After an early start with no shower we’re on the train. Train number 24 to Beijing. Compared to Russian trains this one is first class. New, clean and fresh with complimentary slippers, cups and tea/coffee, hot and cold drinking water, shower room, aircon and personal video screens. Excellent.
It’s almost entirely full of trans-sib tourists and for the first time we have an English speaking couple (from Poland) in our cabin. Should be an easy 31 hour train ride.

Mongolia has been an interesting break in the journey. Our cabin mates have spent a month there on tours around the country (independant travel is not yet an option). The country is pushing tourism but I think they have a lot of work to do to make it sustainable. In retrospect we think we should have looked into spending a bit more time in Mongolia and gotten further out into the wilderness. That’s the problem with meeting other travellers and hearing what they have been up to, it makes you want to do more stuff.

Most of the tourists we have met so far all seem to be about our age or older ( lots of retirees on the train). Quite a few doing the ‘career break’ thing and following a similar route to ours.

Some Mongolian Notes:
– Ger huts with satellite dishes and Toyota Land Cruisers
– Pedestrians have no rights
– Litter (unfortunately)
– Hero worship (Mr Khan)
– Mutton and more mutton
– Erratic plumbing
– Smiling faces
– Two humped camels (V thinks camels are the coolest)
– Woolly cows that grunt instead of mooing (yaks)

[Picture: The Number 24 train]

– Posted from my iPhone