We also managed to book train tickets to Moscow, but the price for cupe (4 person cabin) had mysteriosly doubled (they would have charged 8400r) so we decided to save the money and do it the hard way, again... Ticket in platzkart (open sleeping car) for "fast" train (train no.9) was 2800r. If it is anyhow similar to Mongolian ones, it might be the longest 3,5 days in my life to come... But the estimated schedule is holding quite nicely, though it might be that we cannot afford to stay in Moscow for more than one night, which would mean crossing the border to Finland on 4th of June. But still don't call up the search party before 6. since our visas run out on 5. =)

One thing I have to say, travelling so far has been far easier than I thought. The only minor problems so far were when trying to buy the tickets to Moscow, and it wasn't even tricky. From Irkutsk to Lake Baikal we managed to find the minibus very easy as well as the way back. In Mongolia no problems at all. I don't know whether something has changed in me or in the world, but it seems that where ever you go, the world is smiling at you.

There we were planning to take a ride straight to Mongolian border, but in the same car we managed to negotiate, there was a very nice mongolian lady called Erdenetsetseg who told us to do othervise, and practically took care of us till Ulanbator. First we went to a hostel to rest a bit, then to breakfast, trying to get a direct train from Erlian to Ulanbator but no luck. Then we were shopping a bit in Erlian, which was really cheap even for Chinese city, and then took a car ride to the border and all the way up till Mongolian border city. We entered the car at around 10.30, but with lot of waiting, hassle changing the car once etc. we managed to get to Mongolian side at around 2.30, not the fastest border crossing...  The car ride costed 85rmb/person including a road fee of 5yuans.

From Mongolian side we took an overnight train to Ulanbator, though there were only hard- and really hard sleeps available. Mine was almost fine, a hard sleep one, and since I hadn't slept too much for 2 nights before, after playing several hours asshole with couple of locals and drinking couple of beers, I slept quite much in the train, though not very good sleep since it was freezing cold and no planket. AJ got really hard sleep, which was a flat metal lavet meant to put the luggage on, but eventually he also got a similar bed to mine at around 1 o'clock in the morning. The train left the border city (which I don't remember) at 17.50 and arrived to Ulanbator at around 10 o'clock in the morning. Our very highclass seats costed 5100 tukruks, which equals to around 3,5e so not too expensive at least... Now I'm in a internet cafe in Ulanbator, where we first went to buy train tickets to Irkutsk (costed 54610tkr = 37e) and then accommodated in UB guesthouse in a dorm room for 5usd/night. We also went to eat an excellent Mongolian lunch/dinner, with starters, main dish, one vodka and one piva for about 5e, not bad for the quality. Tomorrow we are going to take a trip to the countryside with horseriding, sleeping in traditional Mongolian gert etc.

All and all, even though the travelling from place a to b has played major role so far, and we have been in one of the most interesting transportations available (and cheapest) the trip so far has went better and smoothlier than we could have ever anticipated and has been great experience, exchausting but fun. I'm well and all the time getting closer to home.

If any of the exchange friends comes by, I miss you all =S

Leaving Hong Kong or actually the people behind was really a hard thing. Yesterday was one of the worst days in my life, and I’ve had some pretty nasty ones… Tears were shed in rivers, but the promises made to meet in the future gives some comfort, promises that I at least intend to keep. The friendship with especially the closest travel mates has grown deep, since there is nothing to teach you more about the people around you than travelling in different cultures and experiencing the inevitable difficulties of backpacking. Leaving from exchange is an experience that one must go through to know of, it feels like really leaving something permanently behind, a bit like saying the last goodbyes to loved ones in memorial service.

But that chapter of my life is now behind and have to push through towards new experiences. Right now I’m sitting in the hostel room in Beijing. We booked a hostel through Hostelbookers the last night before leaving, after midnight, without too much bothering to check for the location or anything. The hostel had a pretty good reputation though. The surprise was big, the hostel is really an excellent one. One of the best I’ve been to. It is very new, perfectly clean, facilities are well up to western standards with clean showers with hot water, free internet connection, supermarket, bar, billiard, travel services and the staff speaks perfect English?! We are in China, what has happened?! Furthermore, we went for a brief walk in the night and another surprise, the place is right next to our hotel of the previous trip to Beijing, so we already know the hoods =) The name of the place is Beijing City Central International Youth Hostel (reserve@centralhostel.com). It is located right next to the main railway station, and it is very easy to get here by the airport shuttle bus number 3 (costs 16yuans), the last stop of which is 150m before the place. Night costs 60rmb:s/person in private twin with shared bathroom, which is perfectly clean and ok. I think with the excellent location the place is extremely well worth the money. Though private room with own bathroom is quite expensive ~300/room, who needs it anyway...

Oh, and I can really recommend also flying through Shenzhen. There is minibus going from Luohu railway station which costs 20yuans and takes a bit over an hour, easy to find from both, leaves from Luohu from the bus station underneath the shopping mall and from airport in front of hall B. Our nicely priced (460yuans including taxes) Hainan airline’s flight was very nice and even the meal included was very eatable and the staff even spoke quite good English. Everything so far has gone so well and easy that I’m a bit afraid shit might hit the fan soon, hope not =)

Unfortunately no news about my computer yet, so no pictures till I get it back (if I get it back...) Again the Chinese quality of customer service again, they promised to figure out what's wrong in 7 working days, and send mail to ask whether to repair or not, so I would have had a good chance of getting it back repaired tomorrow. Will see whether they've started to do anything...

Hong Kong has been the home for more than 8 months now, but the time here is coming to an end. Only two weeks more, and it is time to pack the stuff and start the long trip back to home. Actually I better start packing stuff early this week, because have to send at least couple of parcels cause don't want to drag everything across the Siperia. Sending 20kg:s to Finland costs a bit over 40e, so not that bad. We got very nicely priced flights to Beijing (460rmb\person including tax) from Shenzhen, which departs 21st of May at 18.45. So 20. is the last nigh in Hong Kong... Our Russian visa expires 5.6. so by then we should have crossed the border. So all of you in Finland be prepared, only less than a month for my return...