"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." --Mark Twain

May 12, 2004

Pre-Departure Notes - THE TRIP

Hi Family and Friends !

You found my "blogger". Just save this web address, and check back here frequently after June 1, 2004 to join me on my adventure in Russia and China. I'll try to post new messages here once or twice a week. Also I have a link to my photo albums in the description at the top. I'll try to upload some pictures on the trip if the internet cafe pc's cooperate with me.

I'll enjoy having you along. If you miss coming here for awhile, my journal of notes will remain here on this site in the "archives" in the panel on the left. (Click on the date)

Basic itinerary is 20 days in Russia and 20 days in China. I'll begin the trip in St. Petersburg staying with a Russian family. Vadim Bolotin and his family will take me under their wings and show me their beautiful city. Following that is Moscow, then on to Irkutsk, in the far eastern siberia. I hope to do some trekking around Irkutsk. From Irkutsk I board the trans Mongolian railway on a 3 day trip across eastern Russia and Mongolia. This ancient trade route between China and Russia ends up in the incredible city of Beijing, China

From Beijing I work my way south in eastern China, cruise the Yangzi river to see the famous 3 river gorges before they are totally filled by the new dam. I will visit the terracotta soldiers in Xian, tour beautiful Guilin and the Li River and drop in on as many small Chinese villages as I can in the little time I have. I finish up the trip in Hong Kong.

Talk to you on the road...
Yours in travel,
Bill

billwilson@pocketmail.com (My email address while on travel)

Last year...


Torres Del Paine, Southern Chile, 2003