5 leçons de vie que les voyages en transsibérien m’ont appris

​1. Ralentir pour avoir de temps d'admirer
2. Adopter un mode de vie minimaliste
3. Créer des relations et partager avec les autres
4. L'important n'est pas la destination mais le chemin qui y conduit
​5. Accepter de ne rien faire

​On ne fait pas un voyage, c'est le voyage qui vous fait ou vous défait Nicolas Bouvier, L'usage du monde

1. Slow to have time to admire
The Trans-Siberian trains are not very fast trains. Their average speed is 70km / h. The forests of the Urals, the Ob and Iennissei, giant Siberian rivers, cities and the desert plains of the Gobi desert march rather slowly. With a glance from the window of his car Transsiberian it is possible to grasp the details of the flora and fauna of forests and activity of Siberian villages off the train. The look has time to stop on the shape of a trunk on the blue part of the window of a hut or on the flora along the tracks. The mind calms down and lets himself take in time and history through this endless traveling formed by the ever-changing landscape passing by the window. The mind is calm and ideas become clearer. Slowing down allows to have time to marvel and live for the moment

2. Adopt a minimalist lifestyle
On board the Trans-Siberian, everything is organized in a very functional way. Simple and minimialiste. Nothing superfluous. But nothing missing either. Sheets, towels, cups, and unlimited hot water: the key is provided to us. Certainly, one can follow the list of travel guides on the Trans-Siberian and take plenty more or less useless for fear of missing. But through my many trips to the Trans-Siberian train, my bag is much lighter. I no longer take the bare minimum, limiting my weight to a small bag of less than 9kg including everything that I always take in the cabin. Traveling light also allows to travel freely and not be crowded - literally and Figure- unnecessary weight. No efforts to bring a large suitcase, no crowded compartment, no extra taxi fares and above all a true feeling of lightness and freedom of movement. A minimalist lifestyle makes you feel freer and lighter.

3. Create relationships and share with others
When the idle time when the daily agenda is more saturated we find around us (here in the Siberian wagon) are full of interesting people and things. We become more social because little by little, all the details of the environment of our car and take the Trans-Siberian existence and importance. And people around us become more familiar to us every day. We tamed. Even the neighbor that had not even seen entering now pique our curiosity. And then we discover extraordinary life journey, amazing activities or simply human exchange quality.   Creating relationships and sharing makes you feel happier.

4. The important thing is not the destination but the way to it
Instead of adding content and tours, the trip is the Trans-Siberian journey par excellence, that takes you from one point to another and makes the journey between the two most important stages and interesting points departure and arrival. We must train hours, sometimes days to travel the Trans-Siberian. We spend more time on the train as the various stopovers, focusing on the journey more than the destination. We had to learn to enjoy this new space and therefore straddles two places and discover the patience to arrive before leaving for a real long trip. In travel, as in life, the important thing is the journey more than the destination.

5. Agree to nothing (to) make
There are few places that can travel and do nothing. A trip to Trans-Siberian lasting several days can give the body the time and distances, which, in modern life, always connected and interrupted, becomes increasingly difficult. The possibilities for activities are reduced on the train. And that is precisely what makes this trip absolutely unique train. We are rediscovering that we managed to sleep late, that in all day to do the little things we do. We feel the new owner of his time and even if we lose a little with time zones, we are lulled and carried by train is running, without oppose resistance. Accept doing nothing brings tranquility, no boredom.

Vincent Stocklin