Trans-Siberian - Asia

After a very grey day yesterday we woke, after our third night, to some blue sky today! Unfortunately Michael had a bad night due to a gastro bug, I have been taking the precaution of cleaning my teeth using bottled water, but he hasn't, so I think he has probably got a bug from the tap water in the bathroom. There is a a sign showing that it is not suitable for drinking....So now it is his turn for the gripes and frequent trips to the loo. I've dosed him with cipro this morning and he is hiding away on his bunk.

We are now 4 hours ahead of Moscow time and soon we will go through another time zone which will mean we are on the same time as Mongolia, we are getting nearer all the time!

We are travelling through some hills for the first time, the track has some big bends and I can almost see the end of the train when I look back. Unfortunately I can't open a window to take a photo. The tips of the silver birch leaves are just beginning to turn gold and there is an occasional glimpse of the red fireweed under the trees. The outside temperature is 16C.

Yesterday we met a young couple from Wales in the restaurant, they are the first Brits we have met since we set off from London a week ago. They are travelling around the world and aiming to get to Thailand by train initially. We will probably bump into them again as they are stopping off at Irkutsk and travelling on to Ulaanbaatar on Train No 6 on Sunday.

In the evening we stopped at Barabinsk, the traders were selling fur hats and smoked fish, carrying them on racks. I bought a loaf of bread as we had run out. The platform was under reconstruction so we clambered over lumps of broken up Tarmac and I had to cross the track to buy the bread......a health and safety nightmare..... ;) we also experienced Siberian mozzies for the first time, when they realised we were there, they came in swarms, fortunately we were able to beat a fast retreat to our cabin.

Last night I discovered that we also have a power socket under the table in our cabin, so no more worries about the iPad battery running out on me. We might even be able to compete with the neighbours tonight and have some music.......they usually put on a video just as we want to settle down!

I have finished the slipover I was knitting for Orlo, it looks very big, but he can grow into it. Now I have started on another knitting project......not saying what to keep Amanda in suspense!

Time to get on with my Russsian course now....