I have arrived in Russia! No dramas through customs/immigration and with much difficuilty found a hotel on my first night. Very different here compared to other parts of the world that are set up for backpackers. This place is DEFINANTLY NOT setup for this! Quite an expensive place to be, nearly as much as oz, first world, and kinda strange seeing European looking people speaking a completely foreign language again! The people look very different to the chinese, ...

Managed to get out to the great wall and did a 10.5 km hike along a restored and unrestored section. I am told that this section was also damaged badly in the Chinese/Japan war in 1937 (WWII) when there was a lot of fighting and bombing there. Didnt actually notice the earthquake that hit china on the same day and seems to have killed thousands of people. Also spent time at another city called Xian. Went and saw the clay soldiers and did a pretty serious climb ...

What an amazing country! I arrived through Beijing without a drama, and what an nice change to have someone to pick me up at the airport! Many thanks to the Beijing crew (Royce, Kate, George, and Jason :) Managed to find my way about the city and to the Mongolian embassy by bicycle with help along the way from Local real estate agents, Blood bank staff and the local TV media! Unfortunantly made it to the embassy on my first attempt a little too late. Never mind, ...

So now for the next part of organising. I have so far found a crate to put my bike into, and meant to be taking it to the dock at the beginning of next week. Exactly how i will get it there im not quite sure as yet, might hire a ute.... Found myself at a Kawasaki dealership in Dandenong a coupla days ago pulling together this crate out of scrap metal out the back. Great to be able to use their tools, welder, drill press, ginder, etc to be able to remake some miss...

Well what a ride so far! Just rode over here to melb from perth in 7 days, result, sore back! Great ride though especially along the great ocean road, absolutely awesome! It was an emotional goodbye to mum and dadlast monday as i pulled my bike out of the shed at about 9am into puring rain. After much deliberating it was decided that i would head off anyway rather than waiting for the weather to clear. By the time i had travelled 9 km up the road to the fuel st...