Moscow

I'm randomly posting photos and videos from Russia for quick view - I will edit the post once I go back to London. For now, just take a look at the pictures and videos and enjoy :))

211 Things a bright boy can do

This is one of those books you discover from an old pile of crap on the loft of your childhood home or something. This one though, I found in the middle of dust lined stock of reservoir engineering and geology books in my office. I was convinced it has something to do with predicting hydrocarbon formations with better accuracy – until I opened it!

That and 210 other equally interesting tricks which is quintessential for boys of all ages could be found here. I am not even sure if this Tom Cutler’s (whoever he is) masterpiece could be found on book stores or Amazon – but this is just one of those books you discover.. bla bla bla.. or something; I’m lucky to have found this. Now that I have it, it is only a matter of time I become a bright boy.

Just like all amazing things, this one doesn’t go without a caveat – I checked it on google; so far there are no books by the name “211 Things a bright girl can do that expose the bright boy tricks and make him look like an idiot”. But the girls can always buy a copy of this book and be aware of the tricks; that will spoil everything.

So I strongly warn the boys to keep this clandestine from the girls and earnestly request the girls to forget about this whole post, pretend not to know anything and be genuinely impressed with the boys who put some of these tricks into play. Cheers to all of you who will soon become bright boys – woo hoo :)

On the picture - Vladimir, Margarita, Viktor, Elena. We already had a 211 things party up here - hehe!

Russia – my first time ever!

Woo hoo! I’m going to Moscow on 07-SEP and I’m excited & nervous at the same time. I have read quite a bit about Moscow and St. Petersburg on travel forums – overall I find the people friendly and some have even offered to help me while I’m there. Recent war with Georgia and language problem still makes me nervous. Vladimir, Elena, Viktor, Margarita – they are all close friends & colleagues of mine from Russia. The last week I’ve been partying big time with them and this is what I found:

1. The people in Moscow complain about St. Petersburg and vice versa. Vlad is from Moscow and Margarita is from St. Petersburg and you should see them talk :)
2. Vlad & Elena asked me not to travel long on the Trans-Siberian; Moscow to Vladivostok takes a week and it is not very safe. But I still want to explore a little bit of it.
3. Viktor advised me not to go clubbing alone in Moscow – which I will not. I would be with my friends and other people from training.
4. Tim & Veronika, friends from Hospitality Club advised me to bring jacket, swim suit and umbrella to Russia – I hope the weather is not too cruel in September; but hey, it can’t be worse than Britain hehe!

I’ll have to wait until I reach Russia to really comment on those. But I’m doing my own homework as well – I just received my Amazon order of books on Russia [look at the picture above]. I’m excited and reading all of them here and there.

I’m flying Swiss Air and reach Moscow on Sunday afternoon – I would stay at the Holiday Inn Suschevsky until the 13-SEP where I’ll take a training to be a good manager (LOL) and then my plans are really open. I intend to take a train to St. Petersburg on the 15-SEP and spend a week there and then visit some villages on the Trans Siberian later on before flying back to London.

Visa Tip: For those who want to travel in Russia and needs a visa; please keep in mind that you have to apply at least a month before you intend to travel. The procedure is different and complicated – but simple if you apply on time. You have to apply for a business or tourist visa in Moscow and after processing your application you will receive a Letter of Invitation (LOI) by DHL – this takes 20 working days. Then you take this original LOI and file another application at the Russian embassy in your resident country along with your photo, resident card, insurance policy and a cover letter from the employer – the visa is issued normally on the same day that you apply.

This would be the first of many posts to come on Russia and my experiences there – watch out for this space and wish me good luck in my travels there.