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  <data count="73">
    <location name="Mondo" avg_rating="5" content_source="1" created="2007-07-11 21:41:08" creator="1" hidden="0" id="1" inherited="0" latitude="36.1097" longitude="-5.3469" ltp_level="1" merged_to="" modified="2007-07-11 21:41:08" modifier="17" style="1" type="1" votes="14" zoom="1" />
    <trips id="150" created="2009-09-08 09:21:41" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="The travel plans of North Korea’s eccentric (and very short) dictator Kim Jong Il are state secrets and hard to guess. He sometimes disappears for months and has the whole world guessing his whereabouts. The only sure thing is that he travels by train and boat only – he has a well-documented fear of flying! In a sensational coup the tripwolf team has gained to Kim Jong Il’s personal notebook with his notes for his summer trip: 2009 Summer Vacation Plans (pack sweater and high heels)
- Play Ping Pong against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in leadership residence (on the small table)
- Go to Rangoon, Myanmar for workshop about crushing a revolution (invite Mahmoud to come?)
- Check out Paki nukes in Islambad
- Ping-Pong rematch with Mahmoud in his house in Tehran (avoid taking off shoes!)
- Visit Therme Vals in Switzerland (bring capitalist son from Swiss university)
- Calais, France – take boat to US, play piano on board
- Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas – win the „Kim Jong Il Lookalike Contest“ and win lots of money!
" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 12:17:21.128941" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=39.017450,125.744019,reda%7C16.800000,96.150000,redb%7C33.690067,73.092041,redc%7C35.707632,51.433182,redd%7C46.623430,9.182520,rede%7C50.957863,1.852143,redf%7C36.113100,-115.176000,redg&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|39.017450,125.744019|16.800000,96.150000|33.690067,73.092041|35.707632,51.433182|46.623430,9.182520|50.957863,1.852143|36.113100,-115.176000" status="0" sum_locations="7" sum_votes="8" title="Kim Jong Il’s secret travel diary" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="17424" created="2009-10-30 17:38:11" creator_id="72" creator_name="cristina" creator_status="100" default_for_user_id="" description="Many travelers find the idea of going on the Trans-Siberian Railroad alluring, but assume that it will either be prohibitively expensive or too difficult to figure out.  It's actually neither of these things.  I did the Trans-Siberian by the seat of my pants in summer 2008, and it was easy, less expensive than I thought it would be, and the highlight of a year's worth of travel. 

There are a ton of places to explore on the Trans-Siberian, but 90% of travelers stop in Mongolia and Siberia, specifically Lake Baikal, before doing a 4 day-3 night haul to Moscow.  This itinerary is built for those travelers, the ones who would otherwise love to see some industrial cities or satisfy their inner Russian history buff, but have chosen to allocate their time to the stunning natural beauty of this part of the world.

Though most people choose to go east from Moscow to Beijing, starting in Beijing and going against the crowds is a bit easier - trains won't be as sold out.  And though many people worry about the availability of trains, it's only the train from Beijing to Ulaan Bataar that you should be worried about.  There are only 1 or 2 per week, period, so try to buy them ahead of time.  Since they are available up to a month in advance, you can buy your ticket in person once you arrive in China and then do a bit of traveling around before you start your Trans-Siberian adventure.  But once you're out of China, the trains are easier to book - I usually booked my onward ticket within a few days of arrival, once I'd figured out how much time I wanted to spend in a place.  Though weekly express trains may sell out, there are always daily local trains once you are past the Beijing-UB leg of the trip - you can always get out of a city if you really want to.

Start out in Beijing, and get your fill of the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and capitalism, then get on the train to Ulaan Bataar, otherwise known as UB.  UB is a bit of an eyesore, but worth a day's exploration - the real reason to come here is to find a way into the other parts of Mongolia.  UB Guest House is a great place to start, offering tours ranging from overnights to 2-week long trips.  It helps to be flexible with your timing once you are in Mongolia, because trips may not leave on the days you need, and express trains only leave 3-4 times a week.

Once you are able to tear yourself away from Mongolia, it's barely a day's train ride until you are in the Lake Baikal area of Siberia.  Irkutsk is where most travelers get off, but if you're feeling intrepid, check out Slyudyanka - I didn't, because I heard one needed a good command of Russian to do anything, but perhaps you'll fare better.  Though Irkutsk is more charming than you'd expect, you don't want to waste time there when Lake Baikal is one of the most serene places in the world.  Check out Olkhon Island if you have time to linger (it's a half-day's journey just to get out there), or Listvyanka if you only have a couple of days to spare.

From Siberia, you'll pass many towns that are important to Russia's history - Tomsk, Omsk, and Yekaterinburg are just a few.  You can always get off and explore for a day or two, but otherwise, enjoy a looooong ride to Moscow where you'll have nothing to do except heat up your ramen noodles and read a book.  Moscow deserves at least four full days, as does Saint Petersburg. 

Tips for the Trans-Siberian:
- Stock up on food in Irkutsk before you get on the train to Moscow - you'll only be stopping at major train stations, and those come every 4 or 5 hours.  Most of the time, they only sell packaged ramen and cookes, and at a much higher price than you'd pay in a supermarket.  There is always a dining car, with food costing about $10-15, and all train cars will have hot water for drinking.
- There are different classes of train car, ranging from almost dormitory-style bunk beds in a huge car, to 4 beds rooms, to doubles and one-bed compartments.  Naturally, you're paying more for a nicer room, but if you are wary of of dormitory-style beds, the upside is that it's a true cultural experience.  The people I met who dared to sleep in the same room as entire Russian families, old couples, etc. had a ton of fun.  But if you're intimidated by the prospect of spending 3 nights in that situation, be aware that you'll probably have rotating roommates in the 4-bed rooms.  No Russian is crazy enough to travel like that for more than a night - I had 12 different roommates over 3 nights.
- Timing makes no sense.  All trains run on Moscow time, but operate on local time - so if you're looking at your train ticket and it says your train leaves at 10:30 am from Irkutsk, because Irkutsk is 5 hrs ahead of Moscow, you should get to the station for 3:30pm.  Also, you gain an hour going from UB to Irkutsk, inexplicably.
- Often Mongolian traders are on the train, and they sell their wares at each major station from the doors and windows of the train car.  If this is the case, get off the train before they are able to set up their displays, otherwise the entrance will be blocked with their mannequins and boxes of stock.
- Russia is EXPENSIVE.  Make sure you are budgeting enough money." marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-11-11 21:09:31.300144" modifier_id="72" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=39.928889,116.388333,reda%7C47.877356,106.842098,redb%7C46.980252,103.666992,redc%7C52.275261,104.308640,redd%7C52.038977,105.336914,rede%7C56.850000,60.600000,redf%7C55.759577,37.619247,redg%7C59.939039,30.315785,redh&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|39.928889,116.388333|47.877356,106.842098|46.980252,103.666992|52.275261,104.308640|52.038977,105.336914|56.850000,60.600000|55.759577,37.619247|59.939039,30.315785" status="0" sum_locations="8" sum_votes="5" title="The Trans-Siberian Railroad for Beginners" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="76" created="2009-09-08 09:21:18" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="The Obamas are a hardworking first family. Unlike the Bush's, their little vacation time is still spent getting things done. A trip to the island of Antigua? Well, he's having a mountain named after him.  Bringing the family to Italy? He's in meetings all day at the G8 summit in L'Aquila.  Do the Obama's really take any time off? See how they spent their summer between work and play. You might even catch Obama slurping a snowcone near their rented home, Blue Heron Farm, on Martha's Vineyard, or eating waffles in a cafe near his Chicago home." marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:18.37588" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=38.897670,-77.036550,reda%7C17.050000,-61.683333,redb%7C42.350698,13.399934,redc%7C41.336092,-70.746546,redd%7C41.802751,-87.599487,rede&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|38.897670,-77.036550|17.050000,-61.683333|42.350698,13.399934|41.336092,-70.746546|41.802751,-87.599487" status="0" sum_locations="5" sum_votes="5" title="The Obamas: Too good to be true?" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="51" created="2009-09-08 09:21:13" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin went to extremes this summer to appear like the classical villain in a James Bond movie: On Chlakov Island in Russia’s far east he clipped a satellite transmitter to a harmless Beluga whale. Then he had himself lowered 1,400 meters deep into Lake Baikal on board of a mini-submarine to look for natural gas to exploit. Later he rode across the Siberian Republic of Tuva, bare-chested and with a grim look in his face. Putin also moved amongst diplomatic circles with the same steely expression – meeting Iran’s president Ahmadinejad in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg and mingling with Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi at the G8 summit meetings in L’Aquila, Italy. Also a short trip to Sukhumi in Abchasi featured on his list – as it is just around the corner from his summer palace in Sochi at the Black Sea. There Putin relaxes when he is tired from traveling – and plays „Nuclear War“ on his old Amiga 500 computer." marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:13.32099" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=53.423253,141.199605,reda%7C53.173600,107.662500,redb%7C51.887267,95.626017,redc%7C56.850000,60.600000,redd%7C42.350698,13.399934,rede%7C43.007320,40.989151,redf%7C43.488299,39.888611,redg&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|53.423253,141.199605|53.173600,107.662500|51.887267,95.626017|56.850000,60.600000|42.350698,13.399934|43.007320,40.989151|43.488299,39.888611" status="0" sum_locations="7" sum_votes="5" title="Putin: James Bond villain and extreme traveler" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="166" created="2009-09-08 09:21:45" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="We all know that former US president Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to free jailed journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee.  How did he convince Kim Jong Il to release the women...  Either way, responsibilities taken care of, he made a quick stop in Bangkok on the way to Los Angeles for debriefing.  Then to the east coast to his home in Chappaqua, New York, where he began his summer vacation.  Later in the month, he took off to Bermuda with Hillary to decompress and spend his days golfing...or so he thought, until Hurricane Bill sent him fleeing the island!" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:45.372157" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=39.018700,125.746800,reda%7C13.763062,100.503960,redb%7C34.052234,-118.243685,redc%7C41.159540,-73.764855,redd%7C32.262464,-64.873018,rede&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|39.018700,125.746800|13.763062,100.503960|34.052234,-118.243685|41.159540,-73.764855|32.262464,-64.873018" status="0" sum_locations="5" sum_votes="4" title="Bill Clinton's Summer Sidetrack" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="136" created="2009-09-08 09:21:38" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="The travel plans of Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have been slightly complicated by the uprising of his people against him. In short: It wasn’t much of a holiday. Ahmadinejad had to spent most of his time in his house in Tehran. He managed to sneak out for three little excursions, though: At Khomeini’s Mausoleum in Tehran he tried to get inspiration from his dead religious leader– but mainly smelled the perspiration of other worshippers in the badly circulated air. In Yekaterinburg he met up with Vladimir Putin whose handshake nearly crushed his little hands. And in the DPRK leadership complex in Pyongyang, North Korea, he met up for a table tennis match with the tiny Kim Yong Il, who insisted on playing on a table with cut-off legs – and won! Where is Allah when you need him?" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:38.908361" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=35.725960,51.501374,reda%7C35.549200,51.366500,redb%7C56.850000,60.600000,redc%7C39.018700,125.746800,redd&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|35.725960,51.501374|35.549200,51.366500|56.850000,60.600000|39.018700,125.746800" status="0" sum_locations="4" sum_votes="4" title="Ahmadinejads' shortened summer vacation" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="118" created="2009-09-08 09:21:29" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has always created some trouble for himself because of his judiciary affairs, his diplomatic gaffes and his tendency to treat politics as sort of variety show. This summer, the truth about his lifestyle at Villa Certosa in Sardinia was exposed: the world saw his guests (like the former Czech Prime Minister Miroslav Topolanek) in a state of arousal and heard of prostitutes telling the media about Berlusconi taking one ice-cold shower after the other during the night - leaving readers to wonder which kind of cocktail could make a 73-year-old man behave like this.When he and his now ex-wife Veronica were still together, Berlusconi used to also go to Villa Macherio, in Lombardia. Now, instead, he prefers going to Portofino or to Villa Campari, on Lake Maggiore. This summer also included trips to L'Aquila in Abruzzo, where he greeted other world leaders at the G8 summit, wondering why everybody tried to avoid him, awkwardly.  When the heat of the press gets too hot, Berlusconi can always escape to one of his seven paradisical villas in Antigua (Leeward Islands) and Villa Blue Horizon (Bermuda). If instead the goal is girl-hunting - be it for the next candidates in his party of for other pleasures, Berlusconi heads to Casoria, near Naples, and Bari, in Apulia to find the beauties." marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:30.177784" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=40.993374,9.641876,reda%7C45.645848,9.281645,redb%7C44.303961,9.207772,redc%7C45.824098,8.560874,redd%7C42.350698,13.399934,rede%7C17.167034,-61.839294,redf%7C32.333777,-64.690075,redg%7C40.905446,14.290074,redh%7C41.126053,16.869290,redi&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|40.993374,9.641876|45.645848,9.281645|44.303961,9.207772|45.824098,8.560874|42.350698,13.399934|17.167034,-61.839294|32.333777,-64.690075|40.905446,14.290074|41.126053,16.869290" status="0" sum_locations="9" sum_votes="4" title="Berlusconi: Still standing" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="114" created="2009-09-08 09:21:28" creator_id="1" creator_name="tripwolf" creator_status="2" default_for_user_id="" description="France's president Nicholas Sarkozy has only the few, slow months of summer to impress his super star wife Carla Bruni with lavish vacations. And that's not an easy job with a meagre president's salary - her own house on the rocky coastline of Cap Negre leaves little to desire. Luckily Sarkozy is good (maybe even too good?) in asking favors from rich friends and contacts he makes in his daytime jobs. So he and his wife can party on the private yacht of a Bolloré, an affluent businessman. Keeping up with appearances in the US, they visit mansions of other politicians in the small yet wealthy town of Wolfeboro, Massachusetts...before heading south to Mexico into yet another lap of luxury - the Hotel El Tamarindo in Costalegre Jalisco.  Both in and out of Paris, Sarkozy knows nothing about playing the conservative. He dines at the best restaurants in the city with no qualms about who sees what kind of money he spends, and takes off to Middle Eastern destinations with the intent to party like the best of them. But will Carla ever be impressed?" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-09-08 09:21:28.917206" modifier_id="1" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=43.145710,6.440376,reda%7C40.780541,5.888672,redb%7C43.583967,-71.207290,redc%7C19.213990,-104.684800,redd%7C48.871710,2.301280,rede%7C27.977972,34.391640,redf&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|43.145710,6.440376|40.780541,5.888672|43.583967,-71.207290|19.213990,-104.684800|48.871710,2.301280|27.977972,34.391640" status="0" sum_locations="6" sum_votes="4" title="Nicholas Sarkozy competes with Carla's cash" triplocation_id="1" />
    <trips id="11854" created="2009-10-13 01:44:13" creator_id="1066" creator_name="Max" creator_status="1" default_for_user_id="1066" description="The Silk Road was the most enduring trade route in human history, being used for about 1,500 years. Its name is taken from the prized Chinese textile that flowed from Asia to the Middle East and Europe. &quot;Silk Routes&quot; were not only conduits for silk, but for many other products and were also very important paths for cultural and technological transmission by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, missionaries, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers from China to the Mediterranean Sea for thousands of years.


This route has been chosen because of it’s historic importance as well as it’s legendary and extraordinary roads, crossing some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain. Hopefully I’ll end up in Beijing in one piece with a camera full of photos, head full of memories and shed load of money for Beating Bowel Cancer!

http://web.me.com/maxrichard/The_Silk_Road/Welcome_.html" marked_deleted="0" modified="2009-10-13 02:18:49.642575" modifier_id="1066" privacy="1" static_map_url="http://maps.google.com/staticmap?hl=en&amp;maptype=roadmap&amp;format=png&amp;markers=52.018698,-1.318359,reda%7C46.950262,2.021484,redb%7C50.481111,4.137222,redc%7C51.163475,10.454239,redd%7C47.620975,14.523926,rede%7C47.161159,19.505784,redf%7C45.941869,24.978283,redg%7C43.300000,27.150000,redh%7C38.983345,35.190661,redi%7C48.184070,66.902258,redj%7C41.394760,64.564453,redk%7C38.858190,71.262176,redl%7C41.205539,74.779899,redm%7C35.861060,104.165813,redn&amp;key=ABCDABCD&amp;size=123123123x123123123&amp;path=rgb:0x0000ff,weight:5|52.018698,-1.318359|46.950262,2.021484|50.481111,4.137222|51.163475,10.454239|47.620975,14.523926|47.161159,19.505784|45.941869,24.978283|43.300000,27.150000|38.983345,35.190661|48.184070,66.902258|41.394760,64.564453|38.858190,71.262176|41.205539,74.779899|35.861060,104.165813" status="0" sum_locations="14" sum_votes="3" title="The Silk Road by Motorcycle" triplocation_id="1" />
    <votes></votes>
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