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A TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow of a travel blog to Sukhbaatar, Mongolia by TravelPod blogger Ziniandlulu titled “The train to Mongolia” Ziniandlulu’s travel blog entry: “The train from China to Mongolia was a dark green Russian-built train with wood panelling and dark blue carpets. It had the standard trans-Siberian carriage layout which is as follows. In each carriage there are about 9 cabins with 4 bunk beds and a little table. In some of the nicer carriages, 2 berths are available. At one, sometimes both, ends of each carriage is a tiny toilet that flushes directly onto the tracks and hence is locked whenever the train nears major stations. At one end is a samovar, a coal-fired boiler for hot drinking water. Near the samovar is a tiny cabin for the carriage attendant, or provodnista. On long trips there are often two, who work in shifts. The provodnista’s clean the carriage, make sure everything works smoothly and are famous for their hairstyles. We passed by huge apartment blocks, steep winding hills and plunging valleys, forests, open valleys and in the Mongolian part of China, rubbish strewn brick villages. The Chinese dining carriage was a dodgy affair, with an unfriendly and harassed waitress. Despite the extensive menu, only 3 things seemed to be available: pork or chicken with mushrooms and a very unpleasant looking tomato dish. Unfortunately, Franz chose the chicken. Along with the food came a bowl with a solid lump of disgusting rice. We reluctantly returned …
