Overland '05

Day 16 - Sat 14 May 05, Trans-Mongolian train, China

Up at 5am, Guy ran the water in his room for 15 minutes, so by the time I had my shower the water was piping hot! Out on the streets by 6am, and found a taxi down to the railway station, it took 10 minutes and cost 10 Yuan!

Andy from Monkey Shrine arrived in the station at 06:40 sharp and herded us all onto the train. The train left on time, and outside Beijing we got to see quite a lot of the Great Wall (with a lot of people on it!)

The piped music in the carriage has stopped (phew!), and they have stopped to attach another engine to help us to get up the hills. David and Guy are sharing one carriage and I've got one to myself (for the moment).

I've seen quite a few changes in scenery and we've only been going nine hours. From rocky hills to flat plains, arid shrubland to tree covered hills.

I got some flat bread from a platform vendor at Dutong for 2 Yuan, it was great, and I wish I'd got some more. There are huge areas of China that are just full of nothing!

It's 5pm, and the muzac has started again, I'd spent most of the day snoozing and looking out of the window.

At 9pm we reached the border with Mongolia, and did the bogey changing thing. We stayed in the carriage as it was done, and got a ring side seat. Onward into Mongolia!