This one's for Jem and Nick (and Jess, Margot and everyone else on the show):
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What's all this about, then?
October 2007, and Triny and I have sold our house, quit our jobs, and are off to see what we can find. This is somewhere we can post things on the way. Hopefully, we'll remember to update it every now and then.
To see a map of where we've been so far, click here
To see a map of where we've been so far, click here
Rate my train
Pros: Familiar; slow enough to let Triny get over her hangover before arriving.
Cons: Too many chavs; too slow; late departure.
Overall: 5/10
Waterloo
Pros: Fast (on French side).
Cons: Too many boring rugby conversations; slow (on English side).
Overall: 6/10
Paris
Pros: Very fast; very flash; very smooth.
Cons: Boooooooring; uncomfortable seats difficult to sleep in.
Overall: 6/10
Frankfurt to
Pros: Private cabin; comfortable; breakfast served in cabin.
Cons: Prisoner Cell Block H; sink too technical for us; door also too technical for us; breakfast.
Overall: 8/10
Prague
Pros: Comfortable; half empty; toilet not smoke-alarmed.
Cons: Juddery.
Overall: 7/10
Warsaw to Moscow
Pros: Comfortable; helpful cheery guard; morning coffee for Triny.
Cons: Depressing scenery; no double bed; confusing Russian border crossing
Overall: 8/10
Moscow
Pros: Smiley chef lady; toasty; good hot food; large bottles of beer for Triny; befriending scary provodnitsa
Cons: Narrow beds; sudden braking throughout; drunk/miserable Russians; ablution facilities.
Overall: 6/10
Irkutsk to Ulanbatar
Pros: 4-berth cabin to ourselves; met Dutch people who became travelling companions.
Cons: Far too early departure time; being in Irkutsk; long border crossing.
Overall: 6/10
Ulanbatar to Beijing
Pros: Mongolian restaurant car; first class compartment.
Cons: Really monotonous scenery; toilet facilities; 5 hour border crossing and wheel change.
Overall: 7/10
Beijing to Shanghai
Pros: Brand new train; legroom even in second class seats; 250km/h express.
Cons: No smoking for 10 hours; never actually reached 250km/h.
Overall: 8/10
Shanghai to Hong Kong
Pros: Civilised departure and arrival times; very posh cabin.
Cons: Passport control in Shanghai station rather than on the train; air conditioning too enthusiastic; creaky compartment.
Overall: 7/10
Bangkok to Hua Hin
Pros: Very Michael Palin; plenty of room; lots of hawkers selling stuff; hanging off the side of the train while smoking a cigarette.
Cons: Too many Westerners; not punctual.
Overall: 9/10
Hua Hin to Surat Thani
Pros: Plenty of room; free meal.
Cons: Old and decrepit; too much air-con; no charm; so late that we had to stay in Surat Thani for a night.
Overall: 5/10
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
Pros: TV at the end of the carriage; very comfortable seats; comedy accent of train conductor.
Cons: Having to get off the train at the Singapore border to go through Immigration.
Overall: 8/10
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