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Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 6 Jun 2013
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This video will dispel any worries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhayUVsS6VA
(But don't watch any other Russian dash cam videos. It will not help your nerves.)
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  #2  
Old 21 Jun 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mika View Post
Hello Cysne,

when I entered Russia the first time in 1992 I was also a bit like you ...



but I found the people so welcoming and friendly that I lost all my fear within a few days.

Then I returned in 1997/1999/2000/2003 and traveled to remote corners of the biggest country on the planet. I had very little problems, but two things I want to tell you .... stay away from drunk strangers - dont drink with strangers .... park your car at night in an autostolyanca (paid parking) as the locals do.

enjoy Russia

mika
I know there are a million Mika's.But I was wondering if this is my friend Mika from Buenos Aires.

I am new to Russia also. I've been here 2 1/2 weeks on a motorcycle. I thought the people in South America were great. But the Russian people are the best. You can't understand until you are here and meet them. People invite you to stay at their house, come home for dinner, change tires for free. I've been at a mechanics house for 5 nights now. I never met him before. They have fed me, done my laundry, is replacing the crankshaft in my motor, and taken me on tours. He says he won't take any money. He will find money after I leave though. And I have had similar experiences in other cities. Russia is magic.
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  #3  
Old 21 Jun 2013
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Hola Doug

Priviet Doug (Doogle),

yes there is more than one Mika, but you are lucky this is your friend from BsAs.

What? You are replacing your crankshaft on the KLR? Where are you?
Are you drunk? Why do you post the same answer twice?

But even with a broken/worn crankshaft somewhere in Russia and real drunk, it can only be better than driving around in circles in Switzerland, half drunk ...

Did you meet my friend Andrey from the Iron Tigers in Vladivostok?

Hope you can get a new crankshaft from the US, because this should be difficult to get in Russia. But than, the Russian mechanics are the best, believe me, and I have seen a few.

Sure your hosts and maybe also your mechanic wont take any money, to give/take money can be big insult in Russia.

Yes, Russia is magic.

Nashdarovje

Paca

mika
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Old 22 Jun 2013
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Same post twice because this tiny tablet is too small for me.I'm in Ulan Ude for a week now. I stayed at the Iron Angels club. I thought I had the name mixed up.Didn't know they were 2 different clubs.

A crankshaft has been shipped from USA. But I'm worried there will be problems in customs. I've read too many bad stories.

Doug
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  #5  
Old 23 Jul 2013
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bump for this thread...cysne, klausmong, jc_bromley, I guess you're all here or have been and gone by now, would be interested in your impressions?
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  #6  
Old 6 Jun 2013
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Quote:
It's a fact of travelling in some regions or just dealing with people. Groups of people are always warning you of the other groups who are warning you of the first group. It's always funny to learn of all the apparent bullets you dodged while too busy being treated like an old friend to notice.
This even happens in America (although it sometimes valid in this case).

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  #7  
Old 7 Jun 2013
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Hello Cysne
First of all,you probably will survive.
Just drove Vladivostok to Ulan-Ude.
Now I'm in Mongolia and not looking forward to crossing Russia again,but there's no way around it.
I've heard a lot of positiv things about Russia, like the other posts did.
But I haven't seen that Russia yet.
To be clear, nothing bad happend yet, just my impression is that it's a overpriced third world country, unable to handle plumbing or anything else.
It took 4 days till I got a "pashalsta" after politely saying "spasiba" when I bought something in a shop.
I general got the feeling that I'm not welcome at a reception of a motel or a shop, like "why are you idiot bothering me,just pay a go".
Maybe it's just me,after months in SEA and last Japan, I'm used to people smiling.
Mongolia seems much friendlier.
Don't expect too much, hope you enjoy Russia.
sushi
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  #8  
Old 7 Jun 2013
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Russia

Quote:
First of all,you probably will survive.
Just drove Vladivostok to Ulan-Ude.
Now I'm in Mongolia and not looking forward to crossing Russia again,but there's no way around it.
I've heard a lot of positiv things about Russia, like the other posts did.
But I haven't seen that Russia yet.
To be clear, nothing bad happend yet, just my impression is that it's a overpriced third world country, unable to handle plumbing or anything else.
It took 4 days till I got a "pashalsta" after politely saying "spasiba" when I bought something in a shop.
I general got the feeling that I'm not welcome at a reception of a motel or a shop, like "why are you idiot bothering me,just pay a go".
Maybe it's just me,after months in SEA and last Japan, I'm used to people smiling.
Mongolia seems much friendlier.
Don't expect too much, hope you enjoy Russia.
sushi

good we are not all the same and different travelers have different experiences.

I just loved Russia and the Russians and I could not get along with the Mongolian and their stupid rules and laws. Anyway I traveled more than ten years ago, and my first journey is more than twenty years ago and for sure many things have changed.

But I am thinking of going back to Russia.

Sushi, I hope you enjoy western Russia more, dont miss Sankt Petersburg.

Greetings to all from Berne Switzerland
mika
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  #9  
Old 7 Jun 2013
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I'm hoping to cross Russia in the next year or two.

It will be my first time too. I also hear all the horror stories. Even by Russians themselves.

The same way I was weary about my first time in South America or travelling through Africa.

These are the countries (right or wrong), that you actually start feeling safer and more comfortable in.

My biggest fear about going to Russia is that I have to go through crime-ridden, overpriced and overpopulated Western Europe to get there...
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  #10  
Old 8 Jun 2013
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post

My biggest fear about going to Russia is that I have to go through crime-ridden, overpriced and overpopulated Western Europe to get there...
May be right for England, but not for the Rest
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  #11  
Old 8 Jun 2013
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And this is why I love this forum.

Thanks HUBB'ers.
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