HO CHI MINH Southeast Asia! We've finally made it! Our second flight during this trip was sort of inevitable as my romanticised imagination hoped for an over night ferry from Hong Kong to Hanoi. However, there is no such thing and taking a train wasn't an option due to our expired (and single entry) Chinese Visas. Flights were much cheaper to Ho Chi Minh city, so it was pretty clear that we will start our Vietnam journey the other way round as planned, from Saigon heading nor

Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 1.October is the Chinese National Day. First day of seven when 1.5 billion souls of People’s Republic of China gets off from work and our first day in Xi’an. We have decided to sit out this crazy week here, so we can rest and enjoy less touristy attractions around the city. Arriving at the central station located in the north part of the ancient city wall proved to be less confusing than our previous arrivals in previous destinations. Maybe we are gett

XINING, Qinghai Province Looking out the train window I've realised that there is not an inch of a land that hasn't been moved or somehow altered. Only the bold, rocky mountains of the region seem to be getting away with the 'change'. That is until they come into the way of progress. Then they are moved and levelled to the ground, drilled for tunnels and exploited for minerals or simply planted with neat rows of trees... It's like in their eyes everything needs improving and

THE MONGOLIAN ROAD TRIP When two weeks ago I've mentioned about going off the map, I've had no idea! My limits have been found and pushed, while Majka is happy beyond words that we are back to a land of showers and asphalt roads. I think she's really angry with me because I've promised her a shower every day or at least every other day, but for now she's all smiling and forgiving. Ticking bomb if you're asking me and I think we're about to find another limit... But here's the

YEKATERINBURG After 36 hours on the train we have arrived in Yekaterinburg which has been greeting us with summery 10°C… apparently normal at the end of the summer and as I have been informed we should feel lucky. A few years back there has been snowing in August. Lucky or not, we have been determined to find our next home for the coming few nights as soon as possible. Dmitry, our host, was expecting us at 12. From the train station uphill towards the city centre we have fir

Our first journey to Yekaterinburg on this famous railway started in Moscow’s Yaroslavov Train Terminal 35 minutes after midnight on 24.August. The tickets (which by the way we’ve ordered online through Real Russia, just in case you wondered how to get one) stated carriage 4, seat 17 and 18 on train number 100, heading to Vladivostok. I’ve probably never seen a longer passenger train in my life. It felt like ages while we have walked past carriages 16… ..15…14.. ..13…… …. …

Today is the day when we've boxed up the last 10 years of our life and all we are left with is a small rucksack each. That's our belongings for the year to come. It is scary and also a good reminder how little we really need. The amount of stuff essential for life is wildly disproportionate to all that stuff we herd around us in belief of giving us better life. Anyway, I'm sure we'll miss our clutter... Boxes have been filled, Noah was a real friend and offered to move our st

THE LONG LISTS, WHAT, HOW AND HOW MUCH - Part 2: Last weekend was somewhat fun. To be honest I am still recovering from all that good time with colleagues and friends. Friday I have invited my workmates and some close friends living nearby. I've cooked some Hungarian goulash, we drunk some wine and some Romanian spirit from Alex. We have been playing Jenga and sitting in the garden until about 3am. Things went blurry, but when I woke up in the morning I felt good about it. 3

We were not really advertising, so this may be news to most... Anyway, me and my better and prettier half, Mariola, are preparing for take-off. We've both quit our comfortable, but somewhat mediocre life style. Including our jobs! The plan is to circle our sun once. Yes, we have circled this orbit thirty something times, but this time it suppose to be different. We're setting out east and will walk into the sunrise. Whether this will actually involve travelling around the wor