Crossing Continents

For me the Trans-Siberian was always synonymous with adventure. The train from Moscow from Vladivostok is a bit legendary - the longest train journey in the world conjures up images of snowy wastelands, fir trees and furry hat-wearing, vodka-drinking Russians.
In fact, I'll be travelling from Beijing to Moscow on the Trans-Manchurian, a train which crosses north-east China - old Manchuria - en route to Russia. This is one option, the other is to travel from Beijing via Ulan Bator on the Trans-Mongolian train. Fascinating as this sounds, it involves an extra transit visa which means more hassle and expense. After years battling with Chinese bureaucracy, I'm trying to keep this journey simple.

Why did I decide to spend a whole week travelling home? I hate flying and enjoy trains. I like adventure and having things to write about. Hopefully I won't get into drug smuggling related trouble and end up committing murder in the Siberian wastelands. (movie: 'Trans-siberian")
The trip will take six days, spent travelling through China and into Russia via Harbin and the Heilongjiang border. I'll add a detailed route and map shortly.

I only have transit visas so I won't be getting off until the train arrives in Moscow. What does a person do for six solid days on a train? Apparently, being sociable and outgoing is the way forward, as lots of interesting people will be partying and drinking vodka. I don't know if I'll even get time to finish all the ebooks and podcasts I've been collecting recently.

Before I can start this magnificent adventure, I still have to survive four weeks of ESL teaching in Korea...