Fantastic memories - Trans Siberian train journey
I was going about on my usual rounds going to different cabins of my train vlogging when I chanced upon a couple watching videos on their laptop. I noticed the couple smile at me and assuming that they were just another russian couple, I said priviet( hello in russian) back at them. They responded back with a lukewarm "priviet"
We introduced ourselves and I was stunned when they told me they were French.
"Goodness me. You are the first French people that I know who are in Russia during this tumultuous period. Most Western Europeans would avoid Russia" I said reeling in shock.
Meet Lindo and Sarah, a couple travelling around the world. Lindo and Sarah knew each other from a new years eve party in Paris and have been dating for the past 7 years. Lindo is a Geography PhD student from French Martinique. Sarah is a digital marketing executive who works remotely. Last year, the couple travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Toulouse via train and buses. I told them that I was planning a similar adventure but travelling from London to Singapore.
Lindo and Sarah are headed from Yekatarinburg to Ulan Ude, the nearest Russian city to Mongolia. From Ulan Ude, they intend to spend a couple of nights at ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia before making their way to Beijing.
Prior to Russia, they had spent a week in Minsk, Belarus and a couple of days in Estonia before crossing the Narva border to Ivangorod, the Russian Town bordering Estonia.
"We waited 8 hours at the Estonian customs and cleared immigration at the Russian side in minutes" as Sarah sighed. I empathised with their situation having undergone a similiar situation like theirs.
Our topics of conversation revolved around family and travels. I joked with Lindon & Sarah that French tourists take a keen interest in other travelers especially in countries in Russia.
"Yes we French people are not known to be friendly. But we were very happy to meet a fellow foreigner in Russia. Its a breath of fresh air for us" Lindon exclaimed.
We then went to the dining compartment of the train and exchanged more stories. Lindon asked me if I spoke any indian languages. I replied tamil and malayalam.
He told me that there are some French speakers with Indian heritage in Martinique 🇲🇶 who speak tamil and practise traditions like pongal. Once the couple were invited for a pongal event in French Martinique. Here they witnessed a slaughtering of a goat amongst other rituals and practises.
At that juncture, we were interrupted by Vladim, a retired Russian pensioner. He beckoned us for a cognac and we had alot of silly banter. Vladim thanked us for our time and
said it was a pleasure to chat with us. He was delighted that this was his first time that he had seen a person from Singapore or France.
Traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway offers more than stunning landscapes; it creates a unique opportunity to connect with fellow adventurers from around the world. On one of my trips, I met a fascinating French couple, Lindo and Sarah, whose journey echoed the spirit of exploration I cherish. Their story, spanning from French Martinique to Mongolia, highlighted how the rail route bridges cultures and continents. One unforgettable aspect of traveling through Russia by train is the diversity of backgrounds you encounter. Lindo’s heritage from Martinique, where Tamil traditions like Pongal are preserved, fascinated me. It reminded me how travel reveals hidden cultural threads woven across the globe. When sharing languages—Tamil, Malayalam, and a bit of Russian—we created bonds that went beyond nationality. Customs and immigration experiences punctuate the journey. Like Lindo and Sarah, waiting eight hours at the Estonian border tested our patience, but swift clearance on the Russian side offers relief and a story to tell. Such moments bring travelers together, often leading to conversations about family, history, and future routes. The Trans-Siberian isn’t just a train ride; it’s a moving community. Onboard dining cars become informal lounges where stories, laughter, and even local cognac are shared, as with retired Russian Vladim who welcomed us warmly. These interactions enrich the travel experience, offering authentic insights into Russian hospitality and the excitement of meeting people from remote places, including cities rarely visited by Singaporeans or French nationals. If you plan a similar adventure, consider the flexibility of remote work like Sarah’s digital marketing career or an academic pursuit like Lindo’s geography research to sustain long, immersive travel. Embrace the slow journey to truly absorb the nuances of transcontinental travel—from Russian winter chills to Mongolian steppes and the bustling streets of Beijing. Ultimately, the Trans-Siberian train journey creates fantastic memories, fueled by the variety of experiences and the people you meet along the way. It’s an inspiring reminder that travel is not only about destinations but also about the shared human stories enriching every mile on the rails.