Thread: Travel Blog; CIS/ex-USSR countries (i.e. Russian speaking)

Originally Posted by Hanna

corruption, lots of disgustingly rich people being superficial, arrogant and throwing money around them. Lots of really poor people, possibly dishonest/dangerous.

Народ, с какой нахрен коррупцией она может столкнуться в Москве? Запугали девчонку. Я последний раз давал взятку (пузырь водки) оценщику машины в 1993 году!

Originally Posted by Crocodile

That's because the magic door to riches opens only to those who know the current password (Sesame).


Use your weakness to your strength, my young padawan learner. The next time you approach that evil speaker-phone by the magic door speak only English with confidence (and don't speak Russian at all, don't even show them you know Russian) and you'll be taken seriously. Don't ask for someone who speaks English, but openly say in clear and confident English: "Good morning! I'm a Swedish tourist and I'm here to obtain the visa." And if they say anything in return (whatever) finish them with the calm and confident "Igor Yurievich said I can apply here and I have my application filled in". That will work. Be tough and may the Force be with you!

Hanna... Croc is right about this last part... at least from my experiences in Salvador at the Embassy. There they have supposedly only Spanish speaking guards at the entrances and only wanted to let my husband in as he had the appointment. I showed them my US Passport and my husband explained in Spanish that I was his wife. They did not seem to care at all. My embassy and they would not let me in. Hubby went in without me and I went around to the American entrance side and stormed in and explained the situation. They said to go back and just tell them in English to let you in. Went back over and just glared at the guards and said, "Let me in, NOW." and showed them my passport again. They let me in without a blink of an eye. Really stupid the games they play.

They also had a big scandal a few years ago with the officers making you pay cash when you applied for your Visa and then pocketing the money and marking your application that you had not paid so you had to pay the fee again when you picked up the Visa. Most of the locals going to the U.S. never complained because they never knew that they were getting ripped off. They all thought there were 2 fees. It wasn't until some of the more educated folks started to complain that they figured out the scam.

So be strong!

Hi, Hanna. This is the link to the belarussian propaganda animation Budzma Belarusians! : Будзьма разам!

Putting the video that Whiteknight is referring to here, so anyone can enjoy it.



Belarus has really won my heart as a perfectly sized European country with great nature, nice culture, wonderful people, plus clean, good-looking, good value and safe. For better or worse, Russian is the language in use apart from a few exceptions, therefore perfect for a student of Russian. The politics are complicated, sad and rather unique - best left to the Belarussian people I think, whereas a tourist can enjoy all the great aspects of this country!

I've seen an ads that circus starts working 3.06.11

Thanks for that information!

I have decided to go to a sanatorium... (in Belarus, as I still have no Russia visa... )

After I return, my invitation to Russia should be done, and hopefully I can get the visa quickly, but I will need to return to Minsk to go to the RU embassy. In hindsight, I think I choose the wrong visa, I should have gone with the most basic tourist visa which you can get quicker, and simply accepted the limitations.

The place I am going to:

Санаторий МВД "Белая Русь" расположен практически на самом берегу озера Нарочь, площадью более 80 кв.км., шириной 10 км., прозрачность 5-7 м. Самые глубокие впадины озера достигают 25 м., озеро слабопроточное, вода пресная. Множество ручьев впадают в него в северной и южной части, вытекает одна река Нарочанка, впадающая в реку Вилия. Основная подпитка происходит за счет родников. В озере обитает около 20 видов рыб. В окрестностях озера Нарочь произрастает 800 видов растений: 32 охраняемых, 27 видов занесены в Красную книгу.

Санаторий МВД nокружен сплошной полосой хвойного леса. С верхних этажей спального корпуса открывается живописная панорама озера Нарочь.

Санаторий Белая Русь один из лучших санаториев Беларуси.

Lake Naroch is famous for its beauty in Belarus, and it is in a nature reserve. This place has a beach, two very large swimming pools, a gym and lots of spa-type and health-improving treatments. I have never been to a spa, and I have never had any such treatments, so will be a completely new experience for me...

In order to go to a "sanatorium" (in Belarus at least) you have to first do a full medical examination; something else that I had never done. This is so the staff at the resort will know how best to help improve the health of the guest. I went today, and did EKG, chest röntgen, cardiology, gynecology, etc, etc! I have to go back later and take some blood samples and speak with a doctor. Believe it or not, I have never actually done a full health check-up for preventative reasons. The standards of gynecology in Belarus seem to be much higher than in the UK!

This medical centre was supposed to be English speaking... But it was not... So I managed all of this in Russian! I even had a discussion about a particular health issue with the gynecologist, and understood what she was saying and recommending. If you remember, ONE MONTH ago, I was super-pleased because I was able to ask for toothpaste in a shop. So I have improved!

@Rockzmom if you are reading this; I remember that you have been suffering from some health problems... This would be such a great thing to do for you! You probably need it more than I do and it's a pity you are so far away, otherwise this would be very affordable and a really nice thing to do for you!

Apparently it is quite normal for people to be sent to sanatoriums by their work, and then they only pay a very small part of the price.. which is low to start with. As a foreigner I am having to pay the market price (if there is one...), but it is still cheap. Apparently this place belongs to the Belarussian ministry of interior affairs. However others can visit too.

It was built in 1988 but has since been renovated.

Originally Posted by Hanna

Not too sure what the Ministry of Internal Affair does

Simple speaking it's a Police Ministry. I guess the magority of people who spend their vacations in this sanatorium are Belorussian Police officers.
_____________
I used to go to a Belarussian lake with my uncle and my dad almost every summer in my school years. We had a wonderful time living in tents and fishing there. These are the lakes I used to hike around most often:

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Вымно
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Лосвидо_(озеро)

Originally Posted by Basil77

Simple speaking it's a Police Ministry. I guess the magority of people who spend their vacations in this sanatorium are Belorussian Police officers.

Oh my word, I am a crazy person!
I can't believe I booked myself on a resort for the police force of the "Last Dictatorship of Europe"....
Do you think it's for the "KGB" also?

I went strictly on the facilities, this sanatorium has a fantastic location, and top facilities, particularly for people who love swimming, like I do.

I used to go to a Belarussian lake with my uncle and my dad almost every summer in my school years. We had a wonderful time living in tents and fishing there. These are the lakes I used to hike around most often:

Yes... Belarus has no coast, but plenty of lakes.... and lots of forest. Very much like Scandinavia, but the summer is hotter and sunnier, and there are no mosquitos (I hope!!!!)

I love hiking too, I hope there will be somebody at this place who wants to go hiking with me.

PS - The status of my Belarus registration is that it is not properly/honestly done. How creepy to be surrounded by policemen when you know you've done something illegal!

Originally Posted by Hanna

Do you think it's for the "KGB" also?

No, KGB is a different organization. Simple speaking: police deals with criminals, KGB deals with spies and such. BTW, do you have something against the KGB? Then you must hate me, my dad used to be a KGB colonel in Soviet times. Soviet KGB had 9 departmens and the really nasty one was only one of them: the 5th wich dealt with political dissidents. My dad worked in the 4th one - counterintelligence, his job was to secure atomic fuel production.

and there are no mosquitos (I hope!!!!)

I'm afraid I have to dissapoint you: mosquitos are quite common in Belarus, especially in swampy areas, but less common than in Northern Russia, at least from my experience.

Thank you for explaining.

No, no I personally have nothing against the KGB. For example I doubt they were worse than the CIA, at least in modern times. It's just, you know, they have a negative image... Thanks to Hollywood, largely. Like I mentioned before, I saw almost only the "sunny" side of the USSR when it still existed - the negative things that I know of are based on "revelations" in the 1990s and Hollywood films with nasty Russians.
I am sure your father is a very nice person, since he has raised very nice son!

Originally Posted by Hanna

Like I mentioned before, I saw almost only the "sunny" side of the USSR when it still existed

That's why Ulof Palme was killed - for showing Swedes the good side of USSR. The next step arranged by CIA to fix that was a provocation with subs.

Originally Posted by Hanna

I am sure your father is a very nice person, since he has raised very nice son!

Thank you very much for the compliment, but not is but was. I lost him a couple of years ago.

Originally Posted by Basil77

BTW, do you have something against the KGB? Then you must hate me, my dad used to be a KGB colonel in Soviet times. Soviet KGB had 9 departmens and the really nasty one was only one of them: the 5th wich dealt with political dissidents. My dad worked in the 4th one - counterintelligence, his job was to secure atomic fuel production.

You might make a fun of me if I say that, but as much as I dislike the Communism, I have nothing against the ordinary people who worked in that system and protected that system after the Civil War was over. Most of them were born into that system and had no means to change it even if they disliked it themselves. It was just their job where they could apply and further develop their skills. And the KGB employed many of those with the analytical skills.

Hey Hanna!

I've just created an account here, and I read all your "blog". I must say "hurray!". What a brave girl you are! Congratulations for everything, and I'm sure you're having a great time there.

I'm brazilian and until now I've only been to Moscow (n the east), but I most certainly intend to visit some places you've been, like Ukraine, Romania, and others you haven't, like Hungary, Bulgary, etc.

We keep waiting for your posts =)

Thank you Fabricio! Glad you enjoyed!
I will upload more photos later... I have tons of cool photos from Minsk.

Just in case anyone is wondering how I am doing at the sanatorium, or what a sanatorium is like...
Doing very well, this is a totally unique experience - not available anywhere else in Europe.

Feeling very relaxed and have been swimming, working out, dancing, had massage and some very funky treatments of various kinds, individually adapted based on a phys examination. ( I am not seriously ill in any way; it's more preventitive and for minor stuff).

If anyone reading this is interested in a more detailed report, just say!

(All my problems with booking, paying, room type etc are solved --- but instead of picking a room and paying in under 15 minutes, I spent more like 15 hours messing around...)

Lots of Russians are staying in this place - I am sharing a table with a couple from Murmansk and a woman from Minsk. Lots of single women are staying too, so I got some company - only problem is my limited ability to communicate... Feeling stupid that people are trying to be nice and helpful and I am have to ask them to repeat, or don't understand what they are saying sometimes. There are also a lot of single gentlemen of a certain age... definitely looking for company... Fabulous weather!

Any news, Hanna? =)

В самом деле, где Hanna?

Hi! I am still at the sanatorium! It's very nice here, and this is definitely something I'd consider doing again... Either with some company, or alone again when I can speak Russian better.

I have TONS of photos both of the sanatorium and of Minsk. If anyone has any tips on how to share without spending a day messing around with uploads, then please let me know.... I am not very experienced with photo sharing online.

I would STRONGLY recommend anyone who lives on the European continent and studies Russian to consider a holiday like this. It's a completely unbeatable "immersion" experience and (in Belarus) so cheap that you will feel guilty about it! You can easily travel by train to Minsk and catch a bus anywhere in the country. Or fly or drive your own car. Remember this tip when it is time to pick a holiday, although it is not recommended for people under 30. Anyone from outside the ex USSR area is a bit of a novelty in Belarus, so you could expect lots of interest and attention from people.

Also it would be good for your health and an interesting insight into "normal" life in this part of the world. (This is not a cool, chic or glamorous thing to do, more a really down-to-earth normal holiday, for normal people.) Those staying at this place are regular people from Russia, Belarus and the Baltic States (all Russian speaking, no English speakers). There is practically no boozing and the evening dances end at 11 and the bar closes at 12, so no serious nightlife worth mentioning.

I've been to excursions to some churches and old manor houses in North Western Belarus. It seems a lot of people in that area speak Polish as their first language. Also, many are Catholics and not Orthodox. People in this part of the world are MUCH more religious than I was aware of. The churches have pretty unusual stories, not only the usual architectural and religious history, but also stories about how they were used during the war (resistance activities) and what the church was used for during the Soviet time (cinema, factory etc). Plenty of drama and it is nice to see these buildings used for their real purpose again. It's clear that faith is important for many here; unlike most of Western Europe.

There is a town near the sanatorium, called "Narach". It's a sweet town and it feels a bit like it's in it's own time bubble - ca 1985! Feels really strange!

I am completely convinced that Russians / Belarussians are among the nicest people in Europe. You simply would NEVER get treated as well as I have if you turned up in most other European countries not speaking the language properly. Several groups of people in this sanatorium have taken upon themselves to include me in their activities and generally help me out. Scandinavians would definitely not be this nice towards strangers, and neither in my experience, would Germans or French. (My other favourite people in Europe are the Spanish - they are warm and nice people!)
It must be said that there are one or two staff members who are a bit frosty, but I have noticed that they treat everyone the same and it's got nothing to do with me being a foreigner. Most of the staff members have been super nice and helpful towards me though... I am blown away by the friendliness and sweetness of people in general.

I had an interesting experience speaking Russian with Polish man who was staying at this place. He could not speak English but his Russian was (for me) very slow and clear and he said that he understood the difficulties with learning Russian. I was able to understand almost everything he said and we spoke about lots of different things. As it turned out, he was looking for more than conversation despite being married (against my principles, with married men..) Nevertheless it was really nice hanging out with him.

I also had a flirt with an incredibly good looking tall man Belarussian guy who worked in the communications department at the police in Minsk. As it turned out, he too was married... and I got irritated that he took so long admitting that, so now I am avoiding him. Cute or not, I am NOT that type of woman...

I made good friends with Belarussian woman from Polotsk and a lovely Russian couple from Murmansk and I will definitely visit them there at some point in the future - going to Murmansk is considered a funky and interesting thing to do in Northern Scandinavia, so it would not be hard for me to jump on a tour there once I have settled back in, in Sweden.

Originally Posted by Basil77

That's why Ulof Palme was killed - for showing Swedes the good side of USSR. The next step arranged by CIA to fix that was a provocation with subs.
Thank you very much for the compliment, but not is but was. I lost him a couple of years ago.

Yes, I get angry just thinking about those subs... it was just so devious, and against a completely innocent country like Sweden. And much worse has been done against other countries. As for Olof Palme; they never found out who killed him. There was a main suspect for a while, he was an alcoholic and he always maintained that he was innocent. He was acquitted in a trial and died from drinking a few years ago. Palme was not particularly pro Soviet but there were many others in his government who were. However Palme really disliked the USA; he was an aristocrat but became a socialist after a trip there because he was so shocked at what he saw in terms of injustices there, and their foreign policy. I don't particularly suspect the US of this, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out either. They've done much worse things.

I've always thought postsoviet countries are mostly atheist, but it turns there are even more atheist!