[Barts trip of a lifetime!] The Adventure has begun!

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Bart

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Sep 19, 2010, 2:11:35 AM9/19/10

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Okaaaaay, my first update finally!! I’ve ‘landed’ in Irkutsk, a place in Russia, famous for its massive Lake Baikal (it covers more square meters than Holland and Belgium together). It’s absolutely MINDBLOWING beautiful here!

And man, do I have the freakin’ time of my life until now. Moscow was TOTALLY AWESOME and so were my first 4 days on the TRANS-SIBERIAN EXPRESS! I’m sitting in a hotel now (not the one I’m staying in), enjoying an overprized beer, but it has free (slow) wi-fi, so I will give it a shot to update my followers up to the point where I boarded the Trans-Siberian express. You must be warned tho, its gonna be a long piece of reading!

Sooooo, I left 11 days ago from Amsterdam, but it feels as weeks already. I’ve experienced so many cool things, met so many fantastic people ALREADY, and had such good laughs, it’s all so unbelievable but yet its reality and total fun and happiness.

Anyway, starting from the beginning. On September the 7^th I got on my plane to London. After one hour of delay due to a broken airco unit (can’t fly without it apparently :P) I was ready for take off. After a smooth flight and a quick run through customs at London Stansted, I got on a bus to my lovely friend Kara. She picked me up from the bus stop and from there we walked to her apartment. It was the first time I had to carry my backpack for more than 3 minutes, and man… that thing is heavy! I hope I can toss some stuff along my trip (books and clothes) too lose some weight. After arrival at the apartment we chilled a little bit and went to bed early since I got there pretty late.

A day in the park!

The few days I spent in London consisted basically of sightseeing, having dinner, chilling in the park with sushi, enjoying the many bus rides in the double deck busses, walking along Waterloo and Picadily’s and spending some quality time at Kara & Sarah’s residence.

On the last day I had to get up pretty darn early (4 am) in order to get my bus on time to the airport. Of course I still had my phone on Holland time (didn’t change that, I usually use my watch) so I woke up one hour too early, which I only realized after I showered and Kara mentioned this fact! Haha, anyway now I was sure I wouldn’t miss the buss. It were 3 goooood days at London and I felt somehow sad to leave!

After checking in at London I got a smooth flight again to Moscow. During my stopover at Frankfurt Airport, I met this English man who was going to Moscow as well, to see his girlfriend. We chatted a little about travelling and every day stuff. He was quite nice and also the ‘lucky’ one to receive the very first ‘followbart.com’ business card :-D as a random stranger!!! (many more would follow the next few days).

After arriving at Moscow, I had no idea where to go, since every sign (outside of the airport that is) was written in Russian. It was like Chinese to me! Luckily my ‘new made friend’ introduced me to his girlfriend, who kindly showed me the way to my bus stop. ‘Oh Yeah’… first obstacle tackled down!!

Since I was staying with a Russian girl who I’ve contacted through Couchsurfing.org, I didn’t know exactly where to go. However, she gave me the directions via e-mail, which I – smart as I am – had printed already before leaving Holland. I showed the driver the directions, paid my 140 rubbles and got a few ‘da da da’s (yes yes yes) which I figured meant “everything will work out fine”.

Kicking back on the couch and enjoying the ride.

After 30 min or so, I arrived at the bus stop, I called my host, and 5 minutes later she showed up. From the first minute we met, we had laughs and it was if we knew each other for years! Her apartment was absolutely awesome and she got me this comfort slippers (which were even rapped plastic) which she stole for me from a hotel! COOL, it felt like a hotel already haha!

My couch was very comfortable and Larisa (my host) made me some tea. That night we didn’t go to the city since it was late already, but instead she took me for a tour around the block. Nice neighbourhood. After we arrived back at the apartment, I surfed the internet a little and went to my very comfortable couch for some sleep.

Partners in crime!

The next day I slept in big time and after waking up and some home-made breakfast by Larisa, we went to the city to meet her friend and her couchsurfer. And man…. WAS THAT A START for some legendary adventures. Her friend – named Nadia had her couchsurfer she had over, was called ALEJANDRO and was from Venuzuela but lived in The Hague. We hit it off big time with the four of us and we had some amazing times in the city. Especially at the Red Square. We arrived there after we had some beers (1.5 liter of Russian beer that is) in this dodgy bar the girls took us to. Needless to say me and Alejandro were messing around big time, making pictures with everyone, spreading my cards among tourist and random pretty Russian ladies. I seriously got a few facebook and couchsurf requests of people I can’t remember I even met! LOL. And not because of the booze, just because I just met too many people.

Moscow rocks!

That night we went to a nightclub called “propaganda” together with our two hosts and a third girl- Daria (pronounced as Dasha), who happened to be the roommate and friend of Nadia. I enjoyed myself to the max! Most guys there were typical Russian angry looking fellas, not dancing at all, standing in the corner checking out the girls. And here we came – Bart with flashy clothes, sunglasses and necklace and Alejandro, typical latin boy with beard and hat! Dancing our asses off, me doing the shuffle, Alejandro doing his latin moves (which comes naturally with those people when they are born I suppose). We had a blast.

At 6.00 am we went home and the girls hailed a ‘taxi’. However this was not an ordinary taxi, but just a random stranger with a car who was looking for some extra cash. The girls told me this was illegal, but since its hard to earn decent money in Russia, lots of people try to earn some extra rubbles by doing this ‘favours’. Well fair enough, I wanted to bed, didn’t care if my taxi was legal or not !!!

Next morning pretty hang-overed! But man was it worth it. Larisa was not able to host me anymore, since she had a business trip going on (she mentioned that in advance already of course) so I was supposed to get a hostel. However, after flashing a charming smile at Nadia, she kindly offered a mattress on her floor in her and Daria’s apartment. Sweet!! Together with Alejandro we would have some kickass time there as well.

Well basically the 2 days I spend in Moscow after that, were pretty much did the same as the days before. Clubbing, sightseeing, sleeping in, late lunch (or early dinner) and having conversations with the most cool people, wherever I went, whether it was in a bar, club, metro, coffee place or in the street! Russian people are so friendly!

The last night, I promised myself to go to bed early cause I wanted to be fit for my long train trip. Needless to say it didn’t work out that way, cause I didn’t want to be a party pooper as the rest of the group wanted to end my last day ‘visit’ to Moscow with me in a proper way. Some Vodka’s and a beer were the result (not much) and I didn’t get home very late, but still, the next morning I felt a little uhm… ‘lazy’ (sorry mum). ( I suppose clubbing 3 nights in a row is not very good for your condition :p)

On my way again!

I had no strength whatsoever, and yet I had to carry my backpack on a bus, 2 metro’s and on foot, before I even got to the train. (of course the metro’s were packed, so no sitting place for poor old Bart and his 20kg heavy backpack! After a trip of 45 minutes that morning, I finally got to my train… which was such a relief! I quickly bought some snacks cokes and water (NO BEER) so I could cover the first hours of my trip. I got in my wagon, passed two tourists, who I – despite my hangover – immediately talked to, and they told me they were from Finland. Ok, cool, but still… I needed rest! After a brief introduction, I walked to my cabinet, laid down my stuff, took the freshly washed pillow case from the train attendant, and fell asleep…

And so the Trans-Siberian journey begun………

Ps. I managed to get this blog open for everyone, so leaving a comment can be done by everyone right now (no need for an account). Please do so, I’d appreciate it! Also see the photo section or click here for the pics of London and Moscow!