On the way back home

After more than five months of travelling it´s time for me to head back home. Not that I´m tired of travelling, no, on the contrary. It´s more a relationship thing. We all know, in a healthy relationship, you have to give, if you want to take. So, after all these months of giving, my bank account has decided that it´s now time for it to take. And it wasn´t open for negotiations. That´s the reason why I´m now rushing west. Totally broke, but richer than ever.

Tomorrow, I´ll continue on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Irkutsk to Moscow. After 82 hours on the train, I´ll reach Moscow in the early morning of the 12^th of May. I´ll spend two days there, meeting Sophie again, who I got to know in India, before flying to Munich on the 14^th. And, three days later, I´m a salary slave again.

Through the land of Dschenghis Khan

In this moment, I´m on my way to catch the Trans-Siberian Train to Irkutsk, passing through Mongolia, the land of Dschengis Khan. Until yesterday, it was unsure if I could make this trip as planned, because in China, there´re public holidays from the first of mai until the 3rd, with all the embassies closed. But I managed to get exceptionally get a visa for Mongolia in one day (needed a lot of convincing, all my charm and a small fortune), so I´m on my way back to Europe.

I´ll reach Irkutsk, my first stop in Russia, the 7th of mai, spend a day there to see Lake Baikal, before spending more than 80h in a train to Moscow. I´ll stay there from the 12th to the 14th, when I have a flight (vulcanoes permitting) to Munich. Well, and then, it´s back to the slavery of work - the 17th of may, I´m a wage slave again.

But now, I´m looking forward on my trip back home - totally broke, but richer than ever.

New pictures - Shanghai

A first selection of pictures from Shanghai is now online on my photobucket account.  

New pictures online

Finally, some more pictures online - Birdsnest and the Aquastadium in Beijing

Urban Legends Shanghai & Music

Before 1985, no shop or restaurant in Shanghai was allowed to play music. When the authorities finally relaxed the ban, they were still eager to control what people were actually listening to. So, each venue was allowed to play only one, the approved tape, featuring panpipe classics, assorted muzak and Kenny G´s greatest hits. Although the one tape policy was abolished in 1995, the tradition remained, stuck - so many places still play the same music today. Over and over again. Just spare a thought for the poor sous having to work there every day.

Source: Time Out Shanghai