Travel Russia!

Tours to Russia

2008-12-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

The following is a paid review:

New Year's celebration is coming and I was asked to offer you a great way to spend it in Russia. I talk about Baltic travel company's (located in UK) tours to Russia. So what do they have.

First of all it's guiding tours to Moscow, St. Petersburg and some other famous places. For example, choosing "Experience Russia Tour" you'll have one day to see the town where I live, Velikiy Novgorod. Program includes visiting the Kremlin and St. Sophia Cathedral, Yaroslavl Court, open-air museum Vitoslavlitsy and Cathedral of St. George. Tour's prices start at £1000 pp.

Another interesting tour is "Trans-Siberian Express". For 14 days you'll pass all Russia from West to East. You'll see Russian nature, Russian vilages, and still unexplored Eastern part of Russia.

Moscow and St. Petersburg city breaks leave you more freedom for planning your holidays. It would be mainly interesting for experienced travellers or travellers with unusual interests. Anyway, walking without guide, you can better feel the mood of the place, act like native people, make friends, and do things you can't do with a guide =). Russians are friendly to tourists, so you can be free to walk wherever you want . City breaks are much cheaper than guided tours. Prices start at £500 pp.

P.S. Happy New 2009 year =)!

ReviewMe

2006-11-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

The following is a paid review:

I would agree to sit in prison if there were a computer and the Internet (and that me fed and started up in a toilet). The Internet, if you yet have not understood, is more terrible than the Siberian ulcer, the bird's flu and AIDS. In the future, people will migrate to the Internet but not in cosmos. I don’t know how it will be; I hope somebody will think it out for me...

And where those times when I stood in a queue at cinema on "The Matrix"!

More ingeniously then the Internet to think up nothing. Judge: on the Internet you can get virtual sex with whom has got, to copy messages from one window to another, to fall in love, exchange gossips and to have 100 friends, and certainly to earn a PayPal.

For example, free-lance work is very interesting thing. Is like you are cool designer from Kolyma, but you have free-lance work in one famous design company in Moscow or Paris. And also you receive for the design so much, how many in Kolyma nobody and never would pay to you.

Or another variant - you whimper in the blog, that you can’t find work and as a result the employer himself find you.

There is the system ReviewMe. The system is engaged in reviews. Any company, may be Audi, decided to arrange PR-action on the Internet and has addressed for service to ReviewMe. And ReviewMe ask bloggers for some payment write about Audi in their blog. Now it is popular to be a blogger and get a blog. It is considered, that it is very favorable to advertise the company in blogs.

P.S. There is same system in Russia.

Ded moroz vs Santa Claus

2006-08-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ded Moroz is a Russian analog of Santa Claus. What will be if they change their locations? You can see it in a flash movie (1,9 Mb) by Russian studio Antimult.

Plant a tree on Baikal

2006-08-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

Every man should do three things in his life: Build a house, get a child and plant a tree. But your life can became easier on one third with site Adoptree.com! This is a some kind of lifehack: you can plant a tree in one of the most beautiful places in the world, over the Internet. And, of course, you can visit your "pet" in any time.

Web 2.0 in Russia

2006-08-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

Read here.

Update: Some fair comments form the Russian side by Aleksey Andreev.

James Bond girls

2006-08-09T11:47:00.000-07:00

In certain quarters of Manhattan these days, it's not unusual to encounter characters that seem to have come right out of a James Bond film: beautiful young Russian girls with revealing outfits and hidden agendas. They're the latest status accessory in New York's power game, the mistresses of the Masters of the Universe. The fact that they're dangerous -- wild, unpredictable, on the lookout for a bigger and better deal -- only seems to increase their appeal. So certain women on the East Side are not seeing their husbands as much as they used to. "How old is your Russian?" one just-abandoned uptown wife asked another not long ago.

Originally posted: http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/nightlife/barsclub...

Russia, Racism and Pushkin

2006-08-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

The greatest gift Hannibal gave to Russia was a great grand son named Alexander Pushkin. And the greatest gift that Pushkin gave to white Russian was literature written in Russian. Without Pushkin the black poet of Russia there would have never had been some of the most famous poets of Russian history. The white racists need to remember — that the next time they see a book written in Russian. They should say to themselves we own this to a black man named Alexander Pushkin. Then realize that when they attack a black person in a hate crime they are attacking part of Puskin’s African genetics.

Originally posted: http://www.dellgines.com/?p=614

Russian Space Agency Needs 5 Volunteers for Mission to Mars

2006-08-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

The "launch" is set for late 2007.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/08/07/missiontoma...

T-shirt design

2006-08-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

I have decided to buy a new t-shirt recently. I have gone to MaryJane and some of variants was so awesome, that I have decided to write about it... Below some links, if you are still interested. =)

Here you can see t-shirts for sale, t-shirt design contests for PlayBoy, Mtv, Mazda and others. I has chosen this and had a great pleasure of watching. =)

The perpetual struggle between Capitalism and Socialism

2006-08-05T03:23:00.000-07:00

Both sides raise interesting points. A democrat would argue that social welfare programs better humanity by raising the standard of living among all people. A republican would argue that such programs only further the degradation of society by encouraging indolence. Whereas, competitiveness and self preservation (broadly defined as betterment of one-self, rather than a simple objective of survival) are hallmarks of human nature which must be emboldened at all costs. However, such differences are not always black and white and a balance is critical to the progress of humanity.

Originally posted: http://www.dime95.com/blog/politics/2006/02/13/the...

Muddy orange

2006-08-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Ukrainians might well wonder why they bothered. The bright 2004 Orange Revolution has turned a muddy, burnt orange shade now that President Yushchenko has been forced to take his arch-foe into the heart of his Government.

Viktor Yushchenko, the hero of the Orange Revolution and passionate advocate of closer links with the West, has finally picked the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych as his next Prime Minister.

Today Ukraine’s parliament will vote on the nomination. But the outcome is all but a formality — and for Yushchenko it is a catastrophe.

Originally posted: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2298438,00...

Let's talk

2006-08-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

For thoose of you, who are learning Russian language. Now I had a Skype account. It is sergey.belyakov. I will train my practical English with great pleasure. So, if you want to talk with me - just call. =)

Kazan "off screen"

2006-08-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

I didn't post such nice material for a long time! Photo exhibition Kazan "off screen" is about capital of Tatarstan - city that recently celebrate his 1 000 day of birth.

All photos are beautiful and comic, but you should know some Russian to understand image text: "Dear brothers and sisters! Candels buyed on the street are not valide in cathedral! Don't use it please.", "Muslim will do massage", "People in building" etc.

Nick Paton Walsh: "How I learned to love Vlad"

2006-07-31T04:34:00.000-07:00

As it feels like a sin, then this must be a confession. I have been in Moscow for four and a half years, reporting on the presidency of Vladimir Putin - its slow erosion of democratic freedoms, its savage disregard for the individual, its petro-dollar arrogance. I've been reflexively critical, due to the obvious truth that the battered Russian people deserve something better. They have done for centuries. But now my time here has come to an end, I need to confess: I am becoming something of a Putin fan.

The Guardian correspondent in Russia Nick Paton Walsh returning home. Some kind words from he.

Moscow photo blog

2006-07-30T03:17:00.000-07:00

This photo is from Moscow In My Eyes photo blog by Svetlana.

Russian Scammers

2006-07-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

In 2004 the United States Embassy in Moscow received 3126 complaints by Americans claiming to be the victims of fraud. Less than 20% of murders are solved in Russia, so do not expect anyone to take your monetary loss seriously.

Review of Russian scams: High Yield Investment Program, Dating Scams, Package and Money Transfers. You should read it before starting exporation of Russia. Danger is real!

Russia’s Spam King - Vardan Kushnir

2006-07-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

He withheld pay from employees, boasted of his sexual adventures, enraged government officials, and flooded Russia with 25 million emails a day. Then one morning, Vardan Kushnir’s mother found his bloodied body on the bathroom floor, skull bashed in.

Wow! Interesting detective story with bad end from Wired. Don't doubt: I am received 1-2 mails from American Language Center, as all Russia.

Russia and Europe: friends or enemies? What are your stakes?

2006-07-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

One more interesting link to the Mosnews! With hot title "Europeans See Russia as Partner, U.S. as Threat — Poll"!

The Village of Moscow

2006-07-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Village of Moscow (state Michigan). Thanks for link to Dirty.ru.

The week of Putin

2006-07-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

President is popular as never before! First titles only about Putin and G8. One of them is "More Russians Trust Putin After G8, Basayev Death — Survey".

President Vladimir Putin’s rating rose from 77 to 79 percent after he hosted the Group of Eight summit and security forces claimed responsibility for killing Russia’s most wanted man Shamil Basayev. The poll was carried out by the independent Moscow-based Levada Center on the G8 weekend when pictures of Putin hosting world leaders in a restored 18th century palace outside St. Petersburg led every television news program in Russia, Bloomberg reports.

More info: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/07/21/putinrating.sh...

Putin’s First Car

2006-07-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

An old Ukrainian-made “Zaporozets,” which belonged to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be exhibited in St. Petersburg’s Konstantinopol’skiy Palace — the museum where the Group of Eight summit took place.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/07/19/putinszaporo...

Back in the USSR!

2006-07-19T08:32:00.001-07:00

Image text:

Once upon a time, McCartney write a song "Back in the USSR!"
And all have thought, that he has betraid his native Britain and, god save the, Queen.
- BAD! BAD! BAD!
- Commy!
- Go back to bears in Syberia!

More strips by Aleksey Nikitin: Britolz and Jesus said.

Russia Launches $1.3 Million Mobile Phone

2006-07-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Diamond Crypto Smartphone, designed by luxury accessories maker Peter Aloisson, is priced at a crisp $1.3 million and is tagged as the costliest in the world. Apart from the enticing looks, this phone manufactured by the Moscow-based JSC Ancort Company uses powerful encryption technology to provide special security. This technology is used with the aim of securing the user’s identity together with keeping intact info about kidnapping, technological blackmail, financial racketeers and corrupted state officials.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/07/18/phone.shtml

Fireman's Day in Russia

2006-07-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

On April 30th, Moscow celebrated Fireman’s Day with a parade featuring burning torches, bowls of fire, fireworks, crackers, stilts and musical instruments.

People dressed up as firemen, chimney sweepers, lamplighters and other, less recognizable, characters marched through downtown Moscow. The crowd passed through the city scattering sheaves of sparks to its final destination, Tsvetnoy Boulevard, where the event concluded with a large fireworks display.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/images/g/s139.shtml

Kissing garden

2006-07-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

I see, Lao makes some movement there. But there is one link, that I can't be silent about!

Everything is extremely simple in "Kissing garden" - grown up your fruit and kiss others. With help of kisses, fruits grow up very big.

Main thing takes part not in Internet, but in you. Watch what occures around you, listen to your feelings, thoughts, senses - what people give you, and what you give to them. that is important.

Originally posted: http://kiss.ksan.ru/about/

My fruit grow here.

P.S. Yes, I am still alive. ;)

Now, mostly as an editor.

The president in residence means traffic congestion!

2006-07-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Why?
G8 leaders in St. Petersburg!

Welcome to Vladimir Putin's Russia. The façades are freshly painted; everything glints with the sheen of new money. In the run-up to the summit, the Russian president is not only honoring dead democrats but has taken to spending hours meeting with pro-democracy NGOs. So eager is he to burnish his liberal credentials, in fact, that last week he politely thanked environmentalist hecklers for interrupting him. As leaders of the world's leading industrialized democracies—plus Russia—gather this week to discuss, among other things, Iran and energy security, the larger questions may concern Russia itself. Just what kind of nation has it become under Putin, and where is it heading? "Times are changing; there is a new reality now, says top Putin aide Sergei Prikhodko. Or, as Dmitry Trenin of the Carnegie Moscow Center puts it: "Moscow has left the Western orbit. It's now in free flight."

Originally posted: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13774391/site/news...

Welcome to Russia!

2006-07-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

Life in Sent-Petersburg is really interesting and bright if you have money and you know when it will happens. A lot of clubs, galleries, festivals, different subcultures… - you‘ll need more and more time to see everything!

Theatres and museums are typical food for typical tourists. But I wanner show you other side of Russia. I wanner shock you.

The 4th St. Petersburg Tattoo & Body Art Festival – is the largest event of that kind in Russia, which gathers the best Tattoo masters and the Largest Tattoo Studios of Russia and the Former Soviet Union. This is the only chance in a year to see the Tattoo Art & Industry in Russian Federation.
…The end of this festival is show called hanging. Least said soonest mended. More and more photos here.

More info about festival here.

Putin, Nikita and stomach

2006-07-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Recently Russian president Putin surprised a crowd of foreign and Russian tourists. By the way to residence Vladimir Vladimirovitch mind to communicate with tourists. He drawed attention to the boy 4-5 years old. He kneeled down and asked boy his name. Boy answered "Nikita", Putin lifted the boy's shirt and kissed his stomach. He then stood up, patted Nikita on the head and than walked away through the crowd of amazed tourists.

At the 6th of July Vladimir Putin will conduct a press conference. He’ll answer on the questions from foreign and Russian web users.
Of course most popular question (18 527 voices) "Answer, please, what was the reason of your act - kissing boy Nikita in stomach?"

More info here.

Image text: Kiss my shiny metallic stomach!

Originally posted: http://zhgun.livejournal.com/322879.html

My step

2006-06-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

Great! Some kind of revolution here! SeBe thought that's enough for him and quit. So now here Lao will be. Will be trying and posting recent information worth hearing. All your pleasure or displeasure please leave in comments, that would be just at the right place.

Russian illurtrators

2006-04-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Collection of best Russian illurtrators on site of Art. Lebedev Studio. They are very different, but they are making face of magazines, books and web-sites in Russia. Wonderful show.

The cosmodrome Baykonur

2006-04-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

Denyok Efremov is a blogger, photographer and the admier of extreme sport. But the main thing now, is that he done a great photosession of Soviet cosmodrome Baykonur. Enjoy.

10 years after Chernobyl accident

2006-04-18T04:32:00.000-07:00

Site about great tragedy of Soviet Union.

Russian writers read their pieces

2006-04-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

At ImWerden library, you can hear records of Russian poets and prose writers reading their pieces. There are such classics as Joseph Brodsky, Alexander Blok, Anna Akhmatova, Vladimir Mayakovsky and many, many others.

Very recommended for someones, who learn Russian language and Russian literature.

About me

2006-04-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am Belyakov Sergey Mikhailovich.

Was born 29 October, 1985 year at town Pestovo, Novgorodskaya oblast, Russian Federation. Now living in Velikiy Novgorod.

I am a student of Novgorod's state university on specialty programming. I had a big experience in web-development. You can see, for example, these two major government sites (The Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights Council under the President of the Russian Federation and National Working Group of the Civil G8 project in Russia), where I was a programming of Content Management System.

My email is: sergey.belyakov@gmail.com, ICQ: 1377852. Feel free to contact me on different questions concerning Russia and my blog. If you interested in some other information about me, please write comment on this post.

See also my profile on Blogger.

Yukos founder Khodorkovsky slashed

2006-04-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the founder of Russia's YUKOS oil company, was slashed with a knife in the Siberian prison where he is serving an eight-year sentence, a statement on his Web site said on Saturday.

"Mikhail Khodorkovsky woke up in the night and realized that his face was covered in blood. The attacker cut Khodorkovsky's face with a cobbler's knife," the statement said.

Originally posted: http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?typ...

ZhZh

2006-04-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

For many users LiveJournal is an instrument for both individual and collective creativity. Writers and journalists post drafts of their works in their journal to get an immediate response, which they can use to improve their texts. Others compile books from their LJ postings. Others still write books in online collaboration. Alexander Zhitinsky, the chief of Helicon publishing house in St Petersburg recruits his authors among LJ users. Anton Nosik, the editor-in-chief of Lenta.ru and MosNew.ru, uses LJ as a virtual working place for his editorial teams. Artists, photographers, designers and other creative professionals exchange their works and discuss their ideas with peers. Philosophers and social commentators treat their journals as personal media and win large audiences.

Russian community at Livejournal is outstandung phenomenon in world's blogosphere. Today it counts 274 763 users. Read about Russian ZhZh in research by Eugene Gorny.

Flowers in Russia

2006-04-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

It's custom in Russia to send uneven number of flowers except for Funeral/Simpathy arrangments. Simpathy and Funeral arrangments must be composed of even number of flowers. This rule is not very strict when you are sending mixed arrangments but very important when you're sending one-of-a-kind arrangment, a bouquet of roses, for example.

Originally posted: http://russianflowershop.com/flowers_in_russia.sht...

Lenin's 136-th birthday

2006-04-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Photo from: http://konoplinovich.livejournal.com/278361.html

He's everywhere. Travel the length and breadth of Russia and he'll be your constant companion. The pointed chin is ill disguised by a trademark goatee, his clipped moustache and piercing eyes speak of scholarly austerity and implacable determination. Rarely will he look you in the eye. He prefers the vast expanses of the future, which he surveys endlessly with an expression of noble absorption. Occasionally, he cannot help but fling his right arm outwards in a gesture of visionary yearning.

Originally posted: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article355951...

Hitler and Stalin dolls

2006-04-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

Originally posted: http://www.deviantart.com/view/13302540/

They are so sweet! ;)

Russia as safety for Americans, as U.S.

2006-04-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

My recent post "Travel to Russia!", concerning the U.S. State Department's announcement was a panic reaction on yellowish paper MosNews. You can travel to Russia with no more risk, then France, Great Britain or United States! And all this by version of U.S. State Department! =D

Here is a text of official report about U.S.:

All Americans, including those traveling in the transportation systems, should continue to be vigilant, take notice of their surroundings, and report suspicions items or activities to local authorities immediately.

Everybody should establish an emergency preparedness kit as well as a communications plan for themselves and their family, and stay informed about what to do during an emergency situation.

Originally posted: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=29

Thanks a lot in advance to twicker for very informative commenting of this problem.

Travel to Russia!

Moscow's skyscrapers

2006-04-08T14:03:00.000-07:00

See top of Moscow's skyscrapers in pictures. Some of them under construction now.

Travel to Russia!

2006-04-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

The U.S. State Department has advised Americans to take precautions when traveling in Russia, saying a heightened risk of terrorist attack in the country remains, the Associated Press reported.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/04/05/travelprecautions.shtml

I think, south of Russia, such as Chechnya or Ingushetia, can't be recommended for tourists. All other parts of Russia, hadn't any terrorist attacks in last time, and wait for visitors.

Russia for...

2006-04-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

Image text: Russia for Russians!

It's springtime - a time to start a war with Georgia

2006-04-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

My recent meetings in Moscow and Washington indicate that Russian-Georgian relations have deteriorated to the point where some officials in the Kremlin are seriously looking for a pretext to start a military operation to topple Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Two Moscow insiders – a veteran senior foreign policy adviser who often informally speaks for the Kremlin, and a prominent Duma member who specializes in foregin affairs -- said that the February statement by the Kremlin political strategist Gleb Pavlovsky about a possibility of Saakashvili;s assassination is more than a boast. It's a warning.

Originally posted: http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed03310...

Briton, American Detained in Chukotka for Illegally Crossing Border

2006-04-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

They told the police that they were heading from South America to Great Britain, and had crossed the Russian-American border in the Bering Strait, traveling from Alaska.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/04/04/britishameric...

Moscow scinheads

2006-04-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

NTV correspondent Elkhan Mirzoyev was beaten up by a group of youngsters in the Moscow metro on Monday morning shouting nationalist insults.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight, Mirzoyev recounted later. He was traveling by metro when a group of young men entered the car. They were drinking beer.

One of the new passengers, with hair closely cropped and dressed in camouflage and high black boots, sat down next to Mirzoyev and started to explain to him why people like Mirzoyev “must not live in Moscow”.

After that one of the youngsters poured beer on Mirzoyev, who fought back and received several blows on the head with beer bottles.

The incident occurred only a day after a senior culture official from the southern Russian province of Dagestan was savagely beaten in eastern Moscow. Zaur Titov, Culture Minister of Kabardino-Balkaria, suffered injuries in a fight with a group of drunken youngsters, as he tried to protect children who had been leaving a local cultural centre following a dancing training session, Russian NTV television reported Sunday.

Originally posted: http://mosnews.com/news/2006/04/03/reporterattac...

This is very sad and I am don't understand why goverment still doing nothing on this problem. =(

From Vladivostok to Moscow

2006-04-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

Trip from Vladivostok to Moscow longs over 10 000 kilometers and 22 days. That is a great adventure! "Moscow is not Russia", said Simon and Emma and got tickets on trans-Siberian train. I think, every Russian shoutd make this way someday, and of course it very interesting for foreigners.

As sid Russian proverb: "Better to see one time, then to hear one hundred times".

Introduction to the Russian Alphabet

2006-04-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

As I see, Introduction to the Russian Alphabet is a simple and fun way to learn russian alphabet.

Jokes about communism

2006-04-01T18:18:00.000-08:00

A socialist, a capitalist and a communist agreed to meet. The socialist was late. "Excuse me for being late, I was standing in a queue for sausages."
"And what is a queue?" the capitalist asked.
"And what is a sausage?" the communist asked.

One man to another: "Because of communism I will have a plane!"
"What do you need a plane for?"
"Well what if suddenly, say, flour is being given out in Kalug. Fly for half an hour--and I'm there!"

On Armenian radio there came a question from abroad: "Is it true that in the USSR the pay does not correspond to the work?"
"Incorrect. It corresponds quite well. They pretend to pay and we pretend to work."

Is it possible to live on your salary?
Don't know, didn't try.

What's the difference between socialism and capitalism?
Under capitalism one person exploits another person, and under socialism - the opposite.

When did the first Soviet elections take place?
When God put Eve before Adam and said: "Choose yourself a wife!"

The seven miracles of the Soviet Authority:
There is no unemployment, yet nobody works.
Nobody works, yet the Grand Scheme is carried out.
The Grand Scheme is carried out, yet there is nothing to buy.
There is nothing to buy, yet there are lineups everywhere.
There are lineups everywhere, yet everyone has everything.
Everyone has everything yet everyone is dissatisfied.
Everyone is dissatisfied, yet everyone votes 'Yes'.

Why did the Supreme Soviet decided to invade Afghanistan?
They decided to begin alphabetically.

What is Russian business?
Stealing a box of vodka and selling it so as to have money to spend on drink.

Originally posted: http://www.geocities.com/troys_tales/jokes.html?20...

Thanks to Veronica Khokhlova for link.

Internet charity foundation

2006-04-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

Pomogi.Org, the Internet charity foundation, was established in March 2005 by two private individuals - Anton Nossik and Sarra (Yelena) Nezhelskaya - and officially registered with Russian and U.S. authorities in October of the same year.

The foundation's objective is to combine the efforts of Internet users across the globe with a view to ensuring the most efficient collection and distribution of target-oriented charity donations for emergency social and medical needs (operations, expensive medical treatment, assistance to children's and patients' care institutions).

Just remember this: Pomogi.Org is a simple way to make donation to Russians, who need it very much.

And one more important thing: I recommend this organizationation (knowing authority of it's founders). That is not a scam, they really helps.

Moscow daily photo

2006-03-31T18:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to see latest photos of the Moscow downtown. This is breathtaking views from high rise apartment. Our photos have been updated daily many years. We use SONY Digital Still Camera (DSC F717 and DSC R1). This is real manual work, that is why you can see the best possible quality available for the web.

Ivan.ru take panoramas of University and Stadium, New Maiden Convent, Academy of Sciences, Shukhov Tower, Christ The Savior Cathedral, and Metro Bridge. There are, also, photos of ordinary people from Moscow and all this since 2003! Best recomendations.

At Flickr Moscow group

2006-03-31T07:06:00.000-08:00

...there are 1861 photos today. Some of them very nice.

Vladimir Ilich Lenin video

2006-03-30T12:59:00.000-08:00

RAO UES of Russia has made site about GOELRO (transliteration of the Russian abbreviation for "State Commission for Electrification of Russia") plan. There are some GOELRO posters, wallpapers and screensavers there.

As I think, most interesting on this site is audio-video archive. For example, this clip (2,5 Mb). Starring: Vladimir Ilich Lenin.

Visa to Russia

2006-03-30T04:16:00.000-08:00

Generally, there are six types of Russian visas:
a tourist visa,
a business visa,
a student visa,
a personal (private) visa,
a transit visa,
a short 72-hour visa.
Each visa type corresponds to the purpose of your visit.
However, many people come for a short business trip with tourist visas, or to visit their friends with business visas. So, when choosing the type of visa, the only consideration should be — price / speed of processing / period of stay / the number of entries, and not the formal name of the visa.
Generally, the best options in terms of price, processing speed and flexibility are tourist and business visas. It's better to get a tourist visa if you plan to stay in Russia no longer than one month, and need a single- or a double-entry only. It's better to get a business visa if you plan to stay in Russia longer than 1 month and / or need a multiple-entry visa.
It is easier to obtain a tourist visa, because a business visa costs more, and takes longer to process, although it may save you time and money if you are going to visit Russia several times during 1 year.

Read more about Russian Visa at WayToRussia.Net.

10-year old girl, selling drugs

2006-03-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

"The drug dealer, a 10-year old girl, failed to get rid of the evidence before she was detained," the spokesman said. "About 30 heroin doses ... were found in her apron during a search. The girl was hiding her money in a yogurt tub and on that day her earnings were about 2,000 rubles ($72)."

Originally posted: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060328/44879972.html

Soviet caricatures from Krokodil

2006-03-27T09:17:00.000-08:00

Image text: How are they imagine United Kingdom in United States.

Image text: Around gangsters:

- I can't connect with my brother - thief and bribe-taker.
- But there is he sat?
- In the senate!

Image text: Aim and means:

- People is on the first place for our government, Jim: means for war gets mostly from them.

Image text: Hard way:

- It's difficult to become popular, now...
- Why?
- As it was earlier, you could write something totally foolish, then Mayakovskiy makes a fun of it and you get known through all the Union.

Image text: Three splinters: vodka, belief and bribe.

Krokodil (Crocodile) is a cult comic magazine based in 1922 year and stil alive. See this and many more caricatures in it's archive.

Alexander

2006-03-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

Originally posted: http://zhgun.livejournal.com/320846.html

Mr. Putin plagiarist?

2006-03-26T04:01:00.000-08:00

Large chunks of Mr. Putin's mid-1990s economics dissertation on planning in the natural resources sector were lifted straight out of a management text published by two University of Pittsburgh academics nearly 20 years earlier, Washington researchers insisted yesterday.

Originally posted: http://washingtontimes.com/world/20060324-104106...

Wouldn't be wondered if it's true.

Last news from Minsk

2006-03-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Elections in Belarus have ended.

Alexander Lukashenko won with 83% of voices. Main opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevich garnered 6.1% of the vote.

Lukashenko has had more than 100 activists arrested since Monday, many culled from the daily protests by thousands in downtown Minsk. Many fear a violent crackdown when the opposition mounts a major rally Saturday.

Originally posted: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-e...

As far as I know, there are no violence now. It seems, to be no revolutions in Minsk.

Most full catalog of Russian web-servers

2006-03-24T16:12:00.000-08:00

Is you know, how to place 367236 sites on one page? Aleksey Tutubalin knows! Black Square is the most full catalog of Russian web-servers, designed in tradition of Kazimir Malevich.

Learn face of usual Russian web-site by clicking on different points of square. It also can be interesting, to see history of Russian Internet in squares. ;)

Which dead Russian composer are you most like?

2006-03-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

Complete test and get the answer! For example, I am like Dmitri Shostakovich. =)

Other

2006-03-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

Thank me:

About me

Lytdybr:

Lao Lytdybr:

My step

Humor

2006-03-23T05:09:00.000-08:00

Pictures:

Other humor:

Weblogs

2006-03-23T04:47:00.000-08:00

About dictatorship

2006-03-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

Saparmurat Niyazov, president of the former Soviet republic, urged his country's youth to read his book Rukhnama, while speaking on state television Monday during a concert celebrating Naw Ruz (the Persian New Year).

"Anyone who reads the Rukhnama three times will find spiritual wealth, will become more intelligent, will recognize the divine being and will go straight to heaven,"

Originally posted: http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/03/21/bo...

This book is shortest way to heaven, I ever heard. Give me it!

Russian art and design

2006-03-19T06:52:00.000-08:00

Art and design:

Animation:

Comics:

Postcards:

Photo

2006-03-18T21:16:00.000-08:00

Online exhibitions:

Photo blogs:

Russian beauties:

Other photo:

Explore Russia, meet Russians

2006-03-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Explore Russia:

Meet Russians:

Russian brides:

Elections in Belarus today

2006-03-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

V.Putin had to decide to leave "Big 8" or still to support dictatorship and to have beseeching humble Belarus. But he is a sly fellow, he tries now to keep both of profits. He called out AL and reprimanded him. Perhaps he said to AL "I’m so tired from your paranoia! Stop hysterics! Let’s they will gather, what can they do against you? Why are you so afraid by results of votes? Declare about 78% of votes went to you and continue to enjoy yourself".

Originally posted: http://dsheiko.livejournal.com/25279.html

News

2006-03-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

News:

Analytics:

Sport:

Jack Straw about Iraq

2006-03-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

The "misjudgments", he argued, were taken after the end of the war. "What we have learnt is that the post-war situation has been more difficult than we planned," he said. "The planning for that was less satisfactory than it should have been." The US-led coalition hadn’t understood that the "early euphoria had to be built on very rapidly. That didn’t happen quickly enough."

Originally posted: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-209..

Spring aggravation?

2006-03-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

The leader of the Russian Communist Party has said the outbreak of bird flu in a number of European countries including Russia is a plot by the United States.

"It’s strange that not a single duck has yet died in America - they are all dying in Russia and European countries. This makes one seriously wonder why," Gennady Zyuganov was quoted by UPI as saying.

Originally posted: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/03/15/zyugan...

One hundred posts!

2006-03-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

This is my post number one hundred! This is a long way I am done. =)

Thanks to everyone, who helps me for last two months! Special thanks to Jane Keeler, from "From Russia with blog", who was first linking on me, to Raffi Aftandelian, from "Maaskva: nashimi glazami", for his kindness and to Veronica Khokhlova, from "Neeka's Backlog" for promoting me in Global Voices Weblog.

There are two things, what I should strongly work on: some unique content and my English, of course. =)

Now I should categorize my content, so don't be afraid of some system posts.

Hope, I was interesting. ;)

P.S. Afraid, I gonna use "Travel Russia!" as my blog's name. It gave me good SEO results on MSN (now waiting indexing from Google) and this auditory important for me.

The communist party!

2006-03-14T13:09:00.000-08:00

Originally posted: http://theweaselking.livejournal.com/1498318.html

Thanks to W. Shedd for link.

Live photo journal

2006-03-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Russian blogger and photographer konoplinovich recently visit open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture "Vitoslavlitsy", near Velikiy Novgorod. In his blog you can also find great photos of Saint Petersburg, Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Vladimir Ilich Lenin's monument and many more! Best recommendations.

Presidential elections in Belarus

2006-03-13T14:02:00.000-08:00

Presidential elections gonna be in Belarus on 19th March. Let's see two opinions:

Perhaps you heard the expression "Last Europe dictator". He, who is called so, heard this too. He very dislike this words. However 12 years passed and the dictator is in power now as before. It’s forbidden by the Constitution of Belarus. So, he rewrote the Constitution. Than he called presidential elections in order to there will be less conversations about dictatorship. KGB reported to him opposition forces are weak and it was guessed that there will not be any troubles. He order already to prepare papers about the dictator took 78% of electors’ votes, but it’s happened surprise.

Originally posted: http://dsheiko.livejournal.com/23974.html

I find it interesting, and frankly quite predictable, that the elections about being placed in a narrative of the Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. In fact, some are already giving the would-be "revolution" a name - the "Denim Revolution." The drama is certainly building with all the physical attacks on the opposition. Let’s see how this narrative plays out in reality. To me this poses all sorts of questions about how "democratic" elections in the Former Soviet states are being framed in the West.

Originally posted: http://seansrusskiiblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/belaru...

I am really don't know what will happen there... United States and Russia had a big interests on this elections and they will compete. Peaceful, I hope.

Vladimir Vladimirovich™

2006-03-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time Vladimir Vladimirovich™ had a dinner in his dining-room together with Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev. The two men faced a saucer with pancakes, a green tin of granular salmon caviar, a piece of New Zealand butter in a silvery pack, a bottle of "Gzhelka" vodka, and two glasses from IKEA.

"A modest party you have", mumbled Vladimir Vladimirovich™, putting some caviar on his pancake, "Where are the guests?"

"What guests?.. Now I have none...", Mikhail Sergeevich waved his hand in disappointment and filled his glass with vodka.

"Well, to you!", said Vladimir Vladimirovich™, raising his glass, "If not you, I would be still in GDR, saving money for a 'Lada'. Thanks, Bro." The two men drank the health of Mikhail Sergeevich.

"You see, how it all happened", putting some dew-coated butter on his pancake, "I gave you all the opportunity to earn billions, and I myself now have to advertise pizza".

"A historical unfairness", nodded Vladimir Vladimirovich™, chewing his pancake, "This is going to happen to me as well. To everyone, in fact".

"I wonder", asked Mikhail Sergeevich, refilling their glasses with vodka, "Who's next? How can we guess?"

"There's nothing to guess", said Vladimir Vladimirovich™, taking the glass into his Presidential Hand, "Lukashenko is sure to be the next. He has a Maidan of his own already".

"You don't say so!", exclaimed Mikhail Sergeevich in surprise, "Well, everything flows and changes, and we are getting old, aren't we, Bro?"

"I still have some time left", said Vladimir Vladimirovich™, raising the glass, "Seven hundred fourty-five days more!"

"You mean what?", asked Mikhail Sergeevich, raising, in turn, his glass, "Are you counting the days?"

"It's Kasparov who counts", answered Vladimir Vladimirovich™, "I have no time for it - I'm ruling the country. Cheers, Bro! To perestroika!"

The two men drank again.

Vladimir Vladimirovich™ is a blog with fun stories about president of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. Mr. Parker also published a book by materials of site.

Wallpapers from best Russian illustrators

2006-03-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

I am searching wallpaper for my desctop, today. There is a one Russian site, there I get wallpapers all the time. Wallpapers from best Russian illustrators are placed on Wallpapers[ru] and I hardly recommend it to you.

By the way, that's what I am choosed:

Originally posted: http://wallpapers.ru/cgi-bin/arty3/forum/show.cgi?m=...

Khodorkovsky's destiny as destiny of Russia

2006-03-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

Deep in the bowels of Siberia, in a grim penal colony where the winter temperatures reach 40 degrees below zero, a man who was once one of Russia's richest tycoons and head of its largest oil company is now serving an eight-year sentence.

Originally posted: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/14...

Everything changes

2006-03-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Everything changes... And my blog too. Here list of today's, innovations. I hope you wouldn't dislike it very much. ;)

Name! Yes, I change my blog's name. Greet "Travel Russia!". I am afraid that is not a human name, but robots one. Target auditory of this name is search engine bots. ;)
On the other side, RubLog is a simple weblog server, maybe I shouldn't steal another's name...
SEO changes in blog template, that I write recently, done at last.
Menu Explore Russia on the right bar was deleted. Add this page to favorites, if you want to remember this menu. On the blank space I will create a blog navigation menu.

What the Russian papers say

2006-03-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

Novaya Gazeta: "Russia will benefit from any Iranian scenario"
Vedomosti: "Algerian army to receive new Russian weapons"
Kommersant: "Business community worried by Putin's counterterrorism bill"
Gazeta: "Russian almost a priority in Ukrainian election campaign"
Biznes: "Domestic gas prices will rise in Russia"

Originally posted: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20060309/44123237.html

Daily papers reviews are aviable at RIA Novosti.

Russian tales - Sadko

2006-03-10T11:01:00.000-08:00

In the north of Holy Russia lies the mighty and glorious town of Novgorod, known to all as Lord Novgorod the Great. And once there lived in great Novgorod a bard, a musician of some repute, by name: Sadko. He had little in the way of gold, and to support himself he made the rounds of the noble feasts and banquets, entrancing and delighting everyone, whether prince or boyar, merchant or peasant, with his marvelous skill on the gusli and his golden voice and his skill at weaving words and music into mighty visions of the exploits of Russian folk. He was always in demand and he looked forward to a day when he might have saved enough money to allow him to sing and play simly for pleasure rather than sustenance.

Sadko is a well-known Novgorodian tale about a bard and sailor. This and many more Russian tales aviable on Russian Crafts.

Chukotka and Sakhalin photo

2006-03-09T16:45:00.000-08:00

We were flying just ahead of the sun, outside the time. Time zones changed one another and we could not follow this sudden change. We landed first in Tcheliabinsk and then in Irkutsk; night changed by the day, and then again we were high up in the sky, falling into a deep and bright dreaming.

See beautiful photo collections of Chukotka and Sakhalin by Sergey Emets.

Apologies

2006-03-08T14:27:00.001-08:00

Japan’s sports minister has been forced to apologize for a public gaffe after saying he was very happy to see Russian figure skating star Irina Slutskaya fall at the Turin Winter Olympics, AFP reported.
Two-time world champion Slutskaya, who was the last to perform in the closely-fought women’s figure skating competition, fell on a combination of jumps, clearing the way for Japan’s Shizuka Arakawa to take the gold medal.

Originally posted: http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/03/07/japanes...

That's fun, how rules of etiquette sometimes limit our actions. Everyone knows, that Japan’s minister did not bear it malice to Irina Slutskaya, but everyone thinks apologies is a very big deal, now.

Good luck to Shizuka Arakawa and his fan minister Kenji Kosaka. =)

Women's day - 8th March

2006-03-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

8th of March is an International Women's Day - one of the main holydays in Russia. Congratulations to all women in the world. Wish you to be happy, beautiful and healthy.

Women is the most beautiful and clever part of humans and we love you this day, more then any other day of the year.

For mens:

In Russia, it is usual to present flowers on 8th March. You still have time to make it, with Send Flowers or Flowers 2 Russia.

The Russian Photography Collection 1917-1945

2006-03-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

Image text: The Free Land Use Act

The Russian Photography Collection is comprised of approximately 7,000 gelatin-silver photographs by the leading photographers and photojournalists working in Soviet Russia between the two World Wars.

Must to see!

Russia’s Main Pro-Kremlin Party Posts 1 Million Members

2006-03-06T16:00:00.000-08:00

Boris Gryzlov, leader of United Russia and also the speaker of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, said: "By morning, the quantity of our party members was 999,546 people. Taking into account that over 500 party membership cards were rendered per day, today a millionth party member will receive his or her card".

Moscow Photos

2006-03-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

There are good photo collections of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, I find today. You can also check portfolio of it's author Albert Hajrullin.

Learn Russian

2006-03-04T17:04:00.000-08:00

Almost all people in big cities of Russia know English language. In small towns situation much worse, thats why it is very useful to learn Russian.

John Paul II

2006-03-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

The 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II was the result of precise orders from the Soviet Union, an Italian parliamentary investigation has concluded.

Originally posted: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-20668...

It's can't be true. There are no one reason to order it in Kremlin in 1981. I think, someone just want to "brand" John Paul II as a world's communism defeater...

It is Spring!

2006-03-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry for lack of news yesterday. We worked, and worked, and worked, and has finished site of Civil G8, at last. I'll try to waste more time on my blog, now.

You should know: I love all my readers very much, I very greatful to all who helps me, and I very proud of my blog.

What's more I want to say... Did you see it? It is Spring! =)

Backlinks

2006-03-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

Caution! Some unuseful backlinks for web directories.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov

2006-03-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

Mr Kadyrov, previously a rebel fighter who fought against the Russians, was appointed to carry out Mr Abramov's functions in his absence and began to stamp his own mark on Chechnya by introducing elements of Sharia law, which is derived from the teachings of the Koran. He has advocated polygamy and has clamped down on alcohol consumption and gambling.

Originally posted: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article348393...

Trip to Moscow

2006-03-01T13:58:00.000-08:00

American, now living in Vladimir, blogger Jane Keeler has visited Moscow, recently. Today, she post entire report about this trip (with good photos) in "From Russia with blog". There are a lot of places, where she take photos: Novodevichy Monastery and Novodevichy Cemetery, VNDKh and Space program monument, Kremlin, Red Square, Trinity Monastery, MXT Chekhov Theater, Moscow State University and even Communists demonstration.

Russian Beauties - Alsou Safina

2006-02-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

In 2000, Alsou recorded her first English language single and was promptly entered into the Eurovision Song Contest, eventually coming second overall. The song she sang went on to sell 100,000 copies and became the biggest selling single of all time in her home country, surpassed only by Alsou`s next single, a duet with Enrique Iglesias. "I really enjoyed performing with him in the Kremlin and I hope our paths will cross again".

Text from: http://www.alsou.com/AboutAlsou.asp

Results of Olympic Games in Torino

2006-02-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

Russian Federation has get 8 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals and get fourth place in Nation's medals rank. Here you can see all our medalists.

Ice Hockey

2006-02-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Egor Zhgun for this delightful picture. That is it about? See the chronology of events:

Russia - the place to blog

2006-02-26T14:01:00.000-08:00

Whether you knew what at Livejournal.com, it is possible to find communities of almost all large cities of Russia? Look there:

Novgorod: novgorod
Moscow: overheardmsk, idu_shagayu, moya_moskva, znayu, moscow_ru, moscow_history, msk_pohod, moscow_mystery
Saint-Petersburg: spb_ru, spb_guide, interesniy_spb, karta_spb, spb_postcards, overheardspb, retro_piter
Nizhny Novgorod: nnov, ru_nnov, photo_nn
Novosibirsk: novosibirsk, nsk_ru
Chelyabinsk: uralochka, chelyabinsk
Samara: samara_ru
Ekaterinburg: eburg, ekb
Zelenograd: zelenograd
Kazan: kazan
Koktebel: koktebel
Vladivostok: vladivostok
Rostov na Donu: rostov_don
Kaliningrad: kenigsberg
Omsk: omsk
Perm: gorodperm, perm
Kemerovo: kemerovo
Krasnodar: krasnodar
Naberezhnie Chelny: chelny
Irkutsk: irkutsk
Ufa: ufa
Voronezh: voronezh
Tomsk: tomsk_ru
Volgograd: volgograd
Yaroslavl: yaroslavl
Kostroma: ru_kostroma
Vybord: vyborg
Smolensk: smolensk
Kaluga: kaluga
Belgorod: belgorod
Orenburg: orenburg
Lipetsk: lipetsk
Chita: chita_foto
Serpuhov: serpuhov
Orel: ru_orel
Bryansk: ru0832
Ulan-ude: luna_ude
Krasnoyarsk: krsk

It is written with great help of LJplus.ru.

Lytdybr

2006-02-25T12:58:00.000-08:00

Not concerning all Russians, but me:

English, French and Russian soldiers are caught by nazis. They all are sentenced to death. Nazis lead them to the yard and ask if they have any last wishes. The Englishman says:
- A mug of beer.
He is brought a beer. The Frenchman says:
- A bottle of wine.
He is brought some wine. The Russian says:
- Kick me in the butt real hard.
A big 2-meter tall nazi steps forward and gives him a real mighty boot. The Russian flies several meters, falls to the ground like a piece of shit, jumps to his feet, grabs a machine gun from one of the Nazis, shoots them down and then the three prisoners run away. After a while the other two ask him:
- Why didn't you do that earlier? We were almost killed!
- We Russians cannot do anything unless someone kicks our butt!

Originally posted: http://www.jokes.pp.ru/c16p2.pl

So... You know... I should work!

Russian women - Extra body

2006-02-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

The shattered outlook of modern youth expressed in daily house conditions, nakes the broken communication between generations and a difference in their perception of modern culture

See photo exhibition Extra body by Dmitry Shubin.

Update: Blogger Raffi Aftandelian also has looked online exhibition and translate author's opinion. Read his comments in Maaskva: nashimi glazami.