One for the rails.

The first evening found us drinking vodka in Ben's room until 4am. So the first full day had rather a slow start. We had a station stop in the morning, where Ben and I jumped off to stretch our legs and be told George Bush jokes by the locals selling their goods on the platform. On the way back onboard we got chatting to a Korean man from our carriage...who then proceeded to force feed us hard boiled eggs, bread, crisps, sausage and coffee for the afternoon whilst telling us his life story and gently stroking Ben's leg. We were even given two CDs of Russian music, showed photos of his ex girlfriends and bought beer from the trolley as it went past. Apparently saying no was deeply upsetting, so we nodded and smiled - and, in Ben's case, fidgeted nervously.

A few beers in the restaurant car with Ceasar and Rob in the afternoon while watching the sun set over a river (I'd love to pretend I know which one, but I haven't a clue!) was followed by a quick hop off at the next station and more beers with Ben and Rob in my room. A more civillised 1am finish this time. Although that wasn't before I'd made the terrifying trip (twice) to the restaurant car for provisions - it turns out that it is very cold in Siberia and that there is, what can only be described as, a small freezer compartment (complete with snow and ice) between each carriage. It was somewhere between a trip to Iceland and Narnia.

Either way I felt distinctly like a naughty school girl by the time I got back to my room. A feeling that was re-enforced when the guard stopped me onroute. It was ok though, rather than telling me off he sold me cheap (dubious looking & tasting) Chinese beer from his person stock. Happy days.