Waiting for the train at Moscow

The trans mongolian train, the longest stretch of train of the trip (and part of the longest stretch of train there is). Still only part way through but pleased to have a break after five days. Eight hours after getting off the train this morning my sense of balance is still wonky and sitting still to write, my insides still feel as though they’re moving. the overwhelming sense of disorientation is the strongest sense I’m left with.  You lose all sense of time, the train (and the stations) remain on Moscow time all the way to Beijing. To avoid ‘jet lag’ and having to get off the train at 4am, I have been trying to work to local time as far as possible.  This does however, cause difficulty when trying to read the train timetable to find out when the next stop is where you can get off (and not get left behind).  The scenery is also subject to only subtle change.  Small villages, towns and occasional cities pass but mostly the landscape is flat with row upon  row of birch trees.  We begin to notice the most subtle changes, attention is drawn to the light changing, animals and movement outside of the carriage.  The endless rows of forest and trees of pine and birch are awesome in their persistence.  Time passes surprisingly well, with lengthy conversations about what to have for our next meal, when the train next stops, how long it waits for before moving on again, and whether there will be anyone selling dumplings.  After the train has pulled out of the station again there is a sharing of stories of what one another saw or brought from the platform, what it tastes like and whether there is more or less potato (or cabbage) than the last one.