I have a confession. Russia scared me. I know, I know.. I beak off my mouth about stoking the adventurous fire, flex that “try everything and anything, it won’t kill ya” motto.
Let me explain.
After Communism fell in the early nineties, I seriously pondered traveling there. When the millennium hit, I began to hear stories. Not always positive ones. Black markets. Russian Mafia controlling everything, even tourist heavy locales like nightclubs. Being grossly ripped off or watch out for those dour citizens who greet not with a smile, but a granite expression.
Maybe I was reluctant to dance the night away to Russian Orthodox bells ringing against a techno base, either way I was reticent.
Then, he convinced me:
Go forward to 3:38 and he begins to talk about his experience on the Trans-Siberian. His plan? He’s in Stockholm on a speaking engagement and inspiration hits that he’s going to take the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostock alone. He sends himself to Siberia for being a naughty boy, a self-imposed exile. In the dead of winter. You must see why I adore him.
Best Rollins’ quote: “Take what you know, and go out into what Mark Twain called the ‘territory’.”
I’ve seen him live, and watching this video on why he chose the Trans-Siberian forced me to ascend to one goal – be a better human being.
Why box myself in? Let a set of unsubstantiated assumptions stop me?
Luckily, I don’t have to experience the Trans-Siberian alone. My self-imposed exile will be shared with my Ultimate Train Challenge crew.
The route will take us from Moscow to Beijing. What I will discover is such an open book, can you imagine? I can’t wait.
Maybe our team has horseshoes in storage, but the fact that we have partnered with Real Russia for this leg of our journey is also worth the anticipation.
If you are interested in a trip to Lenin’s birthplace, Real Russia can aid you. I’m pretty impressed with what they can do. They help anyone, from independent travelers to business travelers. Need assistance with your Russian visa? They do that too! Or booking tours or accommodations? That can seem daunting, yet is very doable with Real Russia.
Obviously, Real Russia are Tran-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian experts, which is where they come in with the Ultimate Train Challenge.
Based in London, Real Russia has their own offices in Moscow and Volgograd, to offer support to travelers already in the country.
That’s coverage, people. So, if the Russian bells start clanging, maybe I won’t have sufficient ear plugs, but I will have an adventure before me.
Mark Twain would be proud.
As train enthusiasts, and as one of the largest providers of Russian train travel and Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian tours, Real Russia saw the Ultimate Train Challenge as an important event to be involved in; and provided the bloggers’ tickets from Moscow to Beijing, as well as offering visa support documentation and advice throughout the whole application and booking process.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Hysterical. Henry Rollins is awesome. I have to say though – the end antics really got me on this one. hahah :) I actually saw him in a grocery store in San Diego once but I was too nervous to say anything!! Apparently all I needed to do was show him the dried fruit aisle!
My latest kick ass post is..The Dwelling – Venice, Italy – Somewhere In Time Weekly Travel Photo
@Kristina – Haha! I just saw the link to “arriving in Siberia”. I’ll be reading that. Thanks for the well wishes!
Yes! Amazing. I love the Rollins clip. You’re going to have an incredible trip. I took it last year (west from Beijing, through to Ulaanbaatar, up to Irkutsk & Lake Baikal, then west to Moscow and St. Petersburg). I’m STILL behind on my blogging (I didn’t bring my laptop on the train as I didn’t want to risk having it stolen, and there isn’t internet on there anyway). You’ll be doing a bit of a different route and I’m very excited to hear about your adventures! You’ll probably be finished with your blogging of the trip before I’m even half-way through mine! Haha. Safe travels! :)
My latest kick ass post is..Arrival in Siberia.
@Katie – Love this. A tried and true testimony of their customer service. Thanks for sounding in!
@A Pole – Well, he and I were actually kidding about it being perilous. :) The trip you allude to certainly falls into when Communism left Russian satellites and Russian borders, so yes, I can definitely see why it wasn’t a piece of cake for you. And maybe it still wouldn’t be today?
The train will be far more cushier, can’t deny that!
@Michael Hodson – Sucks to be behind and the challenge hasn’t even started has it? BTW – already got my visas too. Haha! (Nelson cackling in your ear.)
@ayngelina – I hope so!
@Carol Perehudoff – Am SO going.
@The Travel Chica – He’s been doing it for years. The guy is ahhmazing. For someone who was born with little advantages, he’s excelled. I admire him a great deal. He owns a publishing company, acted in movies, had a talk show, and does his spoken word tours And he’s really witty, funny. Can you tell I want to marry him? I’m excited about this leg, too!
@Megan – I can’t wait to find out!
@Sabina -We probably will! Just wait and see.
@Matt – Have you seen the Vice travel video when they visit Chernobyl? I highly recommend it and the visuals WILL get the curiosity juices flowing.
If you want to hear more about Russia or the Trans-Siberian also do a search for more Rollin’s concert clips on youtube, there’s a whole series of them (parts 1 to 5) when he goes into detail about his journey. No mafia to be found, however, Rollins is scary looking, maybe they thought he was one of them?
@Mack Reynolds – They are pretty awesome to us so far! We are excited to be working with them. :)
@Justin Morris – Ahh, wicked. I hope so. I’ll need a slosh of vodka after taking the midnight train from Kiev into Moscow. :)
@Jenna – Good to hear the word on “no trouble”, though the trouble I meant was shortly after Communism faded away. I am gutted to be missing St. Petersburg, as I’m fascinated with Catherine The Great. I wrote a 5th grade paper about her and was intrigued with her rise to power, her randy personal life and how she contributed (albeit slightly) to the aesthetic of S. Petersburg.
Yeah, we’re going in September, so I think we’ll be okay for weather. Gulp.
Um, amazing. You’ll be paving the way for the rest of us!!
Siberia, though… I’d rather challenge myself with a trip to, say, somewhere I wouldn’t be as likely to lose fingers and toes to the cold. =)
I’ve got friends living in Russia and have heard nothing about any trouble. Good call on the unsubstantiated assumptions bit. We all have a little bit of that, the only way to get rid of them is to go find out for ourselves. Cheers Jeannie.
My latest kick ass post is..Jungle Rumba: Ladrilleros, Colombia
So awesome that you guys will be going to Russia as part of the train challenge! Moscow is an incredible city and one that so many people have a complete misconception about. I’d probably put it up there in my top 5 in Europe after going there recently. It’s so laid back, yet so full on at the same time. Heaps of cool trendy bars but then lots of very run of the mill everyday pubs. You’ll love it Jeannie. :)
My latest kick ass post is..48 hours in Edinburgh
it’s great that you steppped it up and took the plunge. i also think it’s very awesome of real russia to hook you up and support you through your trip. sweet.
I really wan to visit Russia as well, but I’m a little hesitant. I don’t know if all the reports about the Russian mafia are true, but I don’t know if I’m ready to test the waters yet.
Actually, I REALLY want to go to Ukraine. Chernobyl specifically. Something about photographing that abandoned town of Pripryat really makes me want to pact my bags and go!
My latest kick ass post is..Improve Your Street Photography With This Free Book
It will be interesting to follow this train challenge. Do they have internet on at least some of these trains? I think it would be really hard to go for too long without. Either way, I do hope you have a blast :)
My latest kick ass post is..Checking Out the Dining Scene in Istanbul
Ohh Russia – I would love to go! I took the Trans Mongolian from Beijing to UB and would have loved to go further. Definitely on the cards for sometime in the next couple of years.
Have heard so many mixed things about Russia, can’t wait to hear about your experiences there.
My latest kick ass post is..The people you meet: Xela, Guatemala
I had no idea Henry Rollins was doing speaking engagements. Love him!
It is great that you have Real Russia to help you guys with the planning and paperwork. I look forward to hearing about this leg of the journey.
My latest kick ass post is..My First Taxi Crash in Buenos Aires
Russia’s in the air! I’ve just spend a month at the Literary Journalism Program at the Banff Centre of the Arts (actually, I’m still here, just getting ready to leave) working on an essay about going to Russia, being scared to go to Russia and attempting to explore my roots there … with some drunkeness in Paris and recuperation in Saskatchewan thrown in. Crazy coincidence. Go for it, Jeannie!
My latest kick ass post is..Banff Centre Literary Journalism comes to an end
You kicked butt in India, Russia will be a piece of cake for you.
My latest kick ass post is..In my backyard – 5 things to do in Toronto
You crack me up. Great video. And you are sooooo impressively ADD about getting your posts up!! Arrrrgggg, I need to catch up soon.
My latest kick ass post is..Palmyra, Syria: Fabulous Roman Ruins
You must be kidding with quoting Rollins:
“inspiration hits that he’s going to take the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostock alone. He sends himself to Siberia for being a naughty boy, a self-imposed exile. In the dead of winter. ”
and touting it as a “perilous” journey. Travelling via the Trans-Siberian is a safe and mildly enjoyable trip, as you are surrounded by people, train guards and conductors (many of them ;), and creature comforts: pielmeny what not.
Try hiking through Russia, with a thumb and a smile, using the trucks and local trains. And the kindness of strangers to host you.
Did that once on a trip to Uzbekistan in 1992 – and these were much harder times than now – little food, no mobile phones…. It took over a month, and it cost me 150$ (one hundred US dollars) to reach Almaty (Kazakhstan) and get back, in one piece.
Ciao
R.
I have been working with Real Russia to get my invitation for a Russian business visa and they have been AWESOME! Super helpful and patient with me as I asked a gazillion questions and, despite the time difference, responded to every one of my emails within 24 hours, often less.
Can’t wait to read about the Train Challenge – I’m actually planning to go the opposite direction in November – Vladivostok to Moscow.
My latest kick ass post is..Preparing to Travel: My Massive To-Do List