I'm starting to think about the route I will be taking over the coming weeks. Attached are maps where I am planning to visit. Its only by seeing the last map of all the countries together that I have realised the vastness of the trip. Bring on the challenge.
South Korea, my first destination.
Planned locations are Seoul, DMZ (closest point to North Korea), Busan and then into Samcheok before heading to Donghae for catching the Ferry over to Russia. If there is time I will also visit Chuncheon and Hahoe folk village. I hear that I may find a Spa and that they are amazing over there..... As ever looking forward to eating my way around the country, can I really love Kimchi, fermented cabbage. However looking forward to the rest.
Next is the Ferry journey on the 11th September from Donghae over to Vladivostok. A journey which will take 23 hours at a cost of £290. Looking forward to finding out what style of bed it is. Maybe a Korean style one on the floor or maybe a shared mattress and I mean literally shared. It is down as an 8 bed dorm. Still waiting for the ticket. Ok so some people get a lovely cruise and I get a ferry.
Looking forward to the Trans Siberian train from Vladivostok to Irkutsk. I wanted to use this as my return journey 14 years ago when out on my world trip. Finally going to make it. This train is 75 hours starting on 12th September at 23:55. £217.68 for the 2nd class dining in a female carriage, One meal is included at lunch time, the rest is jumping off at the station and buying from a hawker on the side of the train.
To read more about the experience visit Man in seat 61 - Trans siberian experience
Stopping off at Lake Baikal in Siberia for 4 days. Can't wait to visit here as I spoke to Ton the Dutch Flower shop owner and trainer for Waitrose about this location 10 years ago and it has been on my hit list ever since.
Close up of the lake. Next is back on the Trans siberian again over to Novosibirsk this journey is in a mixed sex carriage. No doubt there will be at least one person drinking vodka to while away the hours. The journey starts at 1:46 am and lasts for around 30 hours. This sees the last of my Trans Siberian experience .
I then hop on a plane on the 23rd September down to Kyrgyzstan and the plan gets sketchy from here. The flight has only cost £83 and takes 2 hours. Bit of a difference to taking the train down through Kazakhstan and into Kyrgyzstan which was more like 2 days. Bishkek is the capital and where I will spend the first night at least. This country is great for trekking, Lake Issyk - Kol and Lake Song-kol are looking favourable. Maybe even find a Yurt and a horse. Hoping its better than the nag I got in Mongolia.
Then over by Bus to Uzbekistan to visit the beautiful Bibi Khanum Mosque which I first saw on the Silk road tv series earlier in the year. The image stayed with me and little did I know that I would be seeing it in the same year. Guess the moral of that is be careful what you wish for.....Really looking forward to great shopping in the markets and sampling the seasonal fruit and veg.
Finally finishing off in Kazakhstan. Tim Peak took off and landed back here safely earlier this year. So it seems a fitting way to end the trip. Or is it?
This map shows the land mass I plan to cover clocking up the Countries from the previously visited 38 to 43. So where's next?