Trans Siberian Railway

Maybe 6-10 years ago, we spoke of traversing this long journey by train. Finally, we are making the trip. Frankly, with years, absent is the passion and desire in earlier dreams. When it is becoming a reality, we are just going with an open mind. No expectations, no yearn for anything special, not seeking to cover grounds, Just soak in whatever that is offered.

These are the information and our preparation for such a trip:

Trans-Siberia.com
Trans-Siberian Railway - Wikitravel
http://www.seat61.com/Trans-Siberian.htm

1. First, we planned the dates to arrive a few days earlier, and take the No. 3 train which departs from Beijing Wed (2 May) and arrived at Moscow 6 days later on Monday (7 May). The schedule and costs from this site and page:

http://www.cits.net/citsonlineWeb/switchdo.do?prefix=/online&page=/homepage_EN/homepage_EN.jsp
http://www.cits.net/citsonlineWeb/online/homepage_EN/transportation/2006_inttrain.htm

4 Apr we booked the train through this site, sent an email to: support-en@cits.com.cn - Tentative booking is made and information will be given for payment to CITS through Bank of China. We TT through local BoC, faxed across payment receipt to CITS to confirmed the tickets,

2. Next we got our air tickets from Dynasty travel, flying China Airlines from SIN-Beijing Return, Beijing to Moscow return (forgo outbound leg). Airport Taxes is above S$400.

3. Beijing Hotel is easy - http://sg.hotels.com/hotel-htdocs/sg/index.htm Four star prices for 5-star hotels. We decide to pamper ourselves, 1 May being our 20th Anniversary!

4. Moscow Hotels - http://www.moscow-hotels-russia.com/hotels.htm Five star prices for 4 star hotels. We decide to stay in a safe hotel near Red Square, near train station.

5. Visa - not so simple, need to book a hotel first, from an tour agency that will send over a Visa Support Voucher, a document needed for Visa application

a. Visa Support Voucher - the hotel did send the voucher, but for dates we stay at hotel (7-11 May), BUT we are crossing the border into Russia on 4 May!! This site came to our rescue - http://www.waytorussia.net/TransSiberian/Route.html 20 pounds or S$60 is the lowest fee, no need to pay more, as their response is quick enough.

b. Visa - S$60 6 days S$60 3 days. The Russian Embassy is located at 51, Nassim Road.

6. Money. Chinese Yuan and US dollars. Mongolian Tughrik can be changed with CNY, and Russian Ruble can only be changed there with US$. These two currency converters sites provides teh rates before going out to the money changer,
XE.com - Universal Currency Converter
Online Currency Converter

7. Sockets and adapters - Russian:sockets are standard European-size for double round-pin plugs, the same as in France or Germany. China - Two flat prongs in most places though the whole country uses 3 types! see this site for whole world's plug and socket Electricity around the world: everything about plugs, sockets ...

8. Weather 5-15 degrees in May, and can be -22 and 24 in cold (feb) and warmer months (Aug).

... more later