Trans-Mongolian Railway
Taking the train from Irkutsk to Ulan Batar took only 2 days, from which 8 hours wwere spent at the border.
Mongolian Boy
How different could Temujin be from this little boy, when at his age?
Stupas of Kharkorin
The historical settlement of Kharkhorin was surrounded with Buddhist stupas. 108? Probably. We didn't count.
The Gates of Kharkhorin
The gates were equipped with these. Unfortunately, there was nobody to open.
Kharkhorin
Another picture of the stupas presented at the sunset.
Motorway
This motorway has as many lanes as you like, and you can always create one for yourself.
Yurta
The two central pillars inside of every ger constitute the ultimate construction solution.
Broadband Yurta
Access to 2 Chinese and one Russian TV channel is more important than running water. We live in 21st century, aren't we?
Portable Destillary
This is, ladies and gentlemen, how alcohol is produced.
"No-Roads"
Travelling the "no-roads", this is a typical equivalent of the landscape villages.
No Traffic Today
We were hitch-hiking on the way to Bayakhongor. Apparently no traffic today.
River Crossing
What to do? Save the feet and wet the shoes or save the shoes and hurt the feet?
River Crossing 2
Sometimes you could save both feet and shoes. Yet you could not save the engine.
Central Mongolia
Luckily the rivers get narrower as we approached the Khangai Mountains.
Holding Hands
This picture was obviously directed for romantic purposes.
Before the Pass
It was taken just before traversing the pass in the Khangai.
A Moment of Autumn
Once we reached the peak of the Khangai, the temperature went from 30+ degrees Celsuis to 10. We felt like seasons changes all the sudden.
Descending
At this point, we had to rush down. It was getting late and the temperature kept dropping.
Winter Time
...and so the next day we woke up in winter. The temperature dropped below zero. We had to accelerate.
Winter Continues
It was almost like evacuating from the are, before it got cut off through snow falls.
Leaving Khangai
Marching for few more days, we were exhausting our resources. Luckily we went ahead of the snow falls.
Ovoo
These road chapels can be found all over the place.
The Road Signs
The road signs reappeared again. We felt like we went back to civilization.
Heading towards Gobi
To catch the last beams of sun, we decided to spend the last days at the Gobi desert.
The Polls
The polls constitute the safest and most trustworthy road signs in the middle of nowhere. We were heading south.
The Gobi
Camels became the mean of transport.
Excercising My "Talent"
Playing on two strings was never easy. I don't think I would try again.
The 3%
It's only 3% of the Gobi desert that is really the sand dunes. Most of the rest is just rock and grass.
The "real" Gobi
This is how most of Gobi actually looks like. It's grass 360 degrees until horizon.
Leaving Mongolia
This was the last episode of the Mongilian part. Soon we were on the flight back home.
Ten Minutes
Typical 10 minutes stop during the Trans-Siberian journey.
Sasha Is Our Friend
Sasha, whom we met on the train (3rd) class took is as a point of honour to help us in every way. That included teaching us Russian.
Chai
A cup of tea became our most intensive daily activity. For five days.
Photography Prohibited
Taking pictures of any uniforms in Russia is risky. You really shouldn't do it, and if you must, stay hidden.
Travelling East
For five days, we were leaving the sun behind.
Listvianka
It's a tiny village right at the Lake Balkai. The symbol at the doors mostly likely indicates 19th century Polish involuntary settlers, whose families continue to live there today.
Typical
Just because it says "radioactive" it doesn't mean it necessarily is.
A Small Sauna
Small Russian sauna waiting for guests at the Lake Baikal.
Lake Baikal
Just enjoyed the moment.
Eating Coal
Trans-Siberian means five days of continues shaking. It does things to the digestive system... so coal was kind of necessary.
Angun
The faces of the local shamanistic dieties were sold everywhere the local market in Listvianka.
Irkutsk
An Othodox church in Irkutsk.
