Russia was an amazing country. After a 26 hour train ride from Ulaan Baatar, Kerri, Nate, Sam and I arrived in Irkutsk dazed and confused. We hopped on a tram headed the wrong way, but eventually made it into the heart of the city. It was and odd feeling to be in Asia, but in a city with a very European feel. We joined a four-day tour of Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal and we met up with four French Canadians (Anna, Jean Louis, Toni, and Adre). Lake Baikal is incredibly beautiful and also incredibly large. Looking north from Lake Baikal, you can't see the other end because of the curvature of the earth. We spent our days in Russia hiking, swimming (trying to swim), throwing rocks, eating Russian cuisine, drinking vodka, and sweating in a wood-fired sauna.
We finally got a train headed back to Ulaan Baatar, which ended up taking about 36-hours. We arrived in UB at about six in the morning and headed out in the afternoon to a Ger (Mongolian yurt) camp to ride horses. We rode for five hours the next day, visited a Mongolian family's ger, watched horses get milked, and drank fermented horse milk, a Mongolian specialty called airak.
We got back to UB at night and left the next morning on a six day tour throughout western Mongolia. We visited hot springs, rode camels, swam in a freezing cold lake, stumbled upon a grave yard with human bones on a ground, and spent countless hours bouncing around on pot-holed, Mongolian dirt highways with our four French Canadian friends from Russia.
Now, we are back in UB trying to convince the Chinese government to let us in to their country. We have taken over Sam's apartment and I think his three Mongolian roommates are starting to wonder if we are ever going to leave.
So far, its only been three weeks, but we have already met traveling friends that have invited us to come stay in their homes from Tokyo, Quebec, to Cortes Island in British Columbia. We are having a great time and we are excited about the adventure still to come!
Check out these pictures and videos from our trip:
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| Our Travel Photos |
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Fun on the Trans-Siberian Railway
Throwing Rocks into Lake Baikal
Mongolian Ger Experience
Sunset Camel Ride
Kerri Camel Dismount
Shane Camel Dismount
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6 comments:
Kerri and Shane!!! Your video clips are great and we can't wait to attach names to faces and places! Be safe and keep the pictures coming!!!
Momma Linda
Dudes, glad to know you're still alive and kicking, and having fun while doing it. Keep having fun over there.
-Sean
These videos crack me up. You two are too much, with your camel races and Russian railroad capers. Can't wait for the next adventure.
You two are my heroes.
My Little Ponies....how is it that Kerri and Shane are riding ponies and camels in Russia at the same time Gigi et Francois are doing the same in India? One of you had 2 HUMPS v 1 HUMPER but I can't recall who. This would make a good drinking game when you return with ALL your extremities intact and your internal organs functioning. I hear that camels can really spit and kick ass. Huhhmmmm, where's my pony? Rosie would be jealous. We love your updates keep 'em coming. xoxox Mom
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints.
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