Holiday snaps from the Trans-Mongolian/Trans-Siberian railways
Hi All,
So far I’ve been lazy and not posted all about my holiday for you, but now you can click through for the virtual version of a boring slideshow…
Starting in Beijing – Lots of walking (despite a modern subway with trains every 45 seconds), lots of smog (hack, cough) and plenty of oppressive heat. However there was a whole lot of good stuff as well:
The wall (yeah, the big one)
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556833468...
Some damn hot food at a szechuan restaurant:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556819746...
The forbidden city:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556844463...
Mmmm…. scorpions
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556852379...
Next was the 3 day train to Mongolia’s capital, Ulaan Bataar:
Through the Gobi Desert
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556858012...
Into more hospitable climes:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556859857...
Svalbardian eagles have migrated south (the lovely Mrs Ltmon in the picture as well)
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556865742...
A night spent in a Ger (traditional nomadic tent)
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53556868637...
Unmissable views (I have to adjust and crop this panorama a bit still)
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53581827379...
Next, another couple of nights on the train through to Siberia, and Lake Baikal
The lake, which holds 20% of the worlds fresh water:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53581846958...
We did “banya” there, which involved 110 degree (celcius) sauna, whipping myself with birch branches and then jumping into an icy cold plunge pool. No photos of this, which is probably the best result.
Plenty of crazy cars in Russia… things like this are still on the road
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559312301...
Mrs Ltmon found the lake a little chilly
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559314064...
Vodka was good, but the beers were huge (that’s 1L can)
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559314366...
Now was the long haul trip – 3 nights and 4 days on the train. Nearly went crazy, but finally got to Suzdal – a historical capital of ancient Rus with UNESCO world heritage listing.
Town square
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559316357...
40 churches in a 9 square km area:
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559316750...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559317611...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559317955...
It wasn’t much further to Moscow:
Kremlin at Red Square
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559320220...
St. Basils. Ivan the Terrible had the architects blinded once complete, so nothing else would ever compete with it.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559320570...
The subway system in Moscow is like stepping back in time. The trains are crazy old clankers from the 40’s which travel at 150kmh and scream like banshees. The stations are… something else.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559323396...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559322840...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559323859...
Finally another overnight train to St. Petersburg. The Hermitage (Winter Palace, complete with gigantic art gallery) was the last word in opulence — no wonder the peasants kept revolting with the ridiculous amount of gold and marble used in this place.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559326086...
Anyway, that’s an abridged highlights tour. There was actually 3.5 weeks to see all that (and more), and it was very exhausting holiday with all that cross-continental travel. Good to be back though!
Comments
Great Pics
Great Pics….
L00ks like a holiday 2 remember……
0hh and h0ws Patch ?????
Sucking up the attenti0n ?
n0mad
wow Ltmon
looks like an awsome trip
great photos
i like these Siberian BFG’s
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559321881...
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lukemonahan/TransSiberian2009#53559329605...
i think some of the best trips are when you get off the beaten track
ta
Robag
Big Guns
The first one is the Tsar Cannon in the Kremlin. It’s the largest cannon ever made, by crazy Tsar Feodor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsar_Cannon
The next one is just a random piece of artillery in St. Petersburg which we snapped as we passed by. It’s left over from WWII where the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg once more) closed the city for 872 days.
Some great photo’s LT, making
Some great photo’s LT, making those feet of mine want to go wandering ;)
Those bug kebabs were disturbing lol.
nice pics
i love watching the History channelnand hve always been interested in going to Russia which has rich history…. these pics make my urge to visit the reigon even more!!
wow Lt that looks to have
wow Lt that looks to have been a great trip. Some excellent shots in there. i love the propaganda!
Good Pics
A very good collection of beautiful photos. Thank you
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