Traveling on Trans-Siberian Railway: Moscow to Tomsk

Distance:  3,644km

Traveling time: about 54 hours

Time difference: +3 hours

When we began discussing the plan for the journey over a year ago, traveling across the largest country by the railway was my first nomination for things to do, and we are at the train station in Moscow, waiting for the departure time. The presumption of this ride, put together from 15 minute Japanese TV shows about various train rides, is relaxed with soothing music in the background, and beautiful scenery passing through in a window like shuffle of paintings. However, after spending a full day in a monstrous city of Moscow, and now seeing many people squatting on a platform in front of luggage piled up like a fort, the reality of 3 day train ride was finally revealing itself . With our bags strapped to our back and front, we show our tickets and passports to the conductor, and squeeze through the narrow aisle into our 4-berth cabin. The train started to move slowly, and we realize we are the only ones in the cabin. After experiencing the difficulty of having two other guys in a tiny room, this was a treat. We took everything out of the bag and laid them out, as if we have claimed our territory. It is funny how such little thing can give one a sense of comfort.

The cabin comes with two sofa-beds, two folding bunks on top, a table with a cloth, sheets, blankets and towels. Since there is no shower, we wiped our bodies with wet towel, put on our comfy sleeping wear with sandals, and were all set for the long ride ahead, local style, learned from previous rides. The dining car seemed to have an elaborate menu, but we assumed from our experience on Scandinavian trains that it would be costly. We purchased bread and cheese, apples and cookies, and in addition we went to Asian market in Helsinki to stock up on noodles. Our portable pots certainly worked out well. Cups and mineral water should also be on the must-to-bring list.

Train stays only for a few minutes at some stations, and over half hour in others, enough to get off, stretch out, and have local people crowd you with souvenir. It was nice to have the schedule printed out in advance. Otherwise time passes slowly on a train that rides on average of 60km/hr(45mph). 

Our Fourth of July this year was without fireworks, booze, and friends/family; that's one thing to look forward to when we move to New York next year.