Trans Siberian trip, Seoul to Berlin by Land and Sea, 2017.
overland Trans Siberian Express Train to Moscow, then the Strizh Train from Moscow to Berlin.
Preparation
Seoul, Cheongnyangri Railway Station, to Donghae
Seoul to Donghae with overnight stop.
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View from Seoul to Donghae Train
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Remember to take something to eat and drink as on this train there was not any form of catering except for a rather tatty vending machine.
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Donghae Boyang Rejuvenation Hot Springs and Grand Hotel
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Pianist and saxophonist Donghae Grand Hotel
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This was repeated over breakfast. If you do stay there walk over the footbridge towards the seafront. There are a number of restaurants and a GS25 (7/11) convenience store. I did struggle at the restaurants as everything is mystery food written in Korean. Then lifesaver, for me, was a pizza restaurant on the upper floor. However be aware that last food and drink orders was about 8.30 closure at 9.30pm.
DBS Ferry, Donghae to Vladivostok
DBS Cruise Ferries
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DBS Ferry Eastern Dream at Vladivostok
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DBS Ferry return route
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Ferry Crossing
There are various classes of travel. Ranging from sleeping in a large room on the floor to the Presidential suite. The highest class of travel we were able to book, due to ferry being on demand, was 1st class.
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DBS Ferry terminal, Donghae, Korea
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Cosy Cabin
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1st class cabin, DBS Ferries, Donghae to Vladivostok
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There are 4 sleeping mats with duvets and pillows. We asked if we were sharing our supposed 1st class cabin. Nobody was sure until we left port. 4 people would have been very cosy! There is a shower, toilet and wash basin en suite. There was a TV showing 4 channels, all in ‘foreign,’ a fridge, and a 240V transformer. We found if you unplug the fridge, then our kettle that we take with us everywhere would work with the transformer.
You can charge up your mobile, if you have the wires. If not you can hire the cable in reception for 1,000 won.
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Reception area, DBS Ferry, Eastern Queen
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Basic Food
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Zester Bar, DBS Ferry, Eastern Queen
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Currencies taken
Docking
Needless to say we forgot to collect the vegetable knife.
Azimut Hotel, Vladivostok
Vladivostok
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View from Hotel Azimut, Vladivostok
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Bars etc
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Beer Vladivostok
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Vladivostok
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Google Translate
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Google Translate in Russian.
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Sex shop Vladivostok
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Trans-Siberian Train ride, Vladivostok to Irkutsk.
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Trans Siberian Express Train 007
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Trans Siberian train 007. This train was finishing it’s journey in Novokuznetsk, which is a few stops further on from where we got off in Irkutsk.
Vladivostok to Irkutsk took 4 days and 3 nights.
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1st class Trans Siberian train 007
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1st class Trans Siberian train 007
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Boarding
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1st Class corridor Trans Siberian Express 007
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Olga the guard
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1st class Trans Siberian Express 007 Toilet
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No Wifi
We travelled first class, the cost was not a lot more than 2nd class and well worth the extra money. In first class there are only 2 beds, which remain set throughout the trip. We each got one free meal. There are more toilets per amount of passengers than in 2nd class. That is about all the benefits of first class.
Food on board
With regard to breakfast, we went to the restaurant car between 9am and 11am, sat down, but I think we should have taken breakfast as another lady came around earlier with porridge and beef to our corridor. Anyway, after lots of handwaving, flashing of money, people looking and both trying to help and laugh, her shouting louder, and probably a dog barking somewhere, we were given 2 plates of beef salad, water and some sort of flat coke/herbal concoction, chocolate bars, and sweets. We also had a beer and a cup of tea which we had to pay for, 260 Rubles.
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Beer 1st Class Trans Siberian Express 007
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Breakfast 1st Class Trans Siberian Express 007
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Beer 1st Class Trans Siberian Express 007
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Breakfast rice. Trans Siberian train 007
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Back to the first evening.
No English spoken
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Dining car Trans Siberian Express Train 007
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Dining car Trans Siberian Express Train 007
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Things to do on Trans Siberian
Essentials to take on the trip.
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Tea Urn, Hot water, Trans Siberian train 007
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Timetable
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Time table, Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Views of Siberia. Trans Siberian Train 007
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Dealing with stops.
The board in the corridor shows clearly how long the stop is. It may be prudent not to get off on a 2 minute stop.
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Food for sale, Trans Siberian Express
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20 minute stop, Trans Siberian Train
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Station food Trans Siberian Express
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Meat? Pies
Overall the 4 days and 3 nights Vladivostok to Irkutsk went very quickly.
A weekend in Irkutsk
Hotel Victory
Jumanji Complex
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Irkutsk Beer glass.
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Sausage, potato, and Egg, proper Russian food.
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Restaurant near Jumanji, Irkutsk
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Sightseeing in Irkutsk
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Irkutsk architecture
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Irkutsk architecture
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Museum of Tea, Irkutsk.
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A scary lion, Irkutsk
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Lake Baikal and Listvyanka
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Irkutsk bus station
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Irkutsk bus
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Hovercraft ride
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Frozen lake of Lake Baikal, with hovercraft
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Hovercraft Lake Baikal
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Hotel in Lake Baikal
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Indian Restaurant
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Ganga Indian Tandoori restaurant, Irkutsk
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Wrong address
Uncle Valdimir’s cabs
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Good beer bar, Irkutsk
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Which one is the toilet? Good beer bar, Irkutsk
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Formula 1
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Harats Bar, Irkutsk
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Rocks American Grill, Irkutsk
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Russian food, Rocks American Diner, Irkutsk
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Kwak Inn
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Kwak Inn. Irkutsk
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Kwak Inn, Irkutsk
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Trans Siberia Train 001
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Trans Siberian Train, 001, Irkutsk to Moscow.
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Trans Siberian Train, 001, Irkutsk to Moscow.
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Trans Siberian Train, 001, Irkutsk to Moscow.
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Trans Siberian Train, 001, Irkutsk to Moscow.
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Trans Siberian Train, 001, Irkutsk to Moscow.
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1st class toilet. Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Cabin equipment
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Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Restaurant, Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Service Charge
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Magnum lolly, Trans Siberian Train, 001
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More stops and timetables
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Timetable Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Moscow Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Moscow Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Moscow Trans Siberian Train, 001
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Moscow to Berlin express. Strizh Train.
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Train stop timetable Strizh Train
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Moscow Kurskiy Train station, Strizh Train
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Change of time
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Moscow Kurskiy Train station, Strizh Train
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Guess the platform
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Moscow Kurskiy Train station, Strizh Train
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First class ensuite, Strizh Train
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Savings
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Toilet, Strizh Train
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Brochure showing cabins, Strizh Train
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Brochure showing cabins, Strizh Train
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First class, non ensuite, Strizh Train
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Four berth, 2nd class, Strizh Train
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Reclining seat, Strizh Train
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Good old water urn
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Hot and cold water urn, Strizh Train
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Communal corridor, Strizh Train
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Restaurant car, Strizh Train
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Bar area, Strizh Train
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Restaurant car, Strizh Train
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Beer but no wine
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Menu, Strizh Train
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First Class cabin
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1st class beds, Strizh Train
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View from Strizh Train
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View from Strizh Train
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Welcome to Berlin Ostbahnhof station, Strizh Train
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Conclusion