Sunderland to Saigon

Arrvied in Saigon!

2007-03-09T15:50:00.000Z

We’ve arrived! The traffic is as just as bad in Saigon as it was in Hanoi!

But it's great to be in Saigon and we're delighted to finish the project by visiting a local secondary school. We gave them a clean copy of the book of Sunderland that we've been using to explain to people we've met on the trip where Sunderland is and what it is like.

Saigon

2007-03-09T07:33:00.000Z

Arriving in Saigon late at night with Jennie feeling tired and unwell brought an anticlimax to the completion of our epic journey. A good night's sleep, Thai massage and some retail therapy did the trick, and the following day we had a good visit to a local high school, to present the Sunderland book and forge links with the staff and students.

With time ever pressing we sneaked a glimpse at the local process of lacquering and visited the Reunification Palace in the centre of Saigon.

This amazing government building was finished just prior to the American war in Vietnam, and despite the huge loss of life on both sides the palace has never been put into use. Today its deserted corridors and restrictions on photography make a fitting reminder of the futility of conflict.

The streets in Saigon are equally as busy as in Hanoi, but much wider; there are 8 million people living here, and 6 million scooters. It was lovely to see the Chinese lanterns again, which will now always have a special meaning for us.

After steep negotiation with the hotel, our faithful cameras did their last piece of work in the aptly-named Saigon Saigon Bar on the roof of the Caravelle. Jennie's concluding piece to camera was quite moving, and as the sun set over the city we toasted the end of our amazing journey.

South through Vietnam

2007-03-09T04:19:00.001Z

We were now entering a tropical landscape, leaving the wet monsoon weather behind us with palms and cloudless blue skies ahead.

The train, although a soft sleeper, was really rickety and slow, very different to the modern fast trains in China. Station platforms are non-existent, you have to walk around the end of one train to get to another; some people don't bother and crawl underneath the carriages instead.

The train meanders southwards along the beautiful coast, and we break our long journey in Nha Trang. Here we catch our first sight of the sea since leaving Sunderland 6 weeks and 9000miles ago, beautiful turqoise waters and sandy beaches.

We shared our trip with two old ladies, very interested in us and in having their photograph taken. They were strangers, but it was interesting to observe the intimacy between them.

We all enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters of the South China Sea; the balmy temperatures are a long way from the icy Urals and Siberia, and our down coats and winter layers are now securely packed at the bottom of out bags.

The relentless heat and fresh seafood takes its toll, and Jennie rests while Kate and Jon explore the town.

It's been a gruelling journey and a punishing schedule and we are all feeling the effects and are rundown despite taking care and popping vitimins each day. There are mixed feelings at the fact there are only a few days of our journey remaining.

Our last country

2007-03-09T04:19:00.000Z

Having dragged ourselves reluctantly away from Guilin we headed south on the closing stage of our journey towards Vietnam. The landscape through our carriage window changed from the dramatic mountains to flatter, fertile land, and over the 24 hour trip paddy fields gave way to sugar cane and numerous little farmsteads billowing steam.

The vietnam border approached just after midnight and five hours later, after immigration, health and custom checks had been completed we grabbed a few hours' sleep on the old Vietnam train before disembarking in Hanoi.

Our hotel was in the old quarter of town, and the French architecture indicated the city's colonial past. Scooters and cyclos, beeping their horns and ringing their bells, rule the narrow streets, weaving their way around like swarms of buzzing bees. There is no Highway Code in Vietnam, anything goes on the road.

The distinct lack of Westerners throughout our trip was more than balanced out in Hanoi, where we blended in amongst the Lonely Planet-wielding crowds.

The warm climate means people live their lives outside on the street: cooking and eating, washing and grooming.

Despite these pictures, we encountered rain for the first time since Berlin, and it justified carrying our umbrella for 9000 miles!

Guilin

2007-03-03T02:39:00.000Z

We arrive in beautiful Guilin, a city of karst limestone peaks, Osmanthus trees and spectacular caves. This cave is called Ludi Yan (Reed Flute cave) and is one of many underground caves carved out of the limestone by natural acid rain. The rock formations are lit with neon lights, and given funny names like ' The snowman', 'stage curtain' and 'mushroom hill' according to their strange shapes.

Street sellers ply their wares outside the caves - postcards, photobooks and little bamboo whistles. This is definitely a tourist city.

The flat plains beside the Li river are rich and fertile farming land, supplied with nutrient rich silt from river floods. At the top of the valley, we see a patchwork quilt of crops below, in colours of white, yellow and green. Its such a pretty landscape, we pause for a while to enjoy it and take lots of photos and film.

The weathered limestone reminds me of the magnesian 'cannonball limestone' along the Sunderland coast. It was also formed under the sea, millions of years ago.

On the Li river fishermen on bamboo rafts use trained cormorants to help them catch fish. We see the birds resting on a raft by a jetty, which teems with village life. A man unloads several long bamboo boats from his tiny wagon, and floats them on the water, as other men industriously sweep the concrete jetty with huge straw brooms.

Cruiser boats zip past on the water, ploughing up big plumes of water, but the quiet punting of the bamboo boats really suits this tranquil place.

I imagine what the bamboo boats would look like floating up the river Wear - what a fantastic sight that would be! Maybe its a new Museum project....

In a nearby village close to Yangshuo we soak up the farming landscape, remembering that over 70% of Chinese people work in agriculture. People carry their produce and farming tools up and down the street, past the long orderly fields of orange trees and plots of cabbages and greens.

I see family life happening all around, with mums pegging out washing, dads plucking chickens and children peeking round corners of doors, looking at these strange faced visitors on the road.

Back in busy Guilin city the night market is doing brisk trade, with balloon sellers, craftspeople and food stalls selling sugar cane juice. The air is so warm and balmy, we don't need coats - which is a shock after the cold of Russia and Northern China.

A highlight is the flute players, treating us to traditional Guilin music from the red market stalls. I can't resist buying a gourd musical pipe, then realise its impossible to play! They make it look so easy.

The famous moon and sun pagodas cast their silver and golden lights on the Rong and Shan lakes. Its our last visual treat in Guilin. Time to say our goodbyes to China and head for our next and last country, Vietnam. I can't believe we are on the last leg of this incredible journey.

Beijing

2007-02-27T04:48:00.000Z

We travel through a smog filled Beijing city, towards the Great Wall of China at Badaling. The visibility is so bad, we wonder if we'll see very much at all! As we get closer the smog clears and the sun shines which is such a relief. Its a special treat to take the cable car to the top section and look down on one of the wonders of the world.

It reminds me of our North of England wonder, Hadrians Wall, snaking its way across the hills into the distance.

Never mind the Great Wall, its the Sunderland to Saigon travel team who become the main attraction! Lots of Chinese visitors ask to have their photos taken with us and it feels really strange, but we are happy to pose for pictures and tell them about our amazing project.

Every tourist attraction has its souvenirs, and the Great Wall is no different. I pick up a medal for the Museum exhibition, which says, 'Jennie climbed the great wall of China on 21st February 2007'. Other tourists have a special certificate and photo taken at the top.

The experience is so special I call my partner at home in Washington (at 4 in the morning) to tell him I am at the Great Wall of China. Its a very personal moment to remember.

Its also amazing to reflect that after 30 days of non stop travel, sleeping, eating and sharing everything together, Jon, Kate and I are all still good friends.

Later we find an historical gem in the China Railway Museum. Locomotive number 0 is the oldest ever train in China, and was actually made in Gateshead, North East England in 1881. Being born in Gateshead too, I feel very proud to stand beside this little Engine and tell its special story to camera. It reminds me that the North East of England is the birthplace of the railways of the world, which on this longest train journey of 9300 miles from Sunderland to Saigon is the most fantastic thought to reflect on.

A true railway enthusiast's eyes light up with pleasure at the sight of trains.

Tian'anmen square is a riot of red flags against blue skies. After checking out the Beijing 2008 countdown clock, 533 days, 7 hours and 33 minutes to go, we wander among the crowds of visitors, all recording their family visits with photographs. People fly pretty chains of flags, its just like the Sunderland International Kite Festival! I buy a panda kite to remind me of the visit to China's capital city. The green coated soldiers solemnly marching past, are a moving reminder of Tian'anmens squares bloody history.

The strong wind fully extends the red flags in the square - it reminds me of a flag outside the Berlin Reichstag, many weeks ago....

Chinese New Year in Lanzhou and Datong

2007-02-21T10:48:00.000Z

Lanzhou is an industrial city on the route of the ancient silk road in China. Arriving in early evening we delight in the red lantern decorations, covering each girder of the iron bridge. The bridge spans the famous Yellow River and is 100 years old this year, the same age as Sunderland Empire Theatre - Happy Birthday to both! Today is the eve of Chinese New Year and the excitement is infectious.

Despite this I feel displaced, as everyone celebrates it makes me feel farther away from home and the people I love and miss.

As we watch the light fades and the bridge lights up for the night.

In the west of Lanzhou the streets are filled with light, as families enjoy the spectacular lantern festival. Fiery dragons, golden pigs and shining pagodas create a visual feast. 2007 is the year of the golden pig and promises to bring good luck and fertility - we hear it is expected that many babies will be born this year under this lucky sign.

Motorbikes and scooters beep their way through the crowds, and we are surrounded by dozens of curious people as we film the action.

On the night train to Datong on the eve of New Year, we hang our red chinese lantern in the quiet corridor. It seems most people are already at home with their families, and we nearly have a carriage to ourselves.

The lantern and our friendly hellos to the train staff earn us an invite to a invite to a traditional dumpling making party in the restaurant car - what a special treat. Flour fights and singing - its a great time of year to be travelling in China!

Everyone helped make the dumplings, even the Chinese policeman in the middle even got stuck in to the task. The dumplings were shared out for everyone at 10pm.

A deserted platform at 00.14 on New Years Day - fireworks crackle in the sky around us, and the train staff enjoy a moment of freedom to enjoy the blitz. No-one is travelling tonight, except three curious British people with a big map and a long way to go.

The next morning we see families enjoying their New Years Day together on the streets of Datong. Some are on wheels like this motorcycling family.

Crowds gather each time we stop to film, and we become the New Years Day entertainment. A woman stops to tell us the old streets will soon be lost to high rise buildings.... Beautiful smiles and clothes contrast with insistent street beggars, tugging sleeves for money.

At the edge of the big square in Datong, smoke billows from a dozen kebab stands, sending delicious scents into the air. Families stand in groups on the street, eating, wiping their childrens faces, and teenagers socialise under lamposts, meeting and greeting on their holidays.

People pass me and say 'hello!' when they see my strange British face - so I get used to it and start saying hello to anyone who stares. Its quite nice, makes me feel more part of things.

Golden pig photo for 2007!

On the same main square in Datong people fly their kites in the clear blue skies.

Later on that evening, the flats opposite the hotel glow red with lanterns, as the firecrackers and fireworks explode through the night.

Next day we explore the awe inspiring Yungang caves, west of Datong, featuring carvings of the Buddha which are over 1000 years old. The sandstone is worn to a smooth finish - the warm sunny colour reminds me of Roker cliffs and Marsden grotto, places I love to walk in and explore.

The carvings I like the best are the musicians and dancers, performing a concert for the Buddha - they are painted in such lovely colours, reds, blues and mustard tones. The monks painted the caves some 300 years ago.

I have never felt more welcome on this trip than in the traditional village home of Qin Rui Qing and her lovely family. They gave us a special meal of dumplings, fish, pork and chicken dishes - so delicious.

Yungang village is a coalmining community, with coal the main industry of Datong. Most families rent their single storey 2 room homes with a yard and communal outside toilet, buying their water for washing and cleaning from a street seller.

I had a feeling of warmth and togetherness about this place - everyone shares their lives together. I imagine this was how life was in the coal mining villages of Sunderland - traditional Sunderland cottages are not so different from these homes......

The coal mines of Datong produce a quarter of all of China's coal each year for export all over the world. Its been fascinating to follow the march of coal production across the world from west to east during our journey. From our startpoint in Sunderland where pits closed in the 1980s to Essen in Germany and Warsaw in Poland where coal mines are now closing and they are switching to cheaper imports from China.

In Datong we met these coal miners finishing their shift. Do they know how important their work is for all those people in the west who rely on energy to heat their homes and run their computers and tvs? Probably not - just like the rest of us they are doing a days work.

Urumqi, China

2007-02-17T07:10:00.000Z

Urumqi brought surprises in spades, with random camels a long way from home, much like ourselves; possibly a remnant of the old Silk Route? The city lies on the western border of China, and has over 14 different nationalities of people - a real melting pot of cultures and traditions.

For the first time we really felt we had left the West behind in this remote Chinese city, as we wandered through the local bazaar in the true meaning of the word. Crowds of people gathered around the camera whenever we set it up, but there was no interruption to our filming from the authorities as in Kazakhstan. Jennie purchased a lotus flower pendant, in white stone with a lucky red string – we need this symbol of everlasting life to help us to complete our journey safely.

The tradition of Valentine’s Day is alive and strong in this distant corner of the globe with roses for sale on every corner; it reminded us all of loved ones and how far from home we are.

Other traders filled the bustling streets - a lady sat with one bootless foot, waiting for her shoe repairs...

The following morning we were greeted by unbelievable levels of smog which took our breath away literally. The attempts of the old people to stay fit and healthy in the People’s Park seemed to us to be a futile exercise, in pollution that turned the snow a dirty black speckled grey. Their spirits unaffected, the preparations for the imminent spring festival were evident all around.

It would be great to see the people of Sunderland use their People’s Park, Mowbray Park for morning or lunchtime exercise, to raise the spirits and keep fit. Museum healthy walkers keep up the good work!

Paper flowers in the park.

Red lanterns, seams engrained with grime, the hanging smog of the city weighing down their festive cheer.

Kazakhstan and Almaty

2007-02-14T12:46:00.000Z

After leaving Russia in the dead of night, we awoke the following morning in our train bunks to a land shrouded in thick frost; every possible static object was covered in the delicate crystals and alongside the carpet of snow was quite beautiful. The scene didn't change throughout the entire 700-mile run from Novosibirsk to Almaty.

We encountered our first problem with filming in Kazakhstan, with guards at every station and even on the train trying to prevent us from filming and taking photographs.

We arrived in Almaty to a very foggy day and were met by Nour, a contact made through a Kazakhstan organisation in London. The culture of the country dictates a high level of hospitality, and we were shepherded through the enduring fog from good restaurant to fancy coffee shop. Thank you Nour for looking after us so well!

This beautiful wooden church was the only building left standing in the entire city after the 1911 earthquake. Thankfully we were spared the fortnightly tremors which this quite Western city experiences.

Well-fed and tired out, it was good to be back on the train heading north to Aktogai before branching off east towards China.

The Chinese train was the most modern since leaving Europe, although the lack of restaurant car and the 10-hour wait at the border (without access to the toilets!) were frustrating.

The snowy landscape gradually gave way to grassy plains and eventually frozen lakes and snow-dusted mountains as we neared Urumqi.

The train and border guards' fascination with our array of electronic devices hinted at the remoteness of our current location.

A Russian adventure

2007-02-11T09:30:00.000Z

The platforms were busy with sellers, trading food and woolly clothes.

In Russia we made two overnight and one two day train journeys - the staff were friendly and helped us blow up our globe so we could show them the route. Bunks were a challenge - especially for a 6 foot woman!

The snow sparkled under the sun as we entered the birch woods of the Romanov memorial site, where the bodies of the murdered Tsar and his family were found. The site is a working monastery, and we wore tie on skirts to show respect. As the bells rang in the wooden memorial buildings, it felt otherwordly. Our hosts were Larissa from CETI, an organisation which provides environmental training for young people, arranged through CEED in Sunderland and their Director Derek Blair. We were well looked after - thanks to all those people who made Yekaterinburg a home from home.

Red Square in Moscow on a Sunday afternoon. Crowds of visitors were taking in the views, and iceskating. We were tired after a busy day of travel, arriving late in Moscow the night before. There were lots of market stalls to buy souvenirs, Russian dolls, and hats, but the bit I liked the best was throwing a coin over my shoulder for luck in the round brass circle, marking the distance of Moscow from all parts of the world.

Novosibirsk Opera House lit up against the night sky. During the Second World War the dance and theatre troupes of St Petersburg and Moscow were evacuated to Novosibirsk and ever since then it has been a cultural mecca for Ballet and Opera fans. We had to make time to see a Mozart opera, and experience the atmosphere for oursleves. During a special behind the scenes tour with curator Tatiana, we sneaked a peek at the Ballerinas practising for Coppelia, it was breathtaking.

The remains of the original Novosibirsk railway bridge, which spanned the river Ob and allowed a new settlement to grow on its banks. The city of Novosibirsk (New Siberia) now has 1.5 million inhabitants, but is only just over 100 years old. Just shows you the power and influence of the trans siberian railway! Ron (our excellent Novosibirsk guide)and I waded through knee deep snow to get a better look.

The Novosibirsk Railway Museum opened in 2000, a Millenium project, celebrating the important railway history of this young city. They have a very enthusiastic friends group, which includes the Director of the Opera House, a real train fan. Their Russian steam trains were framed beautifully by the snow.

At the Railway Museum in Novosibirsk we were mobbed by excited schoolchildren, all delighted to practise their English. They could tell me their names and ages (they were 12) and they also told me in French. I showed them the map and our route, and they were even more excited. Great to meet them and their enthusiastic teacher.

Awe inspiring architecture in the Moscow Metro. The cavernous halls were used as air raid shelters during the second world war, to protect the citizens of Moscow. The system is SO efficient it rivals Tokyo, with trains arriving every 2 minutes, and that was over the weekend, not rush hour in the working week.

Irina Trophimova was a fantastic host in Moscow, showing us around the botanic gardens (beautiful cycads), translating for us at the Moscow Metro Museum and taking us to a Russian Gypsy restaurant. Thanks for the onion cake, it was delicious! Their botanic gardens are being redeveloped with the addition of a huge, towering glasshouse, to rival the palm house at Kew. Should be open in summer this year, well worth a look.

Filming on the snowy platforms of Russia, taking gloves on, and off and on again! Temperatures ranged from -6 to -17 degrees centigrade during our stay. The temperatures are unseasonably warm wherever we go.

Belarus

2007-02-06T17:50:00.000Z

The GPS helped us to track out journey over the border from Warsaw to Brest in Belarus. Using satellites we can work out how far we have to travel, what speed we are doing and the time we will arrive! Isn't technology great!

We arrive in a new country, Belarus, relieved to get all our baggage off the train.

The war memorial in Brest commemorated the thousands of Belarussian lives lost in the Second World War. The memorial played the sounds of planes and bombs, followed by a rousing Belarussian song. Very moving, and perfect for the snowy surroundings

This looming monument shows the fierce pride and strength of the Belarussian people.

At the Brest railway museum we met some great people, so proud to show off their trains to the English visitors. We filmed in the carriages and engines, and our new friends gave us the grand tour.

You've come from where?! Going to where?! Mapping out the route and showing pictures of sunny Sunderland by the sea.

Can you spot the face in the window? - in the Brest Railway Station it was hard to see where to pay for our bottled water.

Baranovichi sparkled in the snow, and families made their way about, pulling sledges and wrapped up in their winter furs and padded coats.
We were surprised at how picturesque this place was - had expected to find a one horse town.

In the suburbs, children played in the snow, well adapted to the rapidly falling temperatures. Around the corner men caught their fish suppers through bored holes in a frozen lake.

Snow makes even the most ordinary train goods yard look like Narnia!

Reminders of the second world war were becoming more frequent as we headed east towards Russia.

People we've met

2007-02-06T03:57:00.000Z

Warsaw post

2007-02-02T10:19:00.000Z

In the Stadium market in Warsaw we bought our 'breakfast' of kebab fingers from a small green hut, and the owners told us they were not Polish, but Armenian. I showed them the Sunderland book, and they said they liked surfing!

This is the Armenian surfer!

The market was full of official and unofficial traders, working every day in the cold, snowy conditions, with flapping blue canvases on their scanty stalls. There weren't many people actaully shopping - how do they survive this? The paths were full of ice and snow, and men chipping and sweeping it t clear a space infront of their stalls. The run down stadium where the market was sited, was actually made from the rubble of Warsaw after World War 2.

I bartered with this lady in the Stadium market for a small red cat ornament. I chose it from a bric a brac stall, but there were many others selling clothes, brass, electricals and CDs. I paid 11 polish zloty, which is about £2. Many stall holders were Russian and Armenian, making the best living they could in Poland. It looked like a very tough life, not like the protected warmth of Jacky Whites market in Sunderland. We admired the style of her hat – everyone was well wrapped up in the cold weather – about minus 3. We bought a thermometer to check.

Trying to communicate in English, Polish and German!

Getting asked to leave the market for 'our own safety'. We felt safe enough but the official in the red jacket was just being careful.

The Palace of Culture and Science stands in the centre of Warsaw, a grand building inspired by the Empire State Building in New York. It stands at 231 metres tall, the tallest building in Poland. Originally commissioned by Stalin as a ‘gift from the Soviet people’ the building was seen for a long time as a symbol of Polands betrayal by the allies after World War 2 when it was placed under Soviet Union control.

Now it is a centre for culture and has cinemas, conference facilities and a winter ice skating rink (basketball in summer). We watched the skaters, lots of children and teenagers - why were they off school? Turns out they are on winter break. A little girl called Susan was very interested in our filming so we gave her a Sunderland to Saigon pencil! No time to skate oursleves though - save that for another time!

Warsaw has parks in the city centre, just like Sunderland. This one had an avenue of trees, leading to the Palace of Culture and Science. The benches were covered in snow, and the paths covered with thick ice.

Keeping in touch with work to let staff know a parcel of collected items from Lille, Brussels, Cologne, Wuppertal and Berlin is on its way to Sunderland.

Filming in the Warsaw streets gave Jon and Kate plenty of opportunities to record the buzz of city life – the trams, buses and cars, all speeding through the skyscrapers and towers. Several big hotels, Novotel, Marriott and Ibis were all tall buildings with neon lights.

Warsaw Central Station is a busy transport hub, on the Berlin to Moscow trainline.

I met Olga, who works as a tourist guide in Warsaw. She studied in Sunderland for 6 months in 1994, under Professor Derek Blair from Sunderland University’s Environmental Science department, and he passed on her contact details to us which was great.

She and another ex student Yola have fond memories of their time in Sunderland, when they took part in the University exchange programme. Olga treated us to coffee and cakes and we chatted about Poland - Thanks so much Olga! A striking fact is that 85% of Warsaw was destroyed in World War 2, and many of the buildings have been reconstructed to their original design, a process which continues to this day. The beautiful Old Town with the Royal Castle was completed in 1984 and took 13 years to reconstruct.

It is an interesting comparison with Sunderand, which also suffered bombing in World War 2, but many of the damaged buildings, such as the Central Station were pulled down and more modern buildings put in their place. What would Sunderland have been like today if we had followed the Warsaw model? I doubt if there was the money to reconstruct it at the time.

I asked Olga what we should collect for the Museum in Warsaw, and she said something with the Mermaid on. This is the symbol of the city, their protector. There is a story that two twins called Wars and Sawa found a mermaid in the river Vistula and caught it in a net. The mermaid pleaded to be set free and said she would protect them if they released her. They did and the city of Warsaw grew on the site, and was named after them. We couldn't find a mermaid but there was one on a taxi door by the station.

We are using so much technology on this trip! As well as the film and stills cameras, there are MP3 players, mobile phones, speakers, and GPS to follow our route. We need to use adapters to keep charging things up. Blogging is tricky, as there are few Wifi connections and we need to find internet cafes, then download images. This takes time, and we don't have much on this trip. Wait until we get to Belarus!

Some of the stations were pretty bleak and depressing. A far cry from Moscow's amazing architechtural underground system - cant wait to see it

Warsaw is such a city of contrasts, from the windswept Polish market and a kebab breakfast to the giddy heights of the cocktail bar on the 40th floor of the Marriott hotel. We just had to take in the city from one of the tallest buildings and enjoy the fantastc snowy view.

Poland is catching up fast with its Western neighbours with shops and nightlife. We saw H&M in the shopping street and C & A which is now bust in the UK. Great city - must come back and see more.

The Museum of the Polish Uprising, or 'rising' was an incredible place to visit. A very modern interactive museum, describing the Nazi occupation in Poland during World War 2 and how the underground resistance movement rose up against it. Our guide Olga spoke excellent English and really got across the depth of suffering and superhuman strength of the Polish people during such a tough time.

Many women took part in the underground movement, fighting and working as messengers. I liked the way their stories were shown in the displays - a lot like the 20th century gallery in Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. The women were sent with the men to POW camps (a first) - when Warsaw was cleared out by the Soviets in 1944. This picture shows some of their faces.

Martina from the press office and Olga, a fantastic guide!

wuppertal to berlin

2007-01-29T19:28:00.000Z

Wuppertal suspended railway. We heard a rumour that a circus elephant once fell out of the window and landed in the river below

A crazy hall of mirrors - or the German parliament? We arrive at the Reichstag to see the Norman Foster dome.

We walked the spiral walkway to the top of Berlin, and spotted the fantastic German fashion of the peaked (stationmaster?) hat for German men of a certain distinguished age.

Smudge the cat wanted to admire his reflection in the hundred mirrors, but could only see the seats of the German parliament below!

After the hard work of filming was done, we stop to enjoy the atmosphere and record the moment

One weiner or two? Mit pea soup bitte.

The Reichstag roof flags were whipped out straight by the strong wind and rain. We had to duck and run to get back to the main building. A chance to test out our waterproofs.

The Berling Hauptbahnhof is an amazing building, like a futuristic vision of train travel in the year 3000. We left in a taxi for our hotel and all went wow, when we looked back to see the lights shining out like a beacon. It seems to stand in its own grounds, like a museum or something.

A multi-level ant warren, swarming with berliners heading who knows where?

This blogging larks alright, but I'm a bit worried about Lara Croft pointing her pistol at me!

Are we there yet?

It begins!

2007-01-27T10:57:00.000Z

The trip to Saigon begins!

Guten abend from Germany! I can’t believe this is only day 2. It has been a whirlwind of a start to the journey and this is the first chance we have had to blog – well that’s what you get for travelling through four countries in 2 days! We had a wonderful send off from St Peter’s Metro in Sunderland. The museum staff turned out to see us off safely, together with Councillor Spedding and photographers from the local press and Tyne Tees TV. A very exciting moment, after all the build up and preparation.

After we had waved goodbye to Sunderland, it was on to Newcastle Central to catch the GNER train to London. The travel team were finally alone together to collect their thoughts. Smudge the station cat had his photo taken in 1st class, looking very pleased with himself. He particularly enjoyed the banana from the breakfast buffet. Kate's mum joined us at York, for a good luck toast on the platform, then we sped on to London.

In London we lugged the heavy bags of camera equipment and kit through the Underground to the Eurostar terminal, where Mark Atkins from Eurostar marketing team greeted us. Time to make my first purchase of postcards for the S to S collection. After a moments panic when I couldn’t find my passport (I’m told it makes good tv but turns your hair grey) we boarded the train and zoomed towards Lille.

Only time for a quick bite in France (omelette and frites), so we quickly looked round then hopped on the train to Brussels. This time we used a trolley to save our sore backs and checked into the Continental hotel - only stopping to dump our bags before being taken for a Belgian beer by Kates friend. Back to sleep for 5 hours in the cheap and chintzy hotel. There will be sore shoulders tomorrow after lugging that gear!

Day 2 - 26th January 2007
No internet in the hotel, so no chance to write the first blog - so we got on with shooting and filming in the Grand Place, Brussels - fabulous architecture and lots of tourist tours. Their museum has a beautiful facade, with lovely long red banners - could see them on the Monkwearmouth Station columns, hmmm.....

Hotfooting it back to the station we missed our connection to Cologne by 30 seconds, too much to do and not enough time! It would have helped if the trolleys were waiting outside, not two floors away on the platforms.

An hour later we got going on the train, but it delayed our connection to Essen (Sunderland's twin city) until 6.20pm and after frantic phonecalls we arrived at a snowy Zechszollverein to meet Bertholt, our guide. The Zollverein is an Industrial Museum, on a former pit complex which closed in 1986, see www.zollverein.de. The orange glow of the escalator lights looked amazing in the dark and Bertholt took us up to the roof, with views of all the twinkling lights of Essen. Hopefully we will get to come back or do a museum exchange, as this was a jaw dropping site.

Tired now, we headed back to Cologne, getting back just in time to collect our left luggage at 9.55pm. A taxi ride to the hostel, and finally an internet connection to blog! But - after 2 and a half hours of struggling with connections and technological vices we gave up and went to bed. Finally - sleep!!! But at 3am four rowdy Moroccan boys, who we found out later had been partying in Cologne after exams, rolled into the dorm and woke us all up with their drunken antics. Oh dear, not much sleep for us intrepid travellers, wheres me ear plugs??? Wuppertal and Berlin tomorrow......

Sunderland to Saigon

2007-01-22T10:11:00.000Z

‘Sunderland to Saigon’ is a unique project to record a memorable journey from Monkwearmouth Station Museum in Sunderland, England to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) in Vietnam. The North East of England is generally accepted to be the birthplace of the railways and Saigon represents the furthest city that can be reached from there by train.

A member of Museum staff will be making this amazing trip along with a film-maker and assistant from Centre Screen Productions in Manchester, England. One of the UK’s leading film, video and multimedia production companies, Centre Screen will be responsible for recording the team’s experiences during the 40 day journey.

The resulting film footage, photographs and objects collected will be on show at Monkwearmouth Station Museum when it opens in June 2007.

The Sunderland to Saigon project has received funding from Culture10 and the North East Regional Museums Hub.