Nov - Enchanting Harbin

CHINA | Wednesday, 26 Nov 2008 | Views [569]

Arrive 8.30am in enchanting Harbin. I think Leeds to Beijing's London. It used to be Russian and the architecture reflects this. Leave my bag at the station cloakroom after dear Li Fe has helped me buy tonight's ticket for Suifenhe. Nice cabman takes ... Read more >

Tags: chat, mall, tomatoes