www.ckm-travel.blogspot.com and I hope you enjoy reading it.
My old travel blog : www.km-travel.blogspot.com has been retained :
1) 23-27/2/09 - My 5 days in Jogyarkata, Dieng & Solo
2) 16-23/10/08 - My 37 days in Jordan, Syria, Turkey & Egypt
3) 26/4-9/5/08 - My 14 days in Tokyo, Yokohama, Shizouja , Nara & Kyoto
4) 14/7-7/8/07 - My 24 days in New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Kashmir, Leh, Manali, Mcleod Ganj & Shimla
5) 15-20/5/07 - My 6 days in Hanoi, Halong Bay & Catba
6) 2-5/10/06 - My 4 days in Siem Reap
7) 9-26/5/06 - My 16 days in Xian, Turpan, Dun Huang, Urumqi & Kanas
Thank you for your comments and I hope to continue writing this travel blog for all my future trips.
Europe Russia, Mongolia & China
After my Middle East trip ( Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Turkey) in Sept/Oct 08, I started planning for my trip to Europe and the Tran-Siberian train ride from Moscow to Mongolia / China. It took a few months for me to firm things up especially on matters relating to hostel bookings , transport arrangement and Russian visa application & protocol etc.
On 3rd May 09, my younger son drove me to the LCCT KL airport terminal. On arrival at the airport, I had this queer feeling in my mind. 45 days in Europe , Baltic states, Russia , Mongolia as a first timer ? Am I ready after all the homework I had done for this trip ? What was it like entering Russia from Talinn, Estonia by bus via the Russian border ? KGB or Mafia roaming the Russian streets ?
Like an athlete, as soon as you enter the sport arena, I believe you are ready for a challenge awaiting for the referee to shout the following words before blowing the whistle :
"On your mark .... Get set .... Go" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Did I finish my race in 45 days ? Where did I go ? How was it ?
Thank god I came home with all my arms and limbs in original and natural proportions !!! So once again my mental, physical and spiritual strength were stretched and put to test in this memorable 45 day trip !
For this free and easy trip, I travelled solo but my faithful travel buddies were: 1 luggage trolley, 1 medium size back- pack, 1 small day- pack and 1 sleeping bag !!! Oops, I should also mention that I brought along a mini Panasonic rice cooker, learning to prepare my own meals in the hostels during the trip. This had considerably reduced my food bill a lot !
How time has flown, I started my trip on 3rd May and returned to Malaysia on 16th June 09. I lost 1.5 kilos of my body weight for this trip. But became wiser in travelling to that part of the world especially in Russia, of late warming up to welcome more travellers to this ex-communist country but the fear of KGB or Mafia is always lingered in one's mind the moment you set foot on this bureaucratic country , once upon a time called Soviet Union or U.S.S.R.
My travel trophies were 3,500 pictures taken on 12 countries and I take the pleasure of sharing some of these interesting photos with you !
The 12 capital cities I visited were:
1) London, UK
2) Amesterdam, Netherlands
3) Brussels, Belgium
4) Paris, France
5) Prague, Czech Republic ( also visited Cesky Krumlov & Ceksy Budejovice
6) Budapest, Hungary
7) Krakow, Poland ( took a train from Krakow to Warsaw but did not visit the city )
8) Riga, Latvia
9) Talinn, Estonia
10) Moscow, Russia ( also visited St Petersburg, Irkursk & Lake Baikal )
11) Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia
12) Beijing, China
In my previous trips, I focussed my visits to places which fall under the "Civilised or Natural Wonders of the World" category. For this trip, I was able to visit the following:
Civilised Wonders of the World
1) Tower of London, UK
2) Eiffel Tower, Paris - France
3) Chateau of Versailles, France
4) Notre Dame , Paris - France
5) Kremlin, Moscow - Russia
1) London, United Kingdom ( A warm welcome ! Thanks to Air Asia for flying from KL to Stansted, UK )
2) Amsterdam, Netherlands ( Sitting on an extraordinary large Dutch clog to admire the surrounding canals & cobbled streets of Amsterdam )
3) Brussels, Belgium ( Walking pass a famous Belgium chocolate retail shop in Brussels - Yummy Yummy ! )
4) Paris, France ( The high and mighty Eiffel Tower of Paris ) 
5A) Prague. Czech Republic ( The old city of Prague ) 
5B) Cesky Krumlov, Czech Repiblic ( Have you ever been to the Alice of the Wonderland or Fairyland - so picturesque, how not to fall in love with this place ! )
5C) Cesky Budejovice, Czech Republic ( A small country town , 25km from Cesky Krumlov ) 
6) Budapest, Hungary ( Is Buda a hungry pest in Hungary ? ) 
7) Krakow, Poland ( I skipped Warsaw and picked Krakow for my Pokand visit - did I make the right choice ? )
8) Riga, Latvia ( A far away city near the Baltic Sea - never dream that I set foot on this place ! )
9) Talinn, Estonia ( Getting close to southern Russian border - my nighmare was about to begin ! ) 
10A) St Petersburg, Russia ( Built by Peter the Great in 17th century , renamed to Leningrad in 1924 )
10B) Peterhof, Russia ( The Russian Versailles - stunning and most impressuve Grand Cascade fountains , 25km from St Petersburg )
10B) Moscow, Russia ( the famous St Basil Cathedral, Kremlin & Red Square , awesome & magnificient to see ! )
10C) Irkutsk, Russia ( The 3rd largest city in far east Russia - a stopover to Lake Baikal ) 
10D) Lake Baikal / Olkhon Island , Russia ( The world's largest & deepest fresh water lake, over 20 million year old ) 
11) Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia ( The Great Empire of Temujin - Genghis Khan )
12) Beijing, China ( Forbidden city - off limits for 500 years - my 3rd visit since 1997 )
My 45 days in Europe, Russia, Mongolia & China - My first Spring experience in Europe, Baltic states and taking a Tran-Siberian train ride from Russia to Mongolia and China ( 3/5 - 16/6/09) - It only takes one pair of eyes to see the world; two will be wonderful !
Airline Flight Itinerary:
Booking Date: 19-2-09
Flight No: D7 2008
Depart LCCT KL on Sunday 3-5-09 at 17.00
Arrive Stansted Airport, London on Monday 4-5-09 at 00.05
Return: D7 2613
Depart Tienjin airport on Tuesday 16-6-09 at 23.00 (delay by 6 hrs due to bad weather)
Arrive LCCT KL on Wednesday 17-6-09 at 05.00
A) Air Tickets (include taxes & meals, insurance) : Rm793 (UK)+ Rm381(Tienjin) = Rm1,174
B) Travel insurance: Rm188
C) Russia Visa Support fee: US$30=Rm105
D) Russia Visa application fee: Rm140
E) Russia Visa registration fee : 600 rubles (Rm70)
F) China Visa application fee: Rm30
G) Land Transport ( trains, buses, trams): Rm1,284 + Rm1,617 +Rm560= Rm3,461
By train: Polish, Russian & Mongolian train tickets: Total Rm1,284
1) St Petersburg > Moscow (3rd class - 1 night) : 633 Rubles (Rm76) + US$10 (agency fee) = Rm114
2) Moscow > Irkursk (3rd class - 4 nights) : 3,117 Rubles (Rm374) + US$27(agency fee) =Rm469
3) Irkutsk > Ulaan Baatar (2nd class - 2 nights) : 3,828 Rubles (Rm444)
4) Ulaan Bataar > Erlian, China (2nd class - 2 nights) : US$36 + US$5 (agency fee) = Rm144
5) Krakow > Warsaw train ticket (2nd class - 3hr) : Rm113
By coach & sleeper bus: Total Rm1,617
1) Eurolines bus 15 day pass (7 cities expiring 22/5/09) : Euro$240 (Rm1,200)
2) Riga > Talinn ( Eurolines bus) : Euro$12=Rm60
3) Talinn > St Petersburg (Eurolines bus): Euro$30=Rm150
4) Erlian > Beijing (private taxi - day trip): CNY200 (RM107)
City transport - 12 countries (bus , metro, tube & trains ): Total Rm560
H) Hostel (dorm bed) : Total Rm1,994
1) London (3 nights): Euro$35 (Rm175)
2) Amsterdam (2 nights): Euro$49 (Rm245)
3) Brussels (2 nights): Euro$40 (Rm200)
4) Paris (3 nights): Eur0$69 (Rm345)
5) Prague (1 night): Euro$15 (Rm75)
6) Budapest (2 nights): Euro$28 (Rm140)
7) Krakow (2 nights): Euro$11 (Rm55)
8) Riga (1 night): Euro$9 (Rm45)
9) Talinn (1 night): Euro$10 (Rm50)
10) St Petersburg (3 nights): 1,420 (Rm165)
11) Moscow (3 nights): 2,480 rubles (Rm290)
12) Irkutsk (2 nights): 1,000 rubles (Rm116)
13) Ulaan Bataar (1 day): US$6 (Rm21)
14) Beijing (3 nights): CNY140 (Rm72)
I) Tour package ( Lake Baikal 3 days 2 nights incl transport & meals ) + North Olkhon Island day tour : Rm463
J) Entrance fees ( Versailles + Peterhof + Russian concert ) : Rm205
K) Food & groceries: 
Rm400 ( own prepared meals )
Total Expenses: Rm8,230
" I took Eurolines bus from London to 10 capital cities in Europe and the last stop was St Petersburg ( total distance of 3,759km ) ! From St Petersburg to the rest of the Russian cities, Mongolia and China, it was trains all the way ( total distance of 8,947km ) - I had enough of travel on Eurolines bus & Russian & Mongolian trains on this single trip for the rest of my life ! "
2 comments:
Hello,
This is the 1st time i visit your blog, and this had seriously make feel so envy and make me feel wanna visit it soon. The information that you had written there is so useful and detail.Before i could really go all these places i can feel how great is it already.I bet all your planning and expenses tips you gave will be very useful for economical travelers.Seriously hope i will have a chance to travel like this.It would be wonderful.Can't wait to see more of your post.
Hi KM,
It seems you are travelling very frequent, where & when is your next trip?
Can't wait to read your post.
Happy travelling!
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