November 10, 2005
Leaving Russia
(Day 264) I took a bus downtown today. There's nothing wrong with St Peterburg's metro, like Moscow's, the stations are pretty darn impressive. I took a bus because it's a change of pace. A different perspective, that allows me to see the neighborhoods between my homestay and Nevsky Prospekt.
Continue reading "Leaving Russia"
Posted by markyiin at 08:34 AM | Comments (3)
November 08, 2005
Cultural St Petersburg
(Day 263) My plans today were dicktated by the weather. Rain never killed anyone, and it wasn't even coming down that hard, but there's not a whole lot of purpose to walking around the city, at least from a picture taking point of view, when it's all gloomy outside.
Continue reading "Cultural St Petersburg"
Posted by markyiin at 02:38 PM | Comments (7)
November 06, 2005
St Petersburg
(Day 262) I try not to have any preconceptions before entering any country. Sometimes though, it's hard to help it; When I think Russia, I picture people queueing in the snow for bread, a country rife with corruption and poverty. Blame the media or my own narrow-mindedness, but from what I've seen, it couldn't be farther from reality. Then again, I could be committing the same mistake many make when visiting China - seeing the highlights of the nation's two biggest cities and drawing premature conclusions about everyone's prosperity.
Continue reading "St Petersburg"
Posted by markyiin at 11:12 AM | Comments (11)
The Moscow Metro
(Day 261) My train to St Petersburg didn't leave til five minutes before midnight. Kozlova suggested leaving my bags at left luggage at the station, explaining that she wouldn't be home for most of the day. That was what I was going to do anyways, but, "What station am I leaving from again?"
Continue reading "The Moscow Metro"
Posted by markyiin at 10:44 AM | Comments (3)
Nothing fake about it
(Day 260) I only booked one night at the AST Hof Hotel. In the morning, Kristina from Marlis Travel met me in the lobby to take me to my homestay. We went by public transportation, and even though it should've been after rush hour, the Metro lines were still packed. On the way, she explained that she'd have to take my passport and have my visa registered.
Continue reading "Nothing fake about it"
Posted by markyiin at 02:51 AM | Comments (3)
November 05, 2005
A run-in with the (corrupt) police
(Day 259) 96 hours is a long time to be on a train. I anticipated getting bored and brought something to read. Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is on my list of "Books I want to finish in my lifetime," and what better opportunity to do so than on a four day journey through the Motherland? In my opinion, it has one of the best opening lines ever: All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. Sadly, I'd never get much farther than that. Too often, I found myself staring out the window, counting down the kilometers on the white markers next to the track.
Continue reading "A run-in with the (corrupt) police"
Posted by markyiin at 02:51 AM | Comments (7)
November 03, 2005
The Europe-Asia Border
(Day 258) The Trans-Mongolian Mall didn't operate at Tiumen. The police on the platform didn't allow it. Nor did they allow photos. (Look at Eduardo's face when he saw me taking one anyways.) I wonder if it's because of a military presence nearby. (I have pictures of the tanks too, but maybe I shouldn't post them while in Russia...) Whatever the reason, it was probably like this every week. Unlike yesterday, only a handful of people were loitering around the station.
Continue reading "The Europe-Asia Border"
Posted by markyiin at 08:40 AM | Comments (7)
November 02, 2005
The Trans-Mongolian Mall
(Day 257) Overnight, our train filled with passengers. Several of them invaded my room, with their loud voices and sacks of luggage. They caused such a commotion, stuffing things in the overhead storage bins, that I wish I had bothered learning how to say, "Will you shut the !@#$ up? There's someone sleeping here!" in Russian.
Continue reading "The Trans-Mongolian Mall"
Posted by markyiin at 09:45 AM | Comments (5)
November 01, 2005
What time is it?
(Day 256) I wasn't aware of any stops overnight. We had to have made at least one though, because when I woke up, the salami was gone, and I had a new cabin mate. She was a harmless old Mongolian woman. Because of language difficulties, she didn't talk to me, and I didn't talk to her. All we shared was a room on the Trans-Mongolian Rail.
Continue reading "What time is it?"
Posted by markyiin at 01:57 PM | Comments (6)
A Rolling Bazaar
(Day 255) Two days in Mongolia hardly does the country justice. Granted, I didn't come at the best time; Jeep and camel treks to the Gobi Desert are only available in summer months, but I could've easily spent a week here, practicing my horseback skills, visiting nearby towns, and soaking in Mongolian culture.
Continue reading "A Rolling Bazaar"
Posted by markyiin at 01:53 PM | Comments (2)