Way to Russia Community and Forum

kian · Just Starting Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 4

Hi there,

I am planning to (finally!) take the Trans-siberian train from St. Petersbourg to Moscow to Vladivostok (perhaps a few more stops). Although I've been reading a lot about this and have a pretty good feeling about the trip, I still feel I need some more advice from people who have been to Russia before, live there or anyone who feels like responding Smile

So here's the deal: I was born in Germany but my parents are both Chinese, hence people might think I'm from China (oh and I'm in my early 20s, but as many Asians, I look younger than I really am). I love travelling on my own, have done that before and am intending to travel alone this time aswell. What do you think..? My biggest concerns are bribes and racial attacks, especially in St. Petersbourg and Moscow. Is a good common sense enough to 'survive' Russia like any other foreign (European) country?

I have looked through many topics, but I couldn't find one with the same questions all together Smile

I know racism and bribes aren't the most uncommon topics here (as I have probably read them all) but I would still like to hear opinions about particular case.

romdur · Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189

kian,

I'm no expert, but I'll tell you my perspective.

To the best of my understanding, the people most likely to experience unwelcome attention on the basis of ethnicity, are those who appear to be from the Caucasus or central Asia. I don't know whether an ethnically Chinese person like yourself is likely to be "categorized" in this way.

I expect that you will see many "asiatic" faces during your trip, but probably more and more as you travel eastward. I occasionally see people who I would suppose to be of east asian ancestry in St. Peterburg and Moscow, but not often.

Good common sense, as you wrote, should stand you in good stead in Russia. It seems that the majority of tourists who get into nasty situations exercise poor judgment: going into rough-looking neighborhoods at night, for example, or getting drunk (or hanging around drunks) late at night.

Please bear in mind that while most Russians will treat you very decently, it is a much rougher country than (to my knowledge) any place in western Europe. But probably, your biggest nuisance will be men wanting to chat you up Wink

It should be a very enjoyable journey for you. I hope you will make postings on this forum, to tell us about your experience!

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 741 Location: Moscow

kian · Just Starting Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 4

thanks for your reply, romdur!
What exactly do you mean by 'rougher' country? Because I have been to Beijing and Xi'An on my own aswell (although I'm not as recognizable as a tourist over there when I put my camera away) and I noticed for example crossing roads is one hell of a dangerous job! And I can expect to pay a lot more for all sorts of things because I'm a tourist. Or should I also be a lot more beware of pickpocketing, physical violence, etc?

romdur · Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189

kian,

My travels in Russia are very limited so far, and I only know China from anecdotes, but from what I know it is a useful comparison: the big coastal cities of China are quite modern and civilized, but as one travels inland to rural areas and smaller towns, the level of civilization drops off rapidly.

Let me try to explain what I mean by rough (some people on this forum will disagree or maybe feel insulted, this is one fool's opinion):

* In Russia, apartment doors and doorlocks are usually of an extremely high standard of security - about halfway to a bank vault.

* In Russia, police shaking down money from tourists, robbing civilians, pocketing 'fines', or engaging in organized crime is just not very unusual. (Not universal - a big proportion are honest.) These things also happen in the West, but in the West, people get very offended and the bad cops are at risk to go to jail. In Russia, it is kind of normal.

* In Russia, the offering and taking of bribes at every level is quite normal.

* A typical Russian drugstore looks very much like its Western counterpart ... except that you can't touch the merchandise, there is a transparent wall in front of all of the shelves, and you must ask a clerk for the items you want to purchase.

Is the flavor starting to come across? I recommend first-time visitors not to think of Russia as a "variation on Europe." It's a REALLY different place, that has never in its long history developed traditions of law and order as you and I know them in our home countries.

Most Russian people are really decent and kind. Most Russian institutions are saturated with corruption - again, not so very different from China. Part of what I love about Russia, is the nobility (as I see it) of how ordinary people work so hard to make the best life for themselves, under truly crazy conditions.

Specifically, pickpocketing is often reported in St. Peterburg and Moscow. Lost a wallet once myself ... But this also happens in some Western cities with lots of tourists (Rome, for example).

For physical safety, I suggest using the same sensible precautions you would in any urban environment. It is safest not to go into rural areas alone, but fine with the escort of a trusted local person.

Maybe Russian drivers are not as aggressive as those in China, but they can be scary as hell (though I'm pleased and surprised to say, they are getting better each year). So the biggest physical danger most tourists encounter in Russia IS crossing the street, especially when you're tired and your guard is down. So being really careful with traffic is the best single thing you can do, to protect your safety.

kian · Just Starting Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 4

Thanks! It's really nice to hear an honest answer about this all. I have been doing research for quite a while now, asked some people who took the train last summer and my conclusion up till now is that people who have never been there before themselves or haven't been there in like 10 years all say i should definately NOT go to Russia by myself. The few people who have been there recently pretty much tell me not to be naive, nor to be paranoid, and with that in mind, I would be able to travel on my own like you said, except your answer is a bit more detailed, which is good.

I would still appreciate it very much to also hear opinions from other people, or an 'agree or disagree' on quotes! Smile

Ender · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:58 pm Post subject:

The process of crossing a street depends on a city you where. In some cities drivers are polite and precisely follow the traffic rules. Thus if you are crossing a street they will stop immediately. But in some cities they think that a street is not for pedestrians, so they will not slow down when they see a pedestrian who is crossing a street.

The difference between a tourist and locals is that locals know behavior of drivers and a tourist doesn't.

Anna_rus · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject:

I wonder where from do all foreign tourists get the idea that Russia is dangerous... They use word "survive" instead of "enjoy"... very strange... There are thousands of different nationalities live in Russia altogether and feel quite comfortable about that.

Anna_rus · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 12:26 pm Post subject:

if I were you, I would rather worry about language. Traveling alone without speaking Russian is a problem, especially in small towns.

Ender · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:36 pm Post subject:

Anna_rus · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:19 pm Post subject:

yeah, that is true. Actually I read about that tendency. I think we should not worry about that. Mass media - is a very powerful organization, it can not exist alone, always together with politics. It is their buisness. I hope Kian will have good time in Russia and enjoy her vacation!

romdur · Lounge Lizard Joined: 17 Mar 2010 Posts: 189

Anna_rus,

I love my visits to Russia - I deeply enjoy my time in your country. I encourage my friends to see Russia for themselves. I have great respect and admiration for the Russia's people.

I also try to give good information. Russia is VERY different from the West. I believe that people who are used to life and travel in the West can have a disappointing, or even dreadful, experience in Russia ... if they go to Russia without understanding how different it is.

Unfortunately, it is quite difficult for must Russians to get visas to Western countries, or to afford the cost traveling there. Поэтому, few Russians have experience to compare their homeland with Western countries.

I don't want to "paint a bad picture" of Russia -- far from it! I also don't want to "paint a rosy picture" that denies sad and difficult conditions. My wish is to "paint a true picture."

One example: Three people (a man who lived most of his life in Stalingrad/Volgagrad, a woman who grew up in Russia and lived in Ukraine, and a man who lived most of his life in Ukraine), have told me that it is dangerous for a foreigner to travel alone in a rural area (сельское место). They told me that there is risk to be robbed and even beaten. Maybe they are all wrong, I don't have data about this! But I never hear such a thing about the USA, or England, or Germany, or France, or Spain, or Canada. Even if it isn't dangerous in reality, people who lived in these regions give advice not to travel without a local person. This is not "mass media" - this is what ordinary people believe about their own homelands.

I traveled to a village in Ukraine. I didn't worry, and I had no problem. But I think that people from the West who visit Russia need to be aware, and careful, in ways that are not necessary at home.

A funny story: I know a young Russian who spent several months in America. He was driving a car, and was stopped by an American police officer. He offered the police officer a bribe, because this is what he always does in Russia! He could easily have gone to prison for doing this in my country, but he was lucky: the officer understood that my friend didn't know the American system, and explained to him that you mustn't offer money to police here.

I will soon be renewing my visa, and look forward to visiting Russia again in the spring.

Anna_rus · Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject:

You a very very welcome. By the way, where exactly are you planning to go?
I can not say for people from Ukraine. I think it's not because of Russian rural are being dangerous. When I traveled to USA, I also was told about some "black" regions which were not safe. The same can be said about almost every country. You say "Russia is different from the West". And what I say is "every country is different from another country". China is different from USA, Canada is different from Egypt, Germany is different from Italy and so on. What is really not wise is to travel without knowledge of Russian language, especially in towns which are far from Moscow.

kian · Just Starting Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 4

Would language still be a big problem if I stick to big cities? As I only have 3-4 weeks to travel through Russia, I figured to visit just a few places rather than a ''visit-europe-in-10-days-experience''. I'm talking about St. Petersbourg, Moscow, Irkutsk and Vladivostok.

And also, I just checked the trainschedules and found out trains only arrive in Vladivostok REALLY late or REALLY early, hence: still dark outside. And I also checked some hotels near the station (walking distance) but they're all really really expensive so, does anybody has experience with this kind of problem? I don't know if they also have restingrooms at the station, like in Moscow and St Petersbourg..?

Ender · Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:55 am Post subject:

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