The Gobi Desert – Trans-Siberia Episode 06
Our trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway took us through one of our most memorable countries ever. Mongolia was truly an unforgettable experience. The first half of this portion of our trip, the Gobi Desert, is presented in this brief 4 minute video. Also, you will learn that the toilets in the Gobi are almost as nice as those at home.
Read MoreThe Great Wall – Trans-Siberia Episode 05
One of the most impressive places to visit in Beijing is, without a doubt, the Great Wall. It was as impressive in person as you would imagine. The secret to getting the most out of a visit here is to arrive as early as possible. If you delay, the crowds will be huge, but the first thing in the morning, you will be one of the only people on the Wall. The second most important thing to know is,...
Read MoreIf You Only Have One Day in Beijing…
Beijing has a lot to offer, but if you only have one day there, here is a solid itinerary: Start the day as early as possible with a quick, simple breakfast of traditional pastries, bread, or cake and milk tea at 85°C. Take a taxi or bus ride to the Great Wall (Mutianyu Section). If you get there early, there won’t be many tourists and you can see it and go. Take the cable car to Tower 14...
Read MoreTrans-Siberian Railway Official Start: Beijing (Part 2-The Great Wall)
Our trip to the Great Wall started with an early morning pick up from our drivers. Unfortunately, they turned a 45-minute ride to the wall into a 2-hour tour of the outskirts of Beijing. I was under the assumption that since the Great Wall stretches for thousands of miles, you could just drive north and you would eventually hit it. Apparently these guys didn’t get that, and they had quite a...
Read MoreTrans-Siberian Railway Official Start: Beijing (Part 1)
The highlight of Beijing, aside from the Great Wall, is undoubtedly the food. Sara’s sister, Sophia, and her family met us in Beijing and any time Sophia is along, it is guaranteed to be culinary bliss. None of us, including Sophia, had been to Beijing before, but you wouldn’t know it based on our itinerary. We saw most of the major sites and had some pretty amazing meals in three...
Read MoreThe Cheapest Way to Buy Trans-Siberian Train Tickets in China
Shortly after our Egypt trip, Flip and I made a decision to go on our dream trip – the Trans-Siberian railroad. The timing was perfect. My brother-in-law, Daniel was finishing up his two-year assignment in China. That meant we would still have a place to stay in Shanghai, and Sophia and her family would be able to join us in Beijing for a few days. Now the decision was made, I went...
Read MoreTrans-Siberia Episode 04: Xi’an Train Station
Our first train in China commenced from the Xi’an Train Station. Over 6000 miles later, we still had not found a crazier station (although Beijing was close). What a way to break into the mass-transit experience. While this is not on the Trans-Siberian route, it marked the beginning of our train trip across Asia, ending in St. Petersburg, Russia. We took the overnight train from...
Read MoreXi’an: So Much History!
The ancient legend, passed down from generation to generation, told of the first Chinese emperor who was so afraid of the afterlife that he arranged to bring thousands of warriors to guard him when he passed on. It was not important that they had not yet died. They were buried alive with him when he died, along with gold, food, livestock, clothing and anything else he would need in the next...
Read MoreTrans-Siberia Video 03 – Xian
Xian, the most famous and historic of China’s ancient capitals, is home of the terracotta warriors, a beautiful city wall and the start of the silk road.
Read MoreHuangshan: The Most Beautiful Mountain in China
About five hours into our six hour bus ride from Shanghai to Huangshan, the bus driver pulled off into an area that was obviously not our final destination. He turned and announced something in the local dialect, so even Sara could not understand what he said. Whatever it was, though, it pissed off two-thirds of the people on the bus, because they suddenly erupted into angry shouts....
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