We left Novosabrisk with ease. The station had a large departures board that conveniently displayed our train a massive 3 hours before. The Issue arose when we got to our beds and the carrage was full of "army men". This was a lot diferent to the family we enjoyed our last trip with, and it didnt put Fran in the best frame of mind. We settled into our beds for the night, i slept well Fran didnt. The day past as did the lovely country side and befor long we had made freinds with the corpral of the troop, (or what ever the correct military term is), and the Lad who was incharge of our carrige and getting nicly drunk on Vodka. When i say getting along, there was no full blow conversation as such, more, mime and passing of the phrase book at one point it was like a group of 8 year olds drinking, we were all just sat there poiting at something and saying what it was. we passed alot of time this way till the big dragon lady, incharge of the train came along and told our new mates off.
We arrived in Ulan Uda late afternoon, the instructions were simple, "catch the number 4 minibus, go to the end of the route, walk back 300 meters turn left, we are at the end of the lane." We found the minibus and it was indeed mini.
"which way do we get the minibus?"
"we need taxi to end journey minibus 4" , "Neit"
"we need taxi to nearest hotel", "get in"
"we need room tonight" , "only suite left", "done"

The hostel was located about 3pm the next day. Once those troubles were behind us we stared to enjouy ourselfs in ulan uda, and set about a trip to lake baikal, (google the lakeits amazing). We got to the lake on another minibus, with many people thinking we were idiots camping at this time of year. ON the minibus out people tried to talke to us, then some one would say something like "Ybnodisninks AMERICAN mndjnfjnl". I bite my tongue.
We had a lovely evening camping and walking, then the complications came back. To get the minibus back we had to phone a number to make sure we get picked up. you can mime down the phone. we went to a shop to buy a phone card. With much waving and bad russian, some one phoned the minibus for us, "snkljdnsojhfsln AMERICAN" "Neit American"!!!