6/28 After 6,000 miles on the Trans-Siberian

We just arrived in Ulan Bator after spending the last 4 nights on the Trans-Siberian. I wrote about this in my earlier entries, but time and space were very difficult to keep track of. Each day consisted of instant ready boiled water products, discussion sections in steamy cars, a couple hours of readings and dying of heat exhaustion in between. The trains were made in the GDR and were engineered to retain heat during the winter, making the cars incredibly uncomfortable. At night when the temperature finally came down, hang out sessions in the cabins - with a bottle of vodka, wine or champagne of course. 

Trans-Siberian Feast

Two packets of Big Bon Ramen and half a can of sardines

Fun Nights in the Trans-Siberian

The changes in scenery were pretty incredible. We first started in a deciduous forest with birch trees as far as the eye could see. Then we entered the territory of rolling hills and lakes, the biggest being Lake Bikal - the largest body of fresh water in the world that lasted for about 2 hours of the train ride. Then when we got into Mongolia the land flattened out and we started to see gers (monogolian tents) in the distance.

Hanging Out on the Trans-Sibbbbb

Somewhere in Siberia

So one of the nights we were all getting super drunk when our Mongolian train stewardess approached us with a bunch of dolls. Our Russian translator Emliano told us that she wanted us to hold on to them through customs and he accepted 4 of the gifts. Then she proceeded to come back with 10, 15 and 20 more for us and everyone in the program. The next morning we told our professors and returned them to her. As we started to approach the border we saw more sketchy business of the passengers putting things into hidden compartments. I don’t think it was drugs, the Mongolians on the train were definitely moving Russian or western goods into Mongolia tax free.

Sketchy Doll Contraband?

The lost doll

The system used for customs was very different then anything I had ever encountered before. The Mongolian and Russian authorities, at different times, spent about two hours going through all the different compartments. During this time the train was stopped and no one was allowed out and windows were shut closed, baking us inside the cabin. Then some of the guys decided to break out some orange juice to fight the heat when a border guard came by asking for our passports. After we handd him our passports, Junho asked him if he wants some oj. He graciously accepted it, said thank you and moved onto the next compartment. I guess we were all in it together.

After 6,000 miles on the train, we have finally arrived in Ulan Bator. Cannot wait to finally take a shower!