Trans-Siberian //interurban eurasia

[sabotai]

SAB_2301.jpg by juno, on Flickr

Here are some photos from my trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway last summer. I started in Moscow (St. Petersburg before that) and finally ended up in Vladivostok. The photos are presented in the order they were taken. My friend and I stopped in Novosibirsk for a few hours and Ulan-Ude for a few days along the way.

Novosibirsk is almost certainly the scariest city I've ever been to (although parts of Baltimore were scarier). Amazingly, there were ultra right wing nationalists and neo-nazis literally everywhere (no exaggeration) wearing Slavic Union apparel. Given our appearance, I'm amazed that we didn't get jumped. There were also groups of (presumably) central asian immigrants getting heavily harassed by the police. In contrast, both Ulan-Ude and Vladivostok were very chill except for a few randomly aggressive guys trying to get a rise out of us.


The trains closer to Moscow were great, with comfortable beds, nice a/c, power outlets in each room, etc., but as we transferred, each time it got progressively worse, with incredible heat and humidity, no working power outlets at all, a toilet that barely flushes while you are constantly being water leaking from above (more steady stream than occasional drip) and scary looking military personal mean mugging you until you went back to hide in your bunk. It's a shame, because the stretch between Lake Baikal and Vladivostok was the most beautiful and we were intimidated into staying away from all the windows. I'm glad to have finally fulfilled this childhood dream, but all-in-all, it was a harrowing experience and I wouldn't do it again.

1. SAB_2238.jpg by juno, on Flickr
2. SAB_2271.jpg by juno, on Flickr
3. SAB_2286.jpg by juno, on Flickr
4. SAB_2311.jpg by juno, on Flickr
5. SAB_2325.jpg by juno, on Flickr
6. SAB_2328.jpg by juno, on Flickr
7. SAB_2357.jpg by juno, on Flickr
8. SAB_2366.jpg by juno, on Flickr
9. SAB_2370.jpg by juno, on Flickr
10. SAB_2388.jpg by juno, on Flickr
11. SAB_2392.jpg by juno, on Flickr
12. SAB_2411.jpg by juno, on Flickr
13. SAB_2412.jpg by juno, on Flickr
14. SAB_2413.jpg by juno, on Flickr
15. SAB_2417.jpg by juno, on Flickr
16. SAB_2431.jpg by juno, on Flickr
17. SAB_2440.jpg by juno, on Flickr
18. SAB_2446.jpg by juno, on Flickr
19. SAB_2462.jpg by juno, on Flickr
20. SAB_2483.jpg by juno, on Flickr
21. SAB_2500.jpg by juno, on Flickr
22. SAB_2505.jpg by juno, on Flickr
23. SAB_2510.jpg by juno, on Flickr
24. SAB_2519.jpg by juno, on Flickr
25. SAB_2559.jpg by juno, on Flickr
26. SAB_2577.jpg by juno, on Flickr
27. SAB_2601.jpg by juno, on Flickr
28. SAB_2661.jpg by juno, on Flickr
29. SAB_2679.jpg by juno, on Flickr
30. SAB_2683.jpg by juno, on Flickr
31. SAB_2687.jpg by juno, on Flickr
32. SAB_2690.jpg by juno, on Flickr
33. SAB_2694.jpg by juno, on Flickr
34. SAB_2709.jpg by juno, on Flickr
35. SAB_2792.jpg by juno, on Flickr
36. SAB_2801.jpg by juno, on Flickr
37. SAB_2806.jpg by juno, on Flickr
38. SAB_2819.jpg by juno, on Flickr
39. SAB_2827.jpg by juno, on Flickr
40. SAB_2830.jpg by juno, on Flickr
41. SAB_2851.jpg by juno, on Flickr
42. SAB_2856.jpg by juno, on Flickr
43. SAB_2870.jpg by juno, on Flickr
44. SAB_2875.jpg by juno, on Flickr
45. SAB_2888.jpg by juno, on Flickr
46. SAB_2908.jpg by juno, on Flickr
47. SAB_2922.jpg by juno, on Flickr
48. SAB_2931.jpg by juno, on Flickr
49. SAB_2942.jpg by juno, on Flickr
50. SAB_2962.jpg by juno, on Flickr
51. SAB_2987.jpg by juno, on Flickr
52. SAB_2991.jpg by juno, on Flickr
53. SAB_3011.jpg by juno, on Flickr
54. SAB_3016.jpg by juno, on Flickr
55. SAB_3027.jpg by juno, on Flickr
56. SAB_3029.jpg by juno, on Flickr
57. SAB_3034.jpg by juno, on Flickr
58. SAB_3042.jpg by juno, on Flickr
59. SAB_3050.jpg by juno, on Flickr
60. SAB_3812.jpg by juno, on Flickr
61. SAB_3818-2.jpg by juno, on Flickr
62. SAB_3834.jpg by juno, on Flickr
63. SAB_3847.jpg by juno, on Flickr
64. SAB_3850.jpg by juno, on Flickr
65. SAB_3858.jpg by juno, on Flickr
66. SAB_3871.jpg by juno, on Flickr
67. SAB_3872.jpg by juno, on Flickr
68. SAB_3878.jpg by juno, on Flickr
69. SAB_3900.jpg by juno, on Flickr
70. SAB_3903.jpg by juno, on Flickr
71. SAB_3958.jpg by juno, on Flickr
72. SAB_3964.jpg by juno, on Flickr
73. SAB_3968.jpg by juno, on Flickr
74. SAB_3984.jpg by juno, on Flickr
75. SAB_3988.jpg by juno, on Flickr
76. SAB_3992.jpg by juno, on Flickr
77. SAB_4009.jpg by juno, on Flickr
78. SAB_4024.jpg by juno, on Flickr
79. SAB_4038.jpg by juno, on Flickr
80. SAB_4041.jpg by juno, on Flickr

A few bonus shots from Novosibirsk. The blonde guy was a random contact we met in the train station who kept us safe for the few hours we were there.

SAB_2756.jpg by juno, on Flickr
SAB_2735.jpg by juno, on Flickr
SAB_2764.jpg by juno, on Flickr
SAB_2780.jpg by juno, on Flickr
SAB_2752.jpg by juno, on Flickr

[MonkeyRonin]

So interesting. But man, I have absolutely zero desire to visit Russia - thanks for taking the trip for us.

[mikecolley]

Wow what an amazing journey! I had no idea neo-nazis were even a thing in Novosibirsk.

[IMBY]

Bless you for sharing that with others!

[Crawford]

Fascinating stuff! I have thought about doing this trip, but probably will wait until my retirement years.

[Centropolis]

i couldn't even get through half of this before commenting. i have a particular obsession with the heart of eurasia so this is amazing to me...i'll revisit this thread when i have more time.