A 30day 9,938km Trans-Siberian Train (21 Jun>21 Jul, 2024) Vladivostok in the east to St. Petersburg
We arrived at Irkutsk station around 7:30am.
Day 11 (July 01) - Irkutsk to Listvyanka to Irkutsk to Okhlon Island
After arriving in Irkutsk, we headed to Listvyanka on the west side of Lake Baikal. Today we rented two minibuses. After an overnight train ride from Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk, we had breakfast at the Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya canteen before heading to Lake Baikal. Uzbeks run the canteen and are very friendly. The food is delicious and reasonably priced.
Walking out of Irkutsk train station.
Walking out of Irkutsk train station.
Walking out of Irkutsk train station.
Walking out of Irkutsk train station.
Depart on foot from Irkutsk Train Station.
Depart on foot from Irkutsk Train Station.
Depart on foot from Irkutsk Train Station.
Irkutsk train station.
Today we rented two minibuses and headed to Okhlon Island.
Today we rented two minibuses and headed to Okhlon Island.
Today we rented two minibuses and headed to Okhlon Island.
From Irkutsk Train Station, drive towards Irkutsk city.
From Irkutsk Train Station, drive towards Irkutsk city.
Drive through the city of Irkutsk.
Irkutsk Babr - This strange beaver-tiger hybrid has become the symbol of the city of Irkutsk.
We had breakfast at the Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya canteen before heading to Lake Baikal.
We had breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya, which is run by Uzbeks and is very friendly. The food is delicious and cheap.
We had breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya, which is run by Uzbeks and is very friendly.
We had Uzbek breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya.
We had Uzbek breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya.
We had Uzbek breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya.
We had Uzbek breakfast at the restaurant Yeda V. Radost Stlovaya.
After breakfast, we drove to Lake Baikal and took the chairlift to Chesky Rock, where we could hike or take the cable car (at additional cost) to get the best view of Listvyanka. We snuck up to Chesky Rock to go to the observation point of Lake Baikal. We were told that in winter it becomes a snowy ski slope. Anyway, some people took the lift in either directions or only one way, while the rest walked up the ski slope parallel to the lift route quite strenuously in hot but cool weather (sounds like an oxymoron?).
For the best views of Listvyanka, take the long way to Chesky Rock.
For the best views of Listvyanka, take the long way to Chesky Rock.
For the best views of Listvyanka, take the long way to Chesky Rock.
For the best views of Listvyanka, take the long way to Chesky Rock.
At the cable car station, take the car up to Chesky Rock.
Tan Sin Su and Ching Neng Bin take a photo with a big tractor.
The chairlift to Chesky Rock (at additional cost) to get the best view of Listvyanka.
We were told that in winter it becomes a snowy ski slope. Anyway, some people took the lift in either directions or only one way, while the rest walked up the ski slope parallel to the lift route.
We walked parallel to the lift route along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
We walked parallel to the lift route along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
Wild flowers along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
Wild flowers along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
Wild flowers along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
Wild flowers along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
We walked parallel to the lift route along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
We walked parallel to the lift route along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
We walked parallel to the lift route along the ski slope to Chesky Rock.
The top of the hill is where the cable car ends.
The top of the hill is where the cable car ends.
The top of the hill is where the cable car ends.
A large tree at the top of the hill.
Wooden footbridge to the Chesky Rock observation deck.
Group photo at the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal. We had a lot of fun taking photos at Chesky Rock, but we almost got pushed aside by other tourists with our antics! We then made our way slowly along the covered path to the meeting point. Total distance less than 1.7km.
Taking photo at the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal.
At Chesky Rock, Ching Neng Bin proudly flies the flag of the Penang Adventurers' Club, which he founded in 1975 with Mr Hoon Joong High and Mr M.Pasupathy (RIP).
At Chesky Rock, Ching Neng Bin proudly flies the Malaysian flag.
At the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal.
From Wikipedia: Lake Baikal is a large rift lake in Russia. It lies in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast in the northwest and the Republic of Buryatia in the southeast. With an area of 31,722 km2 (12,248 sq. mi), it is slightly larger than Belgium. The island it occupies is larger than Singapore. Lake Baikal is the seventh-largest lake in the world by surface area and the second-largest lake in Eurasia after the Caspian Sea. However, Lake Baikal is also the deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 1,642 metres (5,387 feet, 898 fathoms), making it the world's largest freshwater lake by volume.
At the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal.
At the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal.
At the observation deck of Chesky Rock overlooking Lake Baikal.
The two van drivers also joined in the photo shoot with Chong Ee Ee.
Walking down the hill.
At the cable car station, we had beer, ice cream, tea and other drinks before heading to lunch.
At the cable car station, we had beer, ice cream, tea and other drinks before heading to lunch.
The road to Sval Grill House for lunch.
The Sval Grill House is decorated with a Siberian shamanistic vibe. An incredible Baikal fish grill set (try the muksun if you can!) and meat with air-dried fish slices as an appetizer, all to be dipped in a generous amount of beer.
The Sval Grill House is decorated with a Siberian shamanistic vibe.
The Sval Grill House is decorated with a Siberian shamanistic vibe.
David Wee at the Sval Grill House decorated with a Siberian shamanistic vibe.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
Ching Neng Bin helps out at the Sval Grill House.
Ching Neng Bin helps out at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
Goh Ching Gee makes new friend at the Sval Grill House.
Cheers to you Chin Tai Tat and Chai Kin Sang at the Sval Grill House.
Cheers to everyone at the Sval Grill House.
At Sval Grill House, Ching Neng Bin proudly holds up the flag of the Penang Adventurers' Club, which he founded in 1975 with Mr Hoon Joong High and Mr M.Pasupathy (RIP).
Wong Lai Chee and Dato' Steven Oon pose for the camera.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
Cheers to everyone at the Sval Grill House.
Cheers to everyone at the Sval Grill House.
Ching Neng Bin says cheers to everyone at the Sval Grill House.
Ching Neng Bin and Wong Lai Chee say cheers to everyone at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
A delicious seafood lunch at the Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
Siberian Shamanistic decoration at the compound of Sval Grill House.
David Wee fell in love with the Siberian Shamanistic decoration.
The view of Lake Baikal from Sval Grill House.
The view of Lake Baikal from Sval Grill House.
The road from Sval Grillhouse to Okhlon Island. Due to a ferry schedule change (which we were informed about last minute), we had to drive back from Listvyanka to Irkutsk and then another 4 hours to Sakhiurta, before catching a ferry to Olkhon Island, which is bigger than Singapore, for an overnight stay in Khuznir village.
The drive from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island took about six hours, with ferry crossings punctuated by traffic jams and accidents. The landscape consisted of flat farmland, grasslands, then rolling hills, dotted with small settlements along the motorcade roads.
A few cows, wild horses, and neutered dogs broke the monotony of the journey.
A few cows, wild horses, and neutered dogs broke the monotony of the journey.
The drive from Irkutsk to Olkhon Island took about six hours,
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
A toilet stop and tea-break along the road to Okhlon Island.
A toilet stop and tea-break along the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
The dog at the petrol station on the road to Okhlon Island.
Chew Siang Peng feeding the dogs at the petrol station.
Chew Siang Peng feeding the dogs at the petrol station.
Chew Siang Peng feeding the dogs at the petrol station.
Rolling hills, dotted with small settlements on the road to Okhlon Island.
The flat farmland, grasslands, rolling hills on the road to Okhlon Island.
Rolling hills, dotted with small settlements on the road to Okhlon Island.
Took this ferry to Okhlon Island, for a two night stay at a Guest House in Khuznir village.
A view from the ferry to Okhlon Island.
Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest rail journey in the world.
On our 11-day train ride (9,938km), we seen the endless pine forests,
majestic rivers, and rolling plains of the Russian countryside.click below to view
Day01 Bangkok to Irkutsk, Russia
Day02 Irkutsk to Vladivostok, Russia
Day03 Vladivostok to Khabarovsk
Day04 Khabarovsk
Day05 Khabarovsk to Chita overnight train 1
Day06 Khabarovsk to Chita overnight train 2
Day07 Chita
Day08 Chita to Ulan Ude
Day09 Ulan Ude
Day10 Ulan-Ude to Irkutsk
Day11 Irkutsk to Okhlon Island
Day12 Okhlon Island
Day13 Okhlon Island to Irkutsk to Krasnoyarsk
Day14 Krasnoyarsk
Day15 Krasnoyarsk to Novosibirsk
Day16 Novosibirsk
Day17 Novosibirsk to Yekaterinburg
Day18 Yekaterinburg
Day19 Yekaterinburg to Kazan
Day20 Kazan
Day21 Kazan to Moscow
Day22 Moscow
Day23 Moscow
Day24 Moscow to St Petersburg
Day25 St Petersburg
Day26 St Petersburg
Day27 St Petersburg
Day28 St Petersburg
Day29 St Petersburg
Day30 St Petersburg to KLIA
1 Ann Kuah Beang Yen, 2 Chai Kin Sang, 3 Chew Leng Soon, 4 Chew Siang Peng, 5 Chew Yoon Lian, 6 Chin Tai Tat, 7 Ching Neng Bin, 8 Chong Ee Ee, 9 Choo Yon Kit, 10 Chow Leng Toong, 11 Datin Chelsy Tay, 12 Dato Sharon Tan, 13 Dato Steven Oon Hoon Nam, 14 David Wee Kim Peng, 15 Gan Choi Geok, 16 Goh Ching Chee, 17 Joyce Ho Chai Yoong, 18 Ng Sock Ee, 19 Tan Sin Su, 20 Wong Lai Chee, 21 Dr. Ko Wen Wu (Tour guide), 22 Adam Teo (Tour guide assistant).
Good memories
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