Day 108, train to Ulaanbaatar

Slept amazingly well overnight ready for the day in hand. There was a bit of apprehension about the boarder crossing, both about the smoothness of it and also horror stories of not being able to use the toilet for up to 10 hours and being messed about generally. At quarter to 2 we arrived at the Russian boarder and we were instructed to leave the train for 2 hours. There was a sand hill/dune that we went up which gave amazing views all around, and with a mini football that andy had bought along were able to wile away the hours. There was also a toilet on the platform which we were able to use and a little shop providing the basics. Also yesterday we met Hannah and Alex, 2 German girls doing the trans sib railway who are lovely and did the hill with us. We got back to the train when advised, was left for a hour sat down not allowed out of our cabins, before our passports being taken from us. 2 hours later they were returned, while customs came on board and did a very quick search of our cabin looking for stow-aways. What seemed like ages in a hot cabin was about 4 hours and we were moving! About 10 minutes later we were at the Mongolian boarder and the same hoo-hah, taking our passports (after we filled in a arrival form and customs declaration) and making us stay on the train. Played a bit of cards (learnt Hearts!) and cracked on with the Dice Man as finished with Richard. After another couple of hours passports came back and we were allowed off the train for 40 mins, before having to board for another night ready for a early morning arrival in Ulaanbaatar. The whole process seemed full of faff and because everyone had heard horror stories we didn’t want to ask to many questions, the customs and officials were all very stern and serious, and it felt like we were children and that we’ve done something wrong. Taught Rashine and Kelly Blob, had a chat with others, wrote