It is the shortest day of the year, and the first day of Winter. Just like I have done in the past few years, I’d like to reflect on my year. I have made some incredible memories in 2019, and I hope next year will be another good one.
Continue reading My year in review: 2019For my last day in Beijing, I was looking for something to do that wouldn’t make me feel like I was melting in the humid heat of the city. I also still needed to visit the Drum Tower, which was right around the corner from my hostel.
I woke up after my first night in Beijing, hoping that the morning would be less hot than the previous day. It was, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
After a great week in the Gobi desert, it was time for me to leave Mongolia. The last leg of my Trans-Mongolian railway journey would take me from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing in about 30 hours.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #10: arriving in Beijing
The second half of the Gobi desert tour turned into a little bit of a safari. We went in search of mountain goats on a morning hike in Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, and tried to find wild horses in Hustai National Park.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #9: wildlife spotting in Mongolia
Last week, I travelled to the south of Mongolia on a week-long guided tour. Along with the guide, two drivers and 7 other travellers from Holland and Belgium, we set off from Ulaanbaatar in 2 Russian 4×4 vans, to explore the Gobi desert.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #8: staying with nomads in the Gobi desert
I spent my first few days in Mongolia in the capital city. I prepared for my week-long trip into the Gobi desert. This included grocery shopping, but also getting to know the country and some of its history before heading south.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #7: my first days in Mongolia
The city of Irkutsk was my last stop in Russia. After the tough but beautiful hike at Lake Baikal, I had one free day left to explore the city, before I would take the train to Mongolia.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #6: exploring Irkutsk and leaving Russia
When my train arrived in Irkutsk on Saturday morning, I went straight to the most popular destination on Lake Baikal’s 2000km long shoreline: Listvyanka.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #5: Visiting Lake Baikal in Siberia
I have to admit I was a bit sad when my train rolled into Irkutsk Passazhirskiy station this morning. Living on a train for 83 hours was everything I hoped it would be, and more. It was the ultimate way to get to know Russia.
Continue reading Holland to Hong Kong travel journal #4: four nights on the Trans-Siberian Railway
