We are in the train station waiting for our posh train to Ulan Bataar. We have had a lovely time in Ulan Ude, including being invited to the family datcha and having a very interesting gardening discussion with Marina's mum. We found that we didn't need to speak the same language to discuss tomato varieties and composting! Very sadly someone had pinched the stove from their banya over winter, but I ca nimagine that a banya is just the best thing after a hard day in the garden.
The funniest thing I've encountered in Ulan Ude was Marina discovering her buryat culture, in the form of the fermented milk Andy mentioned, and although giving it her best effort and puting a brave face on it, she eventually conceeded it was truely horrible and binned the rest of it. Got to go , train goes in a minute. Next post from Mongolia!