Author: admin

Friday, 28 May 2010 Yokohama, Japan Taxi driver to the station is wearing white gloves and a peaked cap. Taxi is spotless. Not exactly what I’m used to when I get a taxi from Nottingham home late at night. Yet another sleek and slender Shinkansen Nozomi bullet train to Tokyo. Like a white snake speeding… Read more

Thursday, 27 May 2010 Hiroshima, Japan Sleek and slender is the Shinkansen Nozomi bullet train to Hiroshima. People stand in an orderly queue at the points marked on the platform where the doors will be. Not like the bloody pushing and shoving you get in the UK. Such a polite society. Once inside the train,… Read more

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 Fukuoka, Japan Fast hydrofoil ferry across the Sea of Japan to that romantically named Japanese city of Fukuoka. Hydrofoil rises up out of the water as it gathers speed. Once out into open water there’s a bit of a swell and told to fasten seat belts and remain in our seats.… Read more

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 Busan, South Korea Not stopping in Seoul since I have to get to Japan to meet an old mate (as in longevity) this weekend in Yokohoma, on the outskirts of Tokyo. Necessitates zipping down the South Korean peninsula to Busan, crossing the sea to Japan, zipping up Japan to Yokohama. Where… Read more

Monday, 24 May 2010 Seoul, South Korea Farewell Russia. It’s been oblast (that was a joke, dear reader). Flying to Seoul with Korean Airways. The bowing starts. Air stewardesses bow after giving the safety briefing. Bow after presenting my in flight meal. Chief Steward comes over to all of us in Business Class to thank… Read more

Sunday, 23 May 2010 Vladivostok, Russia Despite not going to bed until half past two this morning have slept rather well, dear reader. All that wine, whisky and vodka you see. Mr Ex-Army and I both bleary eyed. Having followed the flooded Amur River since we left Ulan Ude three days ago, wake up to… Read more

Saturday, 22 May 2010 Siberia Transit, Russia Final day on the Trans Siberian Express. Which is now running over two hours late. Train is clinking and clattering all day as we speed along the tracks to make up the time with some real loud shock waves from the couplings. Literally bouncing along the tracks. Timings… Read more

Friday, 21 May 2010 Siberia Transit, Russia Apart from a number of platform stops, now on the train for two full days travelling across eastern Siberia to Vladivostok. Have picked up a guitarist in Ulan Ude who is giving concerts a couple of times a day with a mix of local traditional music and something… Read more

Thursday, 20 May 2010 Ulan Ude, Buryat Republic, Russia Having enjoyed watching a military youth parade in the main square with the world’s largest head (25ft tall) of Lenin overlooking proceedings, depart Ulan Ude for the ‘Old Believers’ village at Tarbagatay. A place where the ‘Old Believers’ set up a standalone village in the 19th… Read more

Wednesday, 19 May 2010 Ulaan Baatar Day trip to Mongolia. Like you do. Were meant to be having lunch in a ger on the Mongolian steppes. But. Due to trackworks on the Mongolian section, the rail timetable means we have to leave Ulaan Baatar at 1350hrs. So. Disembarking train at 0800hrs it’s to be a… Read more