As we get closer to the centre of Russia and Mongolia, the people we meet tend to have a more Asian look about them. They’re Russian, definitely – because we speak and I ask where they’re from etc.. I’d expected this from the outset, but the people in the very far East look more European – but not quite. It’s hard to explain.

Oleg and Bair here were having a picnic and came over to join us. They were quite friendly but it lasted about 20 minutes longer than was fun. For some reason they wanted to wrestle, and kept tweaking Chip and Ken’s nipples. It was really funny! (Well I thought so anyway).

They left mine alone. I’ve no idea why, in fact I’m not sure whether to be relieved or jealous! No actual wrestling took place, but we were all friends at the end.