21 August - the Visas

I reckon that all these emergent nations gain significant income from "fleecing" western Europeans when they enter their countries.


Today we got confirmation that we are now in the process of gaining our third visa for the trip, respectively my Chinese visa and Merryn's Mongolian. No doubt my Mongolian will be applied for next week, as will Merryn's Chinese. Anyway we seem to be on the home leg of the visa saga.


I say that it seems a little like "fleece the westerners", all up we are spending some 800 euros just to visit these countries, and in the case of Belorus 200 euros just to cross the country in a train - we are not allowed out of the train!


Also this week we were able to book the ferry from China to Japan. No bookings more than 2 months prior. Very accommodating Japanese shipping company staff (and no visa required) BUT we were informed in writing that  we will have a medical test before joining the ship in Shanghai, and if we have a temperature over 35, they will assume we have flu, and we will not be allowed to board. We just hope Merryn's "stuff" will work....!


So 4 weeks to go, until we board the big train from Menton to Shanghai - Osaka - Kyoto - Sydney. Can't wait to leave the Riviera's tourists behind and become one myself...!? 

5 August. We start

Today came the news that the final rail tickets we booked have been issued. Moscow to Mongolia. The tickets from Mongolia to China will be issued in Mongolia, and delivered to our hotel in Ulaan Baator.

We still have to travel by train in China and Japan, but those trips have to be bought in the relevant countries. However we now really seem to on the way. We also received confirmation that the Russian Embassy in London had received our visa applications.

Now we have to book the ferry from Shanghai to Osaka in Japan, but that is next week because they won't accept bookings more than 10 weeks in advance. This is a 3 day (2 nights) trip.

This is my first posting via email from my ipod, so apologies for any typos.