John and Elizabeth Travels

Blog 10 - Russia Aug 15th We reluctantly leave our lovely riverside camp, to queue overnight at the border, amidst all the comings and goings! A very cold, noisy, night ensures we don’t get much sleep. The usual bedlam with all the pushing, shoving and queue jumping, and we are 5th in line for opening at 8am. Well, 6 hours later we leave Mongolia, 3 hrs later we enter Russia! 9 hrs! Enough said! However, we have been able to leave Mongolia, with not too many hassles! Having sufficient water is always an issue, and we never know where we might find it next. We stop at a gorgeous well, where locals queue to get theirs, and a friendly Russian tries to converse. He brings us a cup of tea, then returns with milk, then a big jar of raspberries!! Of course, he invites us into his log home – to drink vodka - 9am! Russian Watering hole Siberian Watering hole The homes are old, small, log cabins, with brightly decorated window and door frames – mainly in shades of blue. Usually a little vegie g

We have now arranged a guide (compulsory) to spend 2.5 weeks with us, taking us to restricted areas, so our adventures continue! Getting directions Home on the range With Muugi, a 25yr old Mongolian, we head east through Genghis Khan lands, towards the Strictly Protected Area of Nomrod. We do not have permits yet – they are to be flown out to us, at Choibalsan. 2 days hard drive brings us there – and no permits! They will arrive by plane 2 days later. Frustration! Shades of China! When we get the permit, it does not include the Nomrod area! Apparently 2 Germans camped there recently, and didn’t extinguish their fire, which caught alight! We camp at a huge lake, and watch camels and horses... The lake has China at northern side. Then we head to the site of the Mongolian/Japanese war. The Russians assisted Mongolia, who defeated Japan. Apparently, WWII could have had different outcome if the Japanese had not been defeated here, as then they turned their attention away from Europe,

August 2010 Coming down off the crystal clear air of the Tibetan Plateau to smog, smog, smog. Cancer is the main cause of death in China – no wonder. The traffic is horrific and we pass 4 very serious truck accidents in one day! There are hundreds of huge trucks, carrying massive loads. Most are 22 wheelers, but so overloaded! Roads, tunnels, overpasses are excellent, but tolls all the way! We are starting to hallucinate – craving Western food and a good cappuccino! But, the food is good – mainly Chinese, and expertly wielding chopsticks we are gaining weight again! Xi’an and Terracotta Warriors. A unique display. Really awesome. Emperor Qin Shihuang was a brilliant, but cruel leader, and is credited with the Great Wall; measurements; money; consolidating and unifying the kingdom for many years, etc etc. We visit the First Gate & Tower of The Wall, at Yulin. INNER MONGOLIA (Chinese) At first, mountains on the north, and miles of flat cropping plains on the south. No English now!