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Into russia The Chinese side had new buildings, but at the Russian side it seemed a nuclear war had happened. We drove down unpaved streets past rough concrete housing blocks. The Russians on my bus said they were leaving on the 2 oclock train, but I wanted to explore the town and anyway I needed to change money. I went down the street past lots of little soviet style shops, things in the window, but everything behind counters so you have to ask for them. Prices were around double China. Suddenly you are in Europe most of the people are white and blond instead of Chinese although there are a few Asian faces. Things were far less commercial, no advertising signs and shops are not clearly marked. The bank was a blank door on the outside. But a normal bank inside I waited and was surprised to see they had a travellers Cheques welcome sign.. however unbelievably they had never changed them before so there was an hour of looking in the manual, phoning the office, phoning the off-duty bank worker..eventually he drove to the bank.
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