Author Archives: MountainTraveler

The great Trans-Sib experience

SIBERIA-RUSSIA, JUNE 2002 - Four days non-stop on a train, from the far east in Siberia , near the Mongolian border, to the the high north of St-Petersburg. It is truly the experience of a lifetime.  A fellow traveller on the … Continue reading

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Three nights on a Siberian train

IRKUTSK – MOSCOW , JUNE 2002 - ’So where did you say you go on Holiday ? Siberia…? ‘, a remark often heard when I was talking about my travel plans…. ‘And for how long are going to sit on the … Continue reading

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Lake Baikal Mysteries

LAKE BAIKAL, JUNE 2002 - It’s early in the morning when our train arrives in Irkutsk station, the first city of importance in East-Siberia we approach after two nights.  But before we visit this beautiful city we go straight onto the … Continue reading

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NEPAL

KATHMANDU, MAY 2001 - Upon arrival on the international airport of Kathmandu, after an exhausting trip of more than 20 hours and three connecting flights, the hills of Kathmandu valley and the country side housing welcomed me on my first encounter with the … Continue reading

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Impressions of Ulan Bator

ULAN BATOR, JUNE 2002 - I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the capital of Mongolia.  I had read some things about it, seen a couple of pictures, but that was it.  And I was very excited to arrive … Continue reading

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Fun in the bogey shack !

ERLYAN – DZAMYN UUD, JUNE 2002 - We are in the Chinese train on our way from Beijing to Ulan-Bator in Mongolia, and approaching the border.  The sunset in the Gobi desert is fantastic, and we hurry to take a couple … Continue reading

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Living like a nomad…

TERELJ N.P., JUNE 2002 - We arrived in the early afternoon in Ulan Bator (UB) with a Mongolian train, coming from Beijing.  We had travelled for a full day and night, with an almost endless stop on the Mongolian border in … Continue reading

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The bullet train

JAPAN, JULY 1998 - On my travel through Japan, I’ve used the shinkansen (or ‘bullet train’) for large distance travel.  This is an expensive way of travel, but there are many advantages : it’s very fast (it runs 300 km/h to 450 … Continue reading

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Climbing Mt. Fuji

MT. FUJI, JULY 1998 - Fuji-san, the highest point of Japan, the holy mountain…  This perfect conical vulcano is snow-capped during most of the year, and therefore hard to climb.  However during July and August the mountain is open to everyone who … Continue reading

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On a festival in Kyoto

KYOTO, JULY 1998 - Kyoto, city of 1000 temples… On my stay in Kyoto, I visited a few of the most known Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Apart from the historical and architectural value, these places are interesting to watch day-to-day life of … Continue reading

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