Russia and the Trans-Siberian
Well that Russian visa came through. That was a while go though. From Shanghai I ventured up to China’s far north and spent a few days in Harbin. Nice place, wonder museum exhibit setup in an old Jewish Synagogue left from the Jewish community that was warmly received there and contributed so much to the infrastructure of the city.
After Harbin, it was a mere 12 hour bus across the border to Vladivostok. It was a long ride and time difference, finally arriving in Vladivostok was two things: midnight and cold. A friend from the bus (a Russian studying Chinese in Harbin) and her friend helped hail a taxi to a hotel. Though it was dark and alien in the cold darkness of that first night, the morning brought an AMAZING view of the harbor that brought a new energy and excitement to the city.
Food in Russia’s been fantastic and there’s no shortage of good dark beers.
At some point I hope to have time and recollection to elaborate on the cities visited. To keep things brief; after Vladivostok I went to Irkust and Lake Bikal where I got to take a swim in the deepest lake in the world. And then to Moscow. Since entering Russia it’s been a week on trains, most nights spent drinking with locals and making friends despite my lack of Russian.
Moscow’s an amazing city. Great architecture and fashionable people. Such a difference from the fashion I was used to seeing on the streets in China. The wide spread use of the mullet hair-style interesting for me though. And expensive as hell except for the metro.
I’m planning on making a cheap sojourn through Europe overland by bus starting in Latvia. From there I’m hoping to reaching London for a cheap flight out of Europe.
