What a trip! China, Mongolia, Russia. Don’t ask me to choose a favourite country, it would be like choosing between my children. Each one is unique.

China wins for most exotic. Everything about China is different. The food – we ate fried scorpions, what more can I say? The celebration of the National Day – it’s at dawn and lasts about an hour. The crush of people – you’re always in a crowd. But it’s exciting and fascinating.

Edible Scorpions Beijing

Open air restaurant

So many bikes

Dragon in the Forbidden City

Decorations for National Day

Crowds on National Day

Mongolia, if I really had to pick a favourite… Mongolia stole my heart, partly because we got out of the city. We stayed in a Ger (yurt) camp and went hiking. The people of Mongolia are handsome and friendly. They’re happy and proud of their country. And the boots – Mongolian boots are absolutely the most beautiful.

Ger (yurt)

Landscape near Ger camp

Mongolian Parliament

Train station

Mongolian monastery

Mongolian Boots

Russia was a country I dreamed of visiting and it lived up to my expectations. I didn’t tire of the vastness of Siberia as it glided past the train windows. The Siberian cities attest to their inhabitants’ resilience. Moscow and Saint Petersburg are cosmopolitan and very different from one another. Moscow is chic and vibrant; Saint Petersburg is moody and romantic.

Mariinsky Theatre

Snacks for sale on train platform

Church upon the Blood, Yekaterinburg

Wooden House, Yekaterinburg

Theatre, Yekaterinburg

St. Basile’s Cathedral, Moscow

Canal Saint Petersburg

I enjoyed it all!

A little shot of vodka with Fiona and Nigel

Farewell to the Trans-Mongolian

Till next time…