Video: Land Trip-Europe (Day 22: Moscow, Russia)

Video update for Day 22: Moscow, Russia

My first city in Europe by LAND! This was exactly one year ago...

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Video: Land Trip-Europe (Day 19-21: Trans Siberian Train; Russia)

Ok, another video update for Day 19-21: Trans Siberian Train; Russia

The day I arrived in Europe by LAND!

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Land Trip - Europe (Day 25-26: St Petersburg, Russia)

25 Aug 2011 (Day 25)

I missed eggs so much that I just had to eat it. I bought some eggs from the Supermarket (my favorite place) the previous day and fried 2 Sunny-side ups for my breakfast.

Met Raul, a nice young man from Mexico, and decided to join him to visit Catherine's Palace. It was quite a long journey - 1 hour and a half.  Took the Metro and transferred to a bus.

Catherine's Palace is huge and has a huge garden and a lake that goes with it.

Went to Peter & Paul Fortress for a while and headed to Peterhof Palace. 

On the way to Peterhof Palace, my traveling partner, Seng Yew and I were pickpocket targets! While waiting for the train in the underground Metro Station, there were 2 guys who kept staring at us. They were wearing typical sports jacket and were following us. We tried to move to another section but I saw one guy was on the phone and kept staring at my direction. As he came nearer, I maneuvered my way into a crowd of people and went the other way.

First, you must understand that before I noticed 2 guys staring at us, there was this Russian girl who came up to me and asked for directions in Russian!!! Hey, no matter how you look at me or which angle you look at me, I still don't look like Russian or like someone staying in Russia. And I read that pickpockets usually work in pairs or in a group. So that girl was obviously a distraction and I just said "I don't know" and walked away. 

We made sure that the 2 guys were not in the same carriages as we boarded the train. The carriages in Russia are not connected like the MRT in Singapore so the guys would not be able to come anywhere near us. We also made sure that they were not following us when we alighted.....Close shave!

Fountains are the things to see in Peterhof Palace. But I arrived only after 5:30pm, which meant that the fountains were already switched off. The good news? The entry ticket price is much cheaper.

Without the fountains, I could already see the grandeur of the place. The Grand Cascade is truly magnificent. I could only imagine how it would look like when the fountains were on.

(The Grand Cascade)

26 Aug 2011 (Day 26)

I booked the tickets to the Hermitage Museum online to avoid long queues there. It is a little more expensive compared to getting it at the ticket booth, but the price includes video and photography, which you need to pay additionally if you get the tickets at the Museum.

The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. It was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. Its collections comprises of nearly 3 million items, including the largest collection of paintings in the world.

For a person who doesn't know how to appreciate art, I spent more than 3 hours in the Hermitage! It is definitely a must-go place in St Petersburg (MY CITY). Yes, even if you don't know how to appreciate art!

(Lenin's Statue outside Finland Station)

(Church of the Savior on Blood)

 

(Inside The Hermitage)

(Henri Matisse's Dance)

On the way back, I walked to see St Issac Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and one of the most popular attractions there. Look at the main dome. It is plated with pure gold!

(St Issac Cathedral)

Took some photos and went back to get ready for my bus trip to Riga, Latvia!!!

After almost being pick-pocketed, MY LIFE WAS NEVER, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...............................EEEE.....................................EEVER, THE SAME AGAIN!!!

Land Trip - Europe (Day 23-24: Moscow to St Petersburg, Russia)

23 Aug 2011 (Day 23)

Met up with Ardi at 9:45am to see Lenin's Mausoleum. It opens at 10am so I thought that we were early. I was wrong! The queue was already very long when we got there and we had to queue for 1 and a half hour just to see the embalmed body of Lenin! Not sure if it was really worth the wait to see the Mummy of Lenin but I guessed I learned my lesson. Must be really early for such popular attractions.

The next must-go destination in the Capital of the Russian Federation is the Kremlin. So I paid 350 Rubles to enter. Wanted to go to the Armory to see the Diamonds but the timing wasn't right. I guess I'll do it next time.

(Entrance to the Kremlin)

After spending about 2-3hours in the Kremlin, Ardi and I parted ways. I want to go back to my hostel to rest for a while and to catch up on my blogging. I had a train to catch to St Petersburg that night. 

As I walked back to my hostel, I bought a super-delicious Hot Dog from a Kiosk. I saw many locals queuing up for it and I simply followed. Really great Hot Dog! Then I stumbled upon Tretyakov Drive again. The same place I stumbled upon the previous night and bought the cars, remember?

(Tretyakov Drive-One of the World's most expensive street)

 (One of the Metro Stations)

Got back to my hostel, got some things done, and off I went to the Railway Train Station. It is a sleeper train with 4 beds per "cabin". The thing is that the so called "cabin" has got no doors. It is just next to the corridor.

24 Aug 2011 (Day 24)

6:15am. Arrived in MY CITY, St Petersburg!!!

Walked to my Hostel in less than 10 minutes! What a contrast to Moscow! St Petersburg is the second largest city in the former Soviet Union and has a lot more to offer than its capital. Many people I met told me that they preferred St Petersburg than Moscow. Me too! Of course, it is MY CITY!

For one, more people speak English here. Second, the Metro is a whole lot easier to understand and use. Third, the Metro has signs in English! (As well as most part of the city.) So, navigating around the city is not a problem at all. Easy peesy...

(Moskoysky Vokzal Railway Station)

(Russian Lunch)

I walked down Nevsky Prospekt, the main Avenue of St Petersburg and one of the Most Famous Streets in Russia. It is the city's main artery and cuts through the historical center of the city.

I walked all the way from my Hostel to the Neva River along Nevsky Preospekt. I think I took 3 hours? Of course I went to malls, took pictures along the way and ate lunch. But it is really a long street. Then I walked back. Took 1 hour.

(Alexander Column. In front of Hermitage Museum)

(Neva River. Peter & Paul Fortress at the background)

Was sorting out my videos and photos in my Hostel. Then finally, my professional camera crew arrived! My camera crew consists a total of......................1 person.

Anyway, went to have dinner at a self-service restaurant that was recommended by the receptionist in my Hostel. Food was good and cheap! 2 minutes walk from my hostel!

(Dinner time!)

After walking for more than 4 hours, MY LIFE WAS NEVER, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE................EEEE.............................EEVER, THE SAME, AGAIN!!!

Land Trip - Europe (Day 22: Moscow, Russia)

22 Aug 2011 (Day 22)

Time difference: 4 hours behind Singapore.

Met a fellow traveler, Ardi, from Indonesia who took the same Trans-Siberian Train with me. We went to take the Metro to our hostel. Navigating the Moscow's Metro was an adventure in itself. Everything is in Russian. The signs, the Metro System Diagram, the Name of the stations, the Map, everything. Oh, the people speak only Russian too! Very few people in Moscow speaks English.

So we had a hard time finding out where to go, which platform to go and which side to g. The thing is that the colour of the Station Names, Signs & Arrows doesn't correspond to the Metro Map. I had to know the Name of the Station in English and memorise the Cyrillic Alphabet and then match it to the map and signage in the Underground Metro. To make things worse, there were tons of people going in and out of the Metro at any one time. And I heard that there are many pickpockets in the Metro and had to be really careful. It was scary.

Oh, the architecture in the Metro Stations is beautiful. It is different for every station and some stations are really grand. It is a sight to see!

Somehow managed to find my way to the Metro Station I was supposed to alight and I had to do 2 Metro trains transfer! Walking from one line to the other was stressful. Because of the large number of  people walking around me and I had be wary of pickpockets. Carrying my HUGE Haversack too.

Got out of Kitay Gorod Station and got lost while finding my hostel. It was supposed to be a 15 mins walk but turned out to be 45mins. I asked for directions, and even showed people the Address in Russian but they still did not know the place or they didn't know what I was taking about. It was just frustrating. Thank God that I met this gentlemen after 30mins, and he can speak English!!!

First person I met in Moscow who understands English. He was so nice to me and led me all the way to the front door of my Hostel! Couldn't be more thankful! Otherwise, I might walk for more than an hour and still not find the Hostel.

Dropped my Haversack and went out immediately. Didn't even take a shower! Just so you know that I didn't shower for 6 days during the Trans-Siberian Train Ride even though there was a attached Shower Room in my cabin. It was too cold and there was no water heater. So I went out with the same clothes that I wore for the past 6 days without bathing! I just wanted to make use of all the time to see the place. In smell--ly clothes & body though.

Changed currency to Rubles (Russian Currency) and off I went to the Red Square. Didn't get to see the Red Square in all its glory because there were spectator stand erected and occupied half of the Red Square. It was long and wide nonetheless. A big Square. Oh, the Square isn't Red by the way.

The Kremlin Walls are Red though, and it is really high. It goes up to 19 meters at some parts.

(Kremlin Walls)

Saw one of the most famous landmarks in Moscow - St Basil's Cathedral, which is big and colourful.

 (St Basil's Cathedral)

(Outside the Kremlin)

Met my fellow traveler, Ardi, at GUM Shopping Center (which is an attraction itself) and continued to walk with him to Old Arbat Street (which is a street full of souvenirs & buskers) and to New Arbat Avenue (which is an avenue full of upscale shops & restaurants). 

 (Old Arbat Street)

(New Arbat Avenue)

 

Ardi and I wanted to try some Russian Cuisine and went to look for a recommended restaurant. We walked for quite a while only to see that place under construction. Maybe the building was being torn down or undergoing some renovation. The time was already 10:15pm (Moscow time) and we were starving. While looking around for some Russian Cafe or Restaurant, we stumbled upon one of the World's Most Expensive Street - Tretyakov Drive. All the big brands are there. And then some. 

Showrooms for Super Cars are located in that vicinity so I got myself a Lamborghini, 2 Ferraris, 3 Maseratis, and a few Bentleys since I was already there. 

Finally found a random Russian Restaurant Bar and had my First Russian Cuisine. Tasted a bit unusual from what I was used to. Nice nonetheless.

(My Frist Russian Dinner)

By the time we finished with our food, it was already 11:40pm. Before the trip, I've heard lots of horror stories about Moscow so I was really cautious on my way back to the hostel. It was dark and I was walking so fast that I can feel the muscle burn in my legs. Ran for a while too. Took me about 15mins?  

For your own sake, please do not walk back alone at such a late hour in a foreign country, whether it is the former Soviet Union or not. I seriously don't recommend it.

I was staying in a 4-bed mixed dorm and the 3 ladies who were staying there were already sound asleep. I did my best to be quiet but the moment the door opened, 2 of them woke up. Quickly went to the toilet and bathed for the first time in almost 7 days! Never felt so happy bathing before! 

Go to Moscow and YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.......................EEEEE....................................EEVER, BE THE SAME, AGAIN!!!