Trans-Siberian here I come!

On my travel 'wish list' forever has been the magical, albeit freezing and no doubt, enduring, Trans-Siberian rail journey...

As I've accrued a bunch of annual leave [which also confirms the absence of crazy adventures for the last while - over a year, which is a LOT for me!], and Paulus will more than likely go home for christmas, AND more importanly, my boss has approved some 'additional' time off, I've decided to DO IT!

I am INCREDIBLY excited...

I fly out 24 Dec, BNE to Helsinki [I've not been to Finland, so am stopping over]. I'll arrive [via Cairns, Hong Kong, Bangkok - sheesh!] on presumably a white christmas morning! I doubt there'll be a lot to do/open on Christmas Day, but I'm sure I'll entertain myself and it'll be a nice break before the BIG journey.

I fly to St Petersburg the following morning, which should be in full Bolshoi swing... This is where I hook up with the vodkatrain [oh yes, as if I wasn't sold by the name itself!], to begin the 21-day overland through Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, ending in Beijing on/around 13 Jan, and fly home on the 16th...

There's stops in St Petersburg, Moscow, Irkutsk, the world's largest and at the time, will be frozen - Lake Baikal, Ulaanbaatar and finally, Beijing.

We will stay in a variety of hotels, hostels, the train cabin for some days, in a 'ger' , which will be 'interesting' in the middle of winter, given temps drop to, ahem, minus 40! Also, Mongolians' diets consist of 'fatty mutton', goat's milk, hardened cheese & bread - god help the pescovegetarian! Paul, however, has decided it's a good opportunity to 'train me up' by cooking me roasts... ahem... so long as he straps a bucket to me 'other end'!]

So, there'll be enough 'stops' to keep sane, but it's all about the experiences 'on the train' too... As for the freezing temperatures, well, that's what thermals, big coats, silly hats & vodka are for! Besides, I've only ever envisaged doin' the Trans-Sib in this way.

I'm in denial about the cost... the mortgage... the insanity... but it really will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to do it...