After five years working in London, I decided it was time to move back to Los Angeles, but not before taking a year off to see the world. I gave up my great job with Lehman Brothers in Administration and a fantastic flat (and roommate) I’d lived in for over three years, packed up all my belongings into some 60 cubic feet of boxes and said farewell to the wonderful friends I made in London. Before setting off for Asia, I spent seven weeks in the States including a weekend getaway in Chicago with my best friends from high school, corrective eye surgery in Philadelphia, Aud and Rob’s wedding in Bermuda, 13 days in Israel on Birthright (with a side trip to Petra) and time in quiet Oak Park with my parents and sister. Then, on July 18, 2010 at 1am, with only 13 kilograms in my 50L backpack and a small shoulder bag, I boarded a flight to Singapore. The goal of my adventure is not one of self-discovery or mending a broken heart but a journey of true desire to explore the world, experience new cultures, taste various cuisines, explore beautiful wildernesses, meet local people, and maybe learn some Spanish along the way. What lies below are my stories (or more of a daily recount of events) from the road.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

On the rails to Vladimir - Day 2 of 4

Friday, August 20, 2010
(Written on the day.)
Last night our provodnista (carriage attendant) brought our bedding, which actually included a real towel. Little things make such a different. Our carriage had brie with tomatoes on French roll for dinner and some noodles. Read a bit in my book last night before bed.

As we pulled into Zima station at 10:30pm (a former exile town whose name translates as winter, 251km from Irkutsk), I took an Ambien and slept until 9 today. Didn't even feel our 20 minute stop in Ilanskaya. After I got up and had a wipe down shower I made myself breakfast (cereal, bread with cowberry jam, apricot). Worked a lot on my journal this morning typing the rest of the trip and journaling the missing bits. It is already 4:45pm local time, and we lost an hour this morning. Had one major stop at Krasnoyarsk (1087km from Irkutsk, 4098km from Moscow) today just before lunch but I wasn't able to buy much. Shared my bread and added some cheese and tomatoes for lunch before enjoying some Pringles. Made myself a snack of spicy noodle soup.


Have another big stop at Mariinsk (1472km from Irkutsk) in less than an hour (5:32pm local time, 1:32pm Moscow time) and turn back the clocks again around 9pm. Enjoying myself. Going to read now.
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