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Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
  • Tamsin Gallie
  • Kate Saxton
  • Tamsin Gallie
  • Kate Saxton

Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019

Post Cancer "Fuck it" World Trip ticking off major ticket items - Trans Mongolian Railway, Russia, Bhutan, Italy etc
Moscow, Mongolia, Manchester and everywhere in between Read more
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  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
    2

    Forced photos and humungus locks

    September 8, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Just a couple of photos from the fine arts museum that we were forced to have taken by the v forceful lady looking after this room of artworks!
    Then outside we crossed the bridge full of the hugest “ love locks” we had ever seen!! The Russians don’t do things by halves.
    Anyway now settled on the TST for night 2.
    K just had to make her bed twice as she got it wrong and i managed to tuck the table cloth into mine so when I went to return it to the seat position I managed to pull everything off the table.... like a v unmagic magician!!! Whoops!!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Yekaterinburg to Novosibirsk

    September 9, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    TST night 2 was v comfortable indeed. We have had the cabin to ourselves the whole way and the temperature has been more than comfortable.
    After “lunch” we took ourselves to the dining car as the Lonely Planet and forums have written this is the hub of social life on the trains... they must have heard we were coming! To top it off K was so colour co-ordinated I almost couldn’t find her to leave!!😂😂
    Now 20 mins away from our destination. Looking forward to what random experiences Novosibirsk can bring us for 2 nights.    Read more

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    2 single beds in Siberia

    September 10, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We changed accomm this am after K got a bit paranoid at Hotel N where they were displaying a sign saying they were using wire taps and cameras!!
    To be fair we needed somewhere for tonight so we moved up the road to directly opposite the train station for an easy transfer tmrw night.
    After check in at Marin’s Park Hotel where we have the most amazing view from the 15th floor, we hit Novosibirsk.
    Firstly we went to Alexandre Nevsky Cathedral which K found a disappointment due to a photoshopped photo she had seen.
    We then had a lovely lunch at Park Cafe before heading to the State Art Museum. Lots more pics from Russian artists and the highlight of the day were some Banksy prints!!
    Off we meandered home via Lenin Square ... and past the monument to the first traffic light in Novosibirsk!!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    A rainy day in Novosibirsk

    September 11, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    Had a sleep in and a buffet breakfast.
    K got to try out her new rain jacket as today it has decided to pour down with rain. We realised this was only the second day of heavy rain we have had in 72 days of travel so we have been super lucky.
    The plan to go to the State Museum was a good one and we spent a couple of dry hours enjoying the exhibitions.
    On the bottom floor was a great display of Siberian artefacts, furs, shamanistic drums, pottery etc.
    The middle floor was an excellent exhibit of the development of Novosibirsk from early fortresses, to a town, to the building of the railway, through the war etc. it was especially interesting on the development of communal farms and how they sadly became government ruled etc. Thankfully there were English translations throughout.
    The top floor was more art.
    It is sad but so many museums and galleries we have visited outside of the main cities have cost peanuts to enter, have amazing exhibits, are spotlessly clean, have women guarding every room.... but sadly are almost empty all the time. They are such an asset that do not seem to be fully utilised. We feel very lucky to have enjoyed them all.
    After a v nice coffee in the Park Cafe we walked home in the rain unable to avoid the flooded roads and pavements.
    Now back at the hotel drying out for a couple of hours before jumping back on the train for TST night 3!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Slightly exhausted start to Krasnoyarsk

    September 12, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    We boarded our TST for night 3 arriving slightly wet despite our walk from the hotel being only 5 mins.
    This time we were in quite an old train carriage with slightly less room for our bags but we shoved them under the bunks with a bit of effort.
    We were then joined by a 50yr old male jeweller ( despite requesting female only carriages for safety) who had v limited English but was keen to chat. This turned out to be hilarious as we lost google translate half way through a “conversation”.
    Just before we were due to leave a 65 yr old woman joined us and appeared a little perplexed that she was in the top bunk but didn’t ask to swap so we weren’t sure re the etiquette of offering to change bunks so we stayed put. How I wish I had swapped!! All night she was up and down at least every hour and obviously found the ladder inconvenient as she choose to use the table to climb right over my face!!
    Luckily we arrived at Krasnoyarsk at 08.45am after neither of us had much sleep.
    We then spent the next 45 mins walking around in circles in the rain trying to find our accommodation which wasn’t helped by a loss of google maps due to the rain!!
    Finally a lovely Russian girl phoned the accommodation and walked us to a door we had walked past x 2!!
    The apartment looked nothing like booking.com but it’s clean and warm and we have now just come out for breakfast- it is 6 degs celsius which has taken us both my surprise- that’s Siberia for u!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Krasnoyarsk

    September 12, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    After warming up with breakfast we walked through Krasnoyarsk to the Regional Museum.
    This great little museum was house in a v weird Egyptian inspired building complete with obelisks.
    We learnt a lot about the different Siberian clans from this area and there was a really good exhibit on Shamanism which is v much still alive and well amongst these indigenous people even today.
    Krasnoyarsk is a grid like town on the banks of the Yensei river. There’s not a huge amount more to say about it except that in 1 day the climate has definitely changed- tmrw we crack out the down jackets and thick trousers!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Wet day in Krasnoyarsk

    September 13, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Slow start to the day due to showers of rain.
    Donning down jackets and warm trousers for the first time since the Faroe Islands, we headed out for a walk around town.
    This was interspersed with a very nice snack in a little cafe - Akademiya Cafe.
    After which we sought out “ the monument to the drunken uncle”! - random finds 101!
    http://romanzolotoy1.mypage.ru/24563310.html
    We are now watching a bit of Netflix before repacking for our trip to Irkutsk tmrw.    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Krasnoyarsk to Irkutsk TST night 4

    September 14, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Back on the train to Irkutsk which is the area for Lake Baikal.
    Even though we r on the best Chinese train number 02 we r in the shitty old carriage in the top bunks... I think Real Russia pulled a swifty and charged us for the better carriage and gave us the bottom end- never mind.... we have egg sandwiches!!! ( we had to boil the eggs in the kettle/jug!!)
    We r looking fwd to this bit heading east to Irkutsk through Siberia. We r hoping with 3 mins to go our Cabin mates don’t materialise just yet so we can enjoy the view from the bottom seats.
    Lake Baikal here we come.    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019

    Sleep deprived and boiled to death

    September 15, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    We have arrived in Irkutsk to a beautiful morning, slightly frosty but bathed in sunshine.
    That was the positive bit.
    We have arrived totally sleep deprived and boiled alive as the heater on the train was cranked up all night without an ounce of respite or fresh air.
    The trip started well despite being in the older style carriage again- knowing the nice ones were attached to the front of the train.
    We settled in, had a coffee, watched the iPad and then had a gourmet meal of cup a soup and egg sarnies which went down a treat.
    9pm we settled into our top bunks and all was well... and that’s where it ended.
    2 mins later 2 huge Russian men came and occupied the bottom bunks ( thanks Real Russia for booking us female only carriages - not)
    To cut a v v long night short they not only snored all night they absolutely stank!!! This smell was then magnified by the bloody heater on high!!
    I watched 2 episodes of Bletchley Circle and K was on death con delta security alert!!
    At 3 am I went and stood in the connecting carriage where it was cooler before heading back into the rank cabin for more Netflix.
    Anyway we have arrived and r sitting in Metro Cafe having a coffee waiting to be picked up for our 2 day tour to Olkhon Island. May the good weather last.    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Olkhon Island Lake Baikal

    September 15, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After the tired start to the day we were picked up by our tour guide Julia- a v large Russian blonde who speaks impeccable English.
    Off we go to Lake Baikal via the cash and carry for Vodka and some water- the vodka turns out to be spiritual offerings at the many shamanistic”temples” along the road.
    At 12pm we stopped for a traditional Buryat lunch - K was in heaven- deep fried meat, meat dumplings and soup filled with meat!
    The terrain changed from steppe like flatlands to hilly terrain and then to beautiful grassy steppeland the further up lake Baikal’s west coast we went.
    About half way up we boarded the car ferry for the 15 min trip to Olkhon Island.
    It was then a 60 min off road drive to Khuzir village where we are staying.
    We passed yaks, herds of cows, herds of wild horses and the most stunning scenery which was v like central Otago/Scotland in places.
    Tonight we r off to see “sunset” at Shamanistic Rock despite the bank of thick fog!!
    Tmrw it’s a 4 wheeled lada drive to the north of the island before bouncing all the way back to Irkutsk.    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Sports bras, vodka and fish head soup!

    September 16, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today consisted of a trip in a Russian military vehicle up to the northern tip of Olkhon Island.
    What a beautiful trip?!!!
    Alexander our Russian rally driver handled the car expertly over the hugely diveted road, up steep hills and down steeper ones!!
    We made stops at the 3 brothers rocks and then had lunch of traditional Omul (fish head) soup at the northern top of the island.
    Our vodka offerings to the spirit world worked as we had the most incredible light, cloud, sun and newly snow dusted mountain views..... we even had a rainbow!!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Irkutsk to Listvyanka via hydrofoil

    September 17, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    Checked out of our 2 x rooms ( thanks to us double booking the same place and also having another room booked in Listvyanka we ended up with 8 beds last night!!!) and got into a dodgy looking taxi with no meter. However our serious looking taxi driver deposited us at the hydrofoil terminal in good time and didn’t even want to keep our tip.
    The hydrofoil was a lovely hour up the Angara River Into the main basin of Lake Baikal.
    It deposited us 100m from our dodgy accomm at Malinovka Inn so we weren’t complaining.
    Lake Baikal greeted us with pure sunshine and a lovely temperature... and no wind!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Listvyanka

    September 17, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    This little town wasn’t as much of a shit hole as we were expecting.
    After dumping our backpacks ( we have left our big bags in the Good Cat Hostel in Irkutsk) we walked the 3 kms along the lake edge into “town”.
    We stopped off at this fab little cafe and had what turned out to be a huge lunch. I had Omul which is a Baikal fish but due to over fishing they r banned from catching it on the western shores.... so they catch it on the eastern Side of Baikal and ship it over!!
    We then went to the market where they sell nothing but smoked fish and souvenirs. Luckily we resisted both.
    We bought bus tickets back to Irkutsk for Thursday at a grand price of $3 so god help us!
    We headed to the mineral museum to find it closed for the 2 days we r here!!
    By now it was 5pm so we headed back to the accommodation via a bottle shop where we bought the cheapest bottle of sparkling wine we could find ( and I found cans of Newcastle Brown Ale and Boddingtons Bitter from Manchester!!).
    It was then planned for a little dip In Lake Baikal before a sunset tipple....    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Lake Baikal Dip

    September 17, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C

    Even K decided that it was essential to have a dip In Lake Baikal as it wasn’t frozen... just freezing ( ? 10-12 degs)
    Off we stripped at a little rocky shore by our accomm ( ignoring the main road above us!!).... and in we went.... just like that!!
    We both went in a few times because it was hyperventilatingly cold but got easier with repetition and breath control!! It was v refreshing!!
    Followed this off with a celebratory bottle of nasty bubbly, crackers and processed cheese squares whilst watching the sunset.... classy birds we r !!!
    Great day at Lake Baikal
    https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.livescience…    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Colours of Baikal

    September 18, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Fantastic day today in Listvyanka with the most stunning weather.
    We started the day with a visit to Baikal Museum which sadly included an aquarium with 2 of the saddest looking cute seals ever seen. I fluctuated between wanting to cry and wanting to break them out and throw them into the lake!
    After this we cheered ourselves up with a walk up the hill to the cable car and a v slow chairlift to the top which has magnificent views of Lake Baikal.
    We walked down and followed the lake to town for an hour in the sunshine.
    K then spotted a seal for real- a free swimming cutie in the lake. This made us feel a bit better about the sad one in captivity.
    Next was a coffee and some local berries right on the waters edge with the most stunning view of life on the lake.
    A trip to the market, a purchase of some rare Charoite ( only found in Baikal), a non purchase of some Seraphinite ( a mineral also only found here) and then an amazing dinner was all completed before sunset watching. No swimming today sadly.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baikal_seal
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charoite
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seraphinite    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019

    Around the World in 80 days - not quite

    September 19, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Listvyanka to Irkutsk
    Woke up to the rain which made having to go downstairs for an empty bathroom first thing a bit of a wake up call.
    Next big disappointment of the day was I had Tokyo Olympic tickets in my basket after they were released at 9am only for the visa page to show the wheel of death for 12mins and I lost them - thank u BNZ/Visa ( yes I did have enough money on the credit card to pay for them).
    After breakfast it was a 40 min walk to the bus and a sad farewell to Lake Baikal.
    An hour later we were back in the big smoke of Irkutsk. Nothing much to report here except we found a “ New Zealand Pie Shop”!! A dedicated footprint to follow.
    We were both relieved to be reunited with the luggage we left at the hostel and now just repacking and sorting for our TST tmrw to Ulan Ude. Sadly our Russian holiday is coming to an end in 3 days time.    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    New Zealand Pie Shop in Irkutsk!!

    September 19, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Yes that is correct Random Russia keeps on giving!!
    Whilst searching for the way from the bus station to the hostel K spotted the New Zealand pie shop on google maps.
    Despite carrying our backpacks we decided we would go out of our way to pay it a visit.
    What a random find as the photos show!!!
    Luckily the pies were only $2.40 because my beef one was pretty average although K loved her apple and cinnamon.
    On questioning the Russian counter girl told us that the owner was Russian but had visited NZ and then came back and set up this pie shop of which it looks like a chain of at least 3 shops according to the brochure.
    K was v v happy with her pie.... meanwhile Vanessa’s Cafe In Hampden has nothing to worry about!!!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    TST Day 5 Irkutsk to Ulan Ude

    September 20, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Slightly early start for us as 7.15am. Left the Good Cat Hostel and trundled luggage down the road to the train station in ample time for our 08.57 train to Ulan Ude- day trip only this time.
    So far so good as just us in the cabin - another old school one for us today.
    In honour to Bill K had eaten breakfast before we had left the station!!
    Hoping for some cracking scenery today as we head further east. Hoping to arrive in Ulan Ude at 16.22 in time for the Rugby World Cup opener Japan be Russia!!    Read more

  • Kate and Tamsin Trip 2019
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    Lake Baikal eastern shores

    September 20, 2019 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    As you can see K was at the window excitedly taking photos for most of the trip along the south and eastern shores of Lake Baikal.
    The autumnal colours were breathtaking the whole way.
    Sadly the phone photos don’t do the scenery justice in the slightest.
    We arrived in Ulan Ude at 16.22 bang on time but then spent an hour negotiating road works and traffic as our “5 min from the train station” accommodation was on the wrong side of the tracks!
    To top it off we kind of found the address but not the apartment, then when we tried the number on booking.com the person didnt speak an ounce of English. Anyway some time later a random woman turned up with her son, took us in to this dodgy looking building and let us in to our apartment ... then demanded a “deposit”! Whether she will be back with it tmrw remains to be seen!!    Read more

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