Trans Siberian Railway

At the risk of sounding like a complete Google fanboy, I'll add one more Google offering into my list of vacation posts. Google has put together a mashup from several of its own sources into a virtual trip along the Trans Siberian railway.

The user can use the standard Google map navigation tools to zoom in/out and drag/scroll to different areas of the route. Clicking the blue line along the route loads the correct video and positions to the correct offset within the video. Since semi random selections might not pick up the most picturesque sections, there is also a travel route with starred entries that can be chosen.

There are also some preselected soundtrack options available and other features to explore.

Saving the discussion of the merits of virtual reality vs actual reality for another time, this seems like a neat use of technology to me. It provides an insight into a 150 hour journey that it is very unlikely that I'd ever pursue in real life. For that, the view of the 12 Russian regions and 87 cities is more than enough for me.

So whether its for exploring the Russian vistas or the use of technologies, give it a try. It somehow seems appropriate for a snowy day in Charlotte as well.

Enjoy!