A traveller's reflection: Tran-Siberian 05: Ulaanbaatar

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Monday, 20 May 2024

Tran-Siberian 05: Ulaanbaatar - Irkutsk

"Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions..." - Dalai Lama

(Mongolia- Russia border crossing, first Russian train stop at Ulan Ude)

Day 05: Monday, 6 May 2024
Train Route: Ulaanbaatar - Irkutsk (25 hrs)
Hotel: Central Hotel Irkutsk

This morning the ladies had to use the men's washroom as the ladies washroom was out of order. Another alternative was to cross to the next carriage.

We had bread, chilli tuna and hot nescafe for breakfast on board the train.

At Ulan Ude, the train stopped for 45 minutes, so we disembarked to take pictures and stretched our legs. Ulan-Ude is a city in East Siberia, Russia. The main square Ploshchad Sovetov is home to the huge Lenin Head Monument but we did not have time to explore the city. We only stayed for a while at the station as the weather were too chilly for comfort. The rest of the morning was spent napping.

(Early morning walk in his pyjamas at Ulan Ude)

After Zohor/Asar prayers we had Kembara pack of rice and beef curry with sambal bilis for lunch on board the train. A few hours before reaching Irkurst, the train skirted Lake Baikal and we had our first glimpse of the ice covered lake. Lake Baikal is an ancient, massive lake in the mountainous Russian region of Siberia, north of the Mongolian border. It is considered the deepest lake in the world.

(Lake Baikal, frozen to the shore)

(The oldest and deepest lake in the world)

Arrived at Irkutsk Train Station at 1430 hrs almost an hour early. Porters with huge trolleys carried our luggage to the station terminal at R250 per bag. A comfortable fourteen seater Mercedes Van sent us to our hotel in Irkutsk. The Central Hotel is located not far from the park and Irkutsk walking street. At the hotel, we had a complimentary hot drinks and croissant for afternoon tea. After a short rest we had a walking tour around the hotel. We changed some Euros to Rubles and bought a Russian sim card.

(A great example of old Russian architecture)

(Monument sculpture of Vladimir Lenin)

The weather was pleasantly cool for an evening stroll in the Central Park. There is a small garden with couple of iron sculptures. A fountain is the main centrepiece of the garden.

(Leonid Gaidai, the film director of the film 'The Caucasian Captive')

(Sculpture of the three main characters from the film)

Bought fruits at the fruit market. The bustling and colorful fruit stalls were manned by friendly Muslims most likely from the Buryat regions.

(Outdoor fruits and vegetables market)

We had kebab dinner at one of of the halal restaurants near the Central Market, quite a distance from our hotel.

(Kebab and bread for dinner)

On the way back to the hotel we walked along the Uritskogo Walking Street of Irkutsk where historical buildings are left intact. This is also the place where street musicians and performers usually go to entertain the public.