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Personal Testimonials from 2008

From: Ray Phillips
Sent: Friday, Oct 31, 2008 12:50 AM
Subject: Shuren's Postal Address

Dear Andy, Jo Nan and Chris:

I travelled on the trans Siberian railway on a trip organised by you from Beijing to Berlin in May this year. I'm pleased to say everything worked well. There were always people to meet me where and when they were supposed to be, and the whole thing was very enjoyable.

In July I attempted to mail a thank you note to the guide I had in Ulaan Bataar from Shuren Travel Services, her name was Bayara (don't know if that's spelled correctly), but it was returned unopened with "RETOUR INCONNU" stamped on the envelope, but what exactly was unknown wasn't clear. Would you be able to give me Shuren's mailing address and/or email address so I can try again please.

(Sorry if I've mis-spelled your name Jo Nan [Joanna / Zhaonan])

Ray

From: Luis Curran
Sent: Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 1:13 AM
Subject: Info

Hi Andy,

Just a quick note to let you know Lucy and I had a great trip from Beijing to Moscow. Thanks for your help.

Do you have any rail tours that take the Silk Route to Moscow from Beijing - i.e., through Uzbekistan (Tashkent), etc.? If so, I'd appreciate hearing about them. [not at this time, Ed]

I understand that you will soon be leaving Monkeyshine. If so, all the best in your future endeavours.

Cheers,
Luis Curran

From: Pat Ribbans
Sent: Saturday, Oct 18, 2008 4:50 PM
Subject: Trans Siberian Trip

I thoroughly enjoyed the trans sib experience and was so glad I had taken this particular tour. The stopovers were great and the guides excellent.

Pat Ribbans, October 2008

Hi Andy

Just a quick note to say thanks for the organisation of our trip. All arrangements went very smoothly except that we thought we would be met at the train in Moscow and then found we should have gone to the station entrance! I thoroughly enjoyed the trans sib experience and was so glad I had taken this particular tour. The stopovers were great and the guides excellent (especially Lena in Moscow who took us to places we would never have seen had we been on our own) We had a lot of help from all the various tour companies who smoothed our way particularly after Rachel [lost] her passport. (I presume you know about that). It has been found and returned to her and she is on her way back to the US via Riga and Tallin.

Now I am back home and trying to assimilate all I have seen and done. The latest edition of Wanderlust was waiting for me when I got home had and article about Mongolia, strange to think I had just experienced it!
All in all it was a wonderful trip visiting fascinating places and meeting many interesting people on the way

I am pleased to say that I have now fulfilled another dream and become a Trans Mongolian/Sibber!

Thanks

Pat

From: Pamela Hudson
Sent: Sunday, Sep 28, 2008 2:09 PM
Subject: Hudson 6

Thank you again for wonder ful trip. You can be sure any future Rotarian will be referred
to Monkey.

Pam Hudson, September 2008

Hi Andy
We have arrived back in Beijing.

Another successful tour organised by you wonderful people. Special thanks to yourself and could you please pass on my thanks to Chris.
Please thank Joanne for the excellent job organising 6 people plus 13 bags onto the train in a difficult situation. JOB WELL DONE.

I will forward some suggestions which may help future travellers doing a similiar trip when I return to Sydney.
Thank you again for wonder ful trip. You can be sure any future Rotarian will be referred to Monkey.

Regards
Pamela Hudson
International Chair 2008-2009
District 9680
Sydney Australia.

From: peter jackson
Sent: Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008 11:23 AM
Subject: RE: JACKSON / COFFEY - payment

Hi Andy,

Cheers for that. Just wanted to check everything was ok. And yeah the trip is fantastic so far, the accomodation, food, guides, everything.

Thanks again.
Peter

Will Goddard on the
Trans-Siberian to Moscow

From: liz goddard
Sent: Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008 9:50 PM
Subject: Hello & thank you

Hi!
I've been meaning to email you for some time but since we got back it all seems to have been very hectic!
Anyway, the TransSib trip was excellent! We would quite happily do it all over again! The Mongolian Ger trip was outstanding and I have already recommended it to my friends who live in Beijing.
The communication, help, advice and organisation from you guys was brilliant and really made an exciting trip that little bit easier. So thank you very much!
We are coming to Beijing again next year but unfortunately I doubt we'll have time to do anything other than fly home. Will is determined to fill in the bits he missed and go all the way to Vladivostok at some point in the future so you never know!
Anyway, thanks again...all your help was much appreciated.
Will & Liz
ps. couple of pics attached!

From: Chuck Pattinian
Sent: Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 5:40 AM
Subject: Our Trip

Hello Andy:

We are back from our trip and now suffering jet lag and alcohol withdrawals. The whole trip was very memorable as we laughed all the way across the continent.

Chuck Pattinian, September 2008

We enjoyed the trip very much and would like to say your arrangements went very well. Some small issues. The driver at the Moscow airport showed up an hour late but we ended up making friends with the entire security and exchange staff at the airport. We got a laugh out of the train ticket mix-up. The tickets had Huguette and I and Moe and Carol sleeping together. Also at the Ger they tried to put the four of us together. Other couples had the same problem. We barked and the Director gave Carol and I her Ger.

Russian restaurant car ..
we had a great time!

The whole trip was very memorable as we laughed all the way across the continent. We made promises we will never be able to kept, we exchanged emails that no one will ever remember to send and we kissed strangers far too many times for it too be healthy. We were told to keep the noise down far too many times for us to remember. Twice we were kicked out of the Russian restaurant as we took the staff passed their normal working hours. We had a great time and we think the restaurant staff did as well. Late nights, time zones, too much vodka and out partying the youngsters made for one hell of a trip. We thank you for all your great work in putting this together.

We ran out of time to come and see you and for that we are regretful. We needed a week in Beijing.

All the best to you and let us know if you move on to some other place.

Chuck and friends

PS We are still friends with Moe and Huguette

Heidi and Olga,
Marlis Guide in Moscow

From: Heidi Uusimaki
Sent: Tuesday, Sep 02, 2008 1:22 PM
Subject: feedback

Hello!

I travelled through Russia from Finland to China this summer. I just wanted to say that Olga, who picked me up from the station and showed me around the metro and Kremlin in the morning was very friendly and helpful!

I really enjoyed my time in Moscow and hope to come back.

Best wishes,

Heidi Uusimaki

Smiling provodnitsa
on train #9 "Baikalsk"

From: Annika Jaeger
Sent: Monday, Sep 01, 2008 9:35 PM
Subject: LLEWELLYN-SMITH / JÄGER - Trans Siberian

Hi Andy!

We just got back from our long trip back home. We had a great time on the train travelling through some fantastic countries and countryside. Mongolia can’t be described in words, Lake Baikal is truly big and even though our trekking trip had to be abandoned due to torrential rain we had an unforgettable evening in Listvyanka. We were really impressed with the whole organisation through you guys. Everything went very smoothly and we had fantastic guides and hotels in all places that we stopped along the route.
We finished our travels by going through the Baltic States, Poland and Germany which was certainly a great way to finish what was a great trip. We are now trying to adjust back to normal life which proves to be difficult :) Thanks again for all your advice and help along the way to planning our trip!

Thanks a lot and many greetings from England,

Annika

Smoothly run train experience

From: Kenneth Goodwin
Sent: Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 10:39 PM
Subject: Re: GOODWIN / CARR - Info-pack

Hi Andy,

How are things?

We have safely arrived into Beijing a couple of days ago after a great and smoothly run train experience from Moscow to Ulaanbaatar, and onto here. Moscow is a far better city than either myself or Lorraine were expecting, and could easily have afforded a good week (if one had the money) the hotel was nice and within easy reach of the fabulous metro system.

Our guide (Oggi) was fantastic

We both thoroughly appreciated the relaxation and peace that is offered at the Estei Ger Camp, and after spending several days and nights on the train, the extra space of the Ger was palatial ! Our guide (Oggi) was fantastic, always on hand to help us out and give us ideas (including the various games to be played with ankle bones!). The horse riding into the surrounding countryside was a real highlight of the stay there, though some impromptu card games in the evening were a good way to get to know the other members of the camp.

We have been relaxing and trying to see the various sites here in Beijing since we got here, and find the full metro network a real breeze to navigate and an efficient method of getting from our hostel (9 Dragons - well recommended) to the city centre and anywhere we have so far needed to go.

Various sites here in China

Our only problem to date is trying to get out of Beijing! Getting a train from here to Chengdu is proving to be highly problematic, and we have spent a full day trapsing to the main train stations and figuring out their various layouts only to be refused (would we be right is thinking that they only allow booking up to about 2-3 days in advance?). We are thinking of calling out to see you guys tomorow morning at some stage (well probably closer to midday to be honest!), meet the faces behind our train experience.

Kind Regards

Kenneth & Lorraine

From: Andrew Tatam
Subject: Hello with belated news from my trip!
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:34:14 +0000

Hello all!

Rather than give a full travel report from my Trans Siberian Trip I have written a travel poem... don't laugh they could take off... and I had a bit of time! Poem is below I hope as should be a few picks!

The Journey Home!

Beijing, gaze upon the
Forbidden City

It started at the airport with sending my family,
With emotions stronger than ever imagined,
Within hours I was back for the start of my journey,
From Bangkok to Beijing then into the void.

The Great Wall was trodden,
Forbidden City gazed upon through a dirty haze,
Finally at the train station I stood,
Packed but unprepared for what loomed ahead.

Friendships were quick in the forming,
As China slipped by and onto Mongolia,
A country long coveted from proud tales of Genghis,
Challenging mind sets as it rained in the Gobi desert.

Nadaam Festival, reliving past glory

To sleep in a Ger and gaze upon a sky,
The same sky as home but as if through a lense,
The stars amaze in their clarity and vastness,
Matched only by the unending desert that surrounds.

Train to Ulaanbaatar and the open Steppes beyond,
A land for horses and horsemen to roam,
A sea of grass seemingly without end,
The Naadam Festival a chance to relive past glory.

Onward to Siberia with Dr Chivago close to my thoughts,
The border crossing lengthy, bizarre yet insightful,
Irkutsk, then onwards through ancient birch forest,
On as yet unpaved roads to mighty Lake Baikal.

Mongolia, a land of horses

Bolshoe Goloustnou stood passive on the mighty lake shore,
Gaily painted wooden houses with rich countryside to explore,
Deep water is freezing but I still take a dip,
The fabled 25 years to your life well worth the numbing of senses.

A sad farewell but back to Irkutsk,
With the train to Moscow was ready and waiting,
Truly Russian my carriage with Lucile as my companion,
A teary Babushka returning to life in the capital.

Evenings still shared with my five friendly ladies,
Determined not to pass quietly but live life to the full,
With Vodka, games play, banter and laughter,
Each stop more new tastes explored from ladies in aprons.

A truly Russian train carriage

Still missing my family but at least able to text,
For daily reports on Mya’s own new adventures,
From her Northern Irish family filled nest,
With a very happy and proud Nana and Grampa.

Arrival in Moscow and a night in hotel Maxima,
Three days of grime washed away with pleasure,
A brief meeting with my Rugby friend Victor host for my stay,
Beers with the U.N. of tunnel drillers a definite bonus.

Collected by Victor and welcomed in his home and his city,
The Kremlin and Red Square visited in awe,
Tri-nation rugby a treat in a sports bar,
Then out of the city to Victor’s Dacha in the country.

Moscow culture explored

Traditional meals accompanied by Vodka,
My hosts truly amazing and proud of their lot,
Breakfast of caviar then back to the city,
Underground, overground Moscow culture explored.

So to the last leg of adventure,
Trains, planes and automobiles pass in quick succession,
Arriving home to England is always a thrill,
But crossing the Tamar into Cornwall far better still!

Andrew Tatam
The Trans Siberian Train Journey
Summer 2008
With love and thanks to Emma, Mya and Bump for letting me go!

From: Curt Ayers III
Sent: 13 August 2008 02:35
Subject: RE: AYERS : booking and partial trip report

Hello Vanessa,

'Trader's train' is an understatement!

'Trader's train' is an understatement!

Ok about St Pete hotels. At Vera's now and very nice in Moscow. I was duly met and the driver raced to my homestay. Slight forex problem but worked out now. They gave me $'s instead of rubles but Vera and Masha (a MOMO) got me set up and oriented. Train was a hoot but 'trader's train' is an understatement! Smuggler's should be added. They were hiding stuff (and asked me to) all over that train (#5 from UB direct to Moscow) but the customs agents open the ceilings and went under the floor. We even had a drug bust at the border! Train was full of nice Mongolians and some rude Russians but I made it. One thing to change in your info package is that the forex places are closed (except for a $ and a euro machine) when #5 gets to the border so you have to find someone going to Mongolia (as i did) to get change tikrik to rubles. The bank near the hotel in UB had no rubles so I had to get tukrik with my traveler's checks. Also, I'm glad I'm not in the Belgian Army if they have to eat Russian diner food every day. You aptly described it!

Bye Vanessa,
Yep, the Neva is a funky place but well located. Marlis did good. I made it to Helsinki so bye, bye to Monkey Shrine. I really enjoyed riding the 'Red Arrow' and the 'Sebelius'. Nice trains. Quite different from ole #5! More later.

Btw, #5 arrives/departs Gorkii and Vladimir 20 minutes earlier but arrives Moscow at the same time so the trackwork has moved. Also surprise, the Asia-Europe monolith is at km post 1778 (which actually is 1748 km from Moscow as indicated) so one can miss it as it comes up 30 km before your ready. I saw it but too late to get a photo. The km posts change at Ekaterineburg (km 4488).

Cheers,
Curt

From: Keith Browne
Sent: Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008 12:21 AM
Subject: Feedback

Hi Chris,

Just a quick email to say thanks - the trip was fantastic and everything was organised flawlessly.

I especially enjoyed the ger camp in Mongolia - fantastic setting! I was very impressed with Monkey Business and will certainly recommend it to friends.

Thanks again, and good luck on your return to England!
Regards, Keith Browne

Gobi Camel trip

From: Octavio Mendoza
Sent: Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008 4:49 AM
To: 'Monkey Business Beijing'
Subject:

Hi Andy;
everything was ok in my family trip, so this is to thank you for your good service.
The company is well representeted everywhere the team is very good.
Tanks again.

Octavio

From: Paul Marks
Sent: Friday, Aug 08, 2008 4:50 PM
Subject: Thanks

Hi Guys,

Just a note to say thanks to a well organised company. The trip went like clockwork and was amazing. Will certainly recommend you and gave you a plug on the BBC on Wed afternoon.
Kind regards
Paul Marks

From: Jon
Sent: Sunday, Aug 03, 2008 7:13 PM
Subject: Re: Trans Siberian Booking

Our experience was nothing short of spectacular and I would like to congratulate you and your partners for such tremendous support.

Jon, August 2008

Hi Andy,
I'm writing to notify you that we arrived in Beijing on August 1st, completing the train portion of our trip and also the itinerary that we had planned with you. Our experience was nothing short of spectacular and I would like to congratulate you and your partners for such tremendous support. All of the guides and drivers organized through your local partners were on time, friendly and knowledgeable - valuable resources for us in such remote and unfamiliar locations. In particular, I am obliged to single out our Mongolian guide, Norgim, who was an outstanding help (and relief) when Dave and I both became ill at Elstei for different reasons. Unfortunately, I don't think we can make it to your office before we leave for Shanghai tomorrow but your company was a great asset to us over the course of this trip and I will be pleased to recommend you to any other travelers who speak to me about planning journeys on the Trans-Siberian and -Mongolian Routes.

Once again, please accept my congratulations and thanks for a terrific experience.

Yours sincerely,

Jon

From: Robert Bottome
Sent: Monday, Aug 04, 2008 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: BOTTOME X4 :- Feedback

Dear Chris –

We are back in Caracas after a wonderful vacation in your corner of the
world.

Thank you for having made it possible.

Thanking you for your attention,

Very truly yours,

Robert Bottome

From: Steve & Chelsey
Sent: Monday, Aug 04, 2008 11:02 AM
Subject: Re : Morris

Dear Andy,

Just wanted to thank you for organizing a great trip, from Japan to Moscow everything ran like clockwork.

The Primorie Hotel in Vladivostok was really good, great food & staff, Train #7 was a bit ragged but a great dining car and provodniks.

Irkutsk and Lake Baikal were definiately worth stopping off at.The Terema Hotel in Lystvyanka with it's lovely hostess Elizabeth was one of the highlights.

The "Baikalsk" from Irkutsk to Moscow was very upmarket but it's staff were a little cold, and a dining car with rotten service and average food.

The Zarya # 3 Hotel in Moscow was very comfortable, but a bit out of town.

Thanks again for everything.

Regards

Tony Morris

From: Claudia Mattig
Sent: Sunday, Jul 13, 2008 3:34 PM
Subject: money matters in mongolia

Hi there

just to let you know that it is now possible to withdraw money from several ATM's in Ulaanbaatar with Bank Cards (Plus, Maestro, Cirrus...) ie a bank (can't remember the name) on Baga Toiruu or an ATM in the State Department Store.
The ATM's are often not in full working order and one has to try a few machines in the city.
Hope this will help other travellers as we were told they only take Visa and we changed a whole lot of money into US$ in China before entering Mongolia. Many places here in Mongolia do not take US$, only Tugrucks.

Bye

Claudia & Ute

Olkhon was absolutelly brilliant and the guide Katja a lot of fun!

Kathrin Kohlschmidt, July 2008

From: Kathrin Kohlschmidt
Sent: Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008 4:52 PM
Subject: Re: KOHLSCHMIDT

Hi Chris,

I want you to know that the whole trip was - and still is - a great journey and thanks to you a wonderful experience. All worked out so well. I am very impressed with the organisation. The host ladies of the home stays were all wonderful - especially Ms Vera in Moscow! The guides were great - I even got German speaking girls in Jekaterinburg! Olkhon was absolutelly brilliant and the guide Katja a lot of fun!

And thank you for arranging the whole thing for me and answering patiently to all my stupid e-mails and changing everything again and again! It is one of the best trips I have done - and I have travelled a lot. I deal with tour agents on the ship all the time - and you can be assured that there are very few I am so impressed with!

If I ever come to these parts of the globe again I will be sure to check out what Monkeyshrine has to offer. And will recommend you to anyone who wants to listen!

Thanks a lot and keep up the great work,
Kathrin:-)

Ps. Since I am unfortunately not coming to Bejing - will you send me my free t-shirt by mail?--

From: Kathrin Kohlschmidt
Sent: Monday, Aug 18, 2008 5:01 PM
Subject: Re: KOHLSCHMIDT : Polo-shirt

Hi Chris,

Just arrived back home from an absolutely fabulous trip!
Thanks a lot for the Polo Shirt!

I think one of my next adventures will be China - so you might hear from me again someday! But first I have to make some money...

Thanks a lot for everything,

Kathrin:-)

All the stops, trains, guides, T-shirts^^, and excursions were wonderful and allowed us to have a trip of a lifetime.

Tim Leigh, June 2008

From: Tim Leigh
Sent: Monday, Jun 23, 2008 6:05 PM
Cc: Stephen Baxter; Sarah Guy; Alison Turner
Subject: Re: LEIGH X4

Hi Chris,
Hope you are well.
I'd like to pass on the message from all four of us that we had a fantastic time on our trip and would like to say a big thank you for all your help.
All the stops, trains, guides, T-shirts^^, and excursions were wonderful and allowed us to have a trip of a lifetime.
Many many thanks and all the best in the future.

Tim

From: noah couture
Sent: Friday, Jun 20, 2008 7:34 AM
Subject: Initial Enquiry Form

I took the trans-mongolian from Beijing to Moscow in October (or was it september?) [yep it was September, ed] of 2003. I spent some quality time with a couple of guys on that train and I wonder if you still have contact information for them? There was an american guy named Andrew and his australian friend. I think they just went from beijing to mongolia and back. We were at the ger camp together.

Someday I hope to take the reverse trip from waht I did last time, go from europe down to asia (vietnam)...

I had a great time on your trip by the way. The only low point for me was that my wallet was lifted by some very organized mongolians when I was boarding to leave Ulan Baatar. Fortunately I was traveling at that point with a very nice british couple that spotted me until I was able to get things fixed up in Moscow. That's another upshot of the organized tour :)

anyways, let me know if you can figure out who i'm talking about.

btw, I was just listening to the cd you guys gave me with the information pack. Someone actually put that into whatever database windows media player uses, so it recognized the cd. Very cool. :)

thanks

noah

From: W Beardsley
Sent: Friday, Jun 20, 2008 7:34 AM
Subject: Initial Enquiry Form

Hi Andy,

Sounds like that may have been the guy we shared the tent with. Andrew (the Aussie) lives in Houston and BIll (American) lives in Shanghai.

Cheers

Again, overall the trip was great and I will certainly recommend your company to anyone who asks.

Elvin Bounds, June 2008

From: Elvin Bounds
Sent: Wednesday, Jun 11, 2008 6:07 AM
Subject: Thanks for a wonderful Trip

Chris, just wanted to thank you for all you did to make our trip a success and I wanted to pass along comments on our experiences.
First all train arrangements were great.
Paragon Hotel Beijing - very satisfied with location and service
Ulaanbaatar guide and Ger camp - we were extremely pleased with everything and the guide who aided us was exceptional. An experience we will long remember.
Lake Baykal - Exceptionally good service and a great guide. Everything went flawlessly.
Ekaterinburg - very good experience. Great service from the local representative and a guide who really knew his subject and made it interesting. It makes a difference when guide has great pride and a broad knowledge of his city and the sights.
Maxim Ibis hotel (Moscow) - Hotel was very good. However, I wish we had known how far it was from city center. We found the 15 minute walk to subway and the requisite change in subway lines to reach any of the sights (Kremlin, Pushkin Museum, Churches, etc.) made us tired before we reached our destination and limited our ability to see everything we wanted. This may not be a problem for everyone but for 64 year old people with the aches and pains that come with age we were tired out by it. I know hotels closer in are expensive but we might have chosen one had we known.
Again, overall the trip was great and I will certainly recommend your company to anyone who asks.
Thanks for all you efforts.
Elvin & Barbara Bounds

From: Joan Stothard
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 5:04 PM
Subject: RE: STOTHARD x 2 - Trans Sib Feedback

Hi Kelvin

It was a great 'experience' and we would very definately recommend your company and the trip, thank you for everything.

Regards
Joan and David

It really was the trip of a lifetime. This was the best thing we've ever done.

Barclay Mullins, April 2008

From: barclay mullins
Sent: Saturday, Apr 05, 2008 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: MULLINS X2 : Trans Sib Feedback

Hi,

Thank you so much for all your help with our Trans - Siberian trip. It really was the trip of a lifetime. I've filled in your questionnaire below.

This was the best thing we've ever done. We were dubious about booking a 'package', but it didn't feel like one. Thank you.

Thanks again,

Barclay & Sam

From: Peter Wigmore
Sent: Sunday, Mar 30, 2008 7:15 AM
Subject: Attn: Chris and other MonkeyShrine Beijing staff

Greetings Chris,

Peter Wigmore enjoying
the countryside at Lake Baikal

It has been a very long time since I have been in touch with you, to which I apologize. Just to refresh your memory, you and the other members of your MonkeyShine staff helped us organize a trip last summer from Beijing to St. Petersburg, with stopovers at Ulaanbaater, Irkutsk/Lake Baikal, and Moscow. I wish to share with you how much we appreciate all of your efforts, for we all had a wonderful trip. One that we will never forget!!!!

I recently completed uploading our pictures to my FLICKR picture-sharing website. If you potential customers wish to gain insight as to what they may encounter on a trip like others, please direct them to the site as well.

I realize that MonkeyShrine probably gets very few customers that are disabled, as I am. However, if you do, please feel free to get in touch with me if they have concerns that I may be able to address. As we traveled last summer, we could see how your agency modified our reservations so that I would able to fully participate, as my abilities allow, in each of the activities at each stopover. And I fully appreciate your efforts!!!

There are lots of aspects of our journey that I could comment on, but I do not wish to take up your valuable time. If there is a specific feedback about an aspect of our trip, please feel free to ask. Our trip is still fresh in our memories, as if it happened yesterday. However, again I wish to let you all know how wonderful our journey was and that we will never forget it!!!

Much success & many heart felt thanks,
Peter Wigmore

From: Ivar Pieper Ivar Pieper Winter view from Elstei Ger

Winter view from Elstei Ger

Sent: Saturday, Feb 23, 2008 3:31 PM
Subject: RE: PIEPER - Trans Sib Feedback

Hi Hi,

I remember you guys!!!
Had a great trip, beautiful views a great experience!!! And not too cold!!

Monkey Team - Good Contact, nice people, strong team!
Mongolia - GREAT country, I will go back!!
Moscow - Expensive but nice
St Petersburg - Beautiful girls ;) and a great city, bit better than Moscow
Train Journeys - Good, and good fun, nice smuggling from the Mongolians!!
Updates for Info-Pack? - No, was a great info pack!!! Had a chat with a bunch of guys who traveled with Vodkatrain (or something) and they where jealous on my info pack!!

I'm back in home country and try to get back to normal life, but hard times!!
I had a amazing trip home, and I'm glad I did it this way!!

Thanks a lot!!
Cheers Ivar

From: Nick Ambrose
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 2:12 AM
Subject: RE: AMBROSE+2 - St Petersberg accommodation

Kelvin,

You may remember that back in September/October you helped book a Transiberian trip for two friends and I from Hong Kong to Warsaw (we then continued to London). I'm very sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, but I just wanted to thank you for all your help - it was an amazing trip with so many unforgettable moments. All the journeys and connections went very smoothly, and we really enjoyed the Mongolia tour (even if it was much colder than we expected!). I was very impressed that you were able to book so much of the journey and accommodation in one go - it made the trip so much easier! I will definitely recommend you to anyone I know who wants to do a similar trip.

Thank you again

Nick