Alisdair Tait
Photographer
Portraits
South Atlantic
Bounce
Hummingbird
Reflector
Norway
Digital-Nomad
Trans Mongolian
Tokyo Machines
Graffito
Water Drops
Val d'Orcia
Deconstruction
Memories of Travel
Biography
Contact
Hong Kong. A city of man made glass and steel mountains. The journey starts here.
As you travel the 24 hours between Hong Kong and Beijing, the most powerful impression is the staggering size of the unheard of cities, and the vastness of the Yellow River Basin.
The endless bread basket of China
My train to Ulaanbaatur is up there... somewhere. A vast huge intimidating train station. I felt a very long way from home.
Very quickly after leaving Beijing the train climbs relentlessly into the mountains that exit into Inner Mongolia. It is in these mountains the Great Wall of China is found.
Very quickly on the train you become aware of the heating system. It is a coal fired boiler. The smell of burning coal is all pervading. Each carriage has a guard and his major job is to keep the boiler working, and the hot water available. The night the boiler failed was absolutely freezing. At minus 25 outside, I needed to wrap up.
Inner Mongolia. A tough landscape.
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
A stop along the way. Inside looking out.
A stop along the way. Outside looking in
Inner Mongolia
The climb up into the hills that surround Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatur: Rush hour.
Ulaanbaatar Station: Waiting for the Trans Mongolian Express. 3000 miles up that line is Moscow.
Moscow calling. The Trans Mongolian Express...
Evening light catches the suburbs of Ulaanbaatar.
Evening Thunderstorms in Northern Mongolia
Frozen Lake Baikal
Frozen Lake Baikal
Fishing Hut: Lake Baikal
Tea and Light
Irkustk
Novosibirsk
Passing ships
The Trans Mongolian meets the Trans Siberian
Ice Flowers on the inside of the carriage
The land of the Gulag. An endless frozen forest East of Novosibirsk
Moscow
My hotel... and a bath!
Leaving
Day of the Tetacle dining car
Changing wheels for the third and final time
Berlin
St Pancras Station was opened in 1868 and is one of the wonders of Victorian engineering. It is a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic Architecture and one of the most elegant stations in the World. It has recently been refurbished to accommodate international train services; its history is a remarkable tale of decay, restoration and spectacular rebirth.... and, by far and away the most beautiful station between Hong Kong and London