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Russia FIFA World Cup.

Titled 'The Life is fleeting, death is long tour', two baby bombers who met in kindergarten set off in pursuit of (watching) sporting expertise. Read more

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Day 36
Monday, July 16, 2018 at 1:50 PM
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Russia Vladivostok International Airport 43.39647, 132.1645943°23’47” N 132°9’53” E
Vladivostok Incheon Sydney
July 16, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
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Day 35
Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 12:19 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Russia Bystraya 53.0212, 158.3234153°1’16” N 158°19’24” E
Heading Home
July 15, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
What an incredible journey.
To visit Russia with my old mate Brownie and support our national team was a great experience in itself. Amazingly we only had one blue but Russian beer is a great therapy.
Then to meet Matt 5000 kms away in Central Siberia at Irkutsk and traverse Lake Baikal (holding 20% of the Earth's freshwater supply) as few others have done, meet the indigenous people of Ulan-Ude, stay in their homes and join them for meals and reflect on their history; soviet and other.
The Trans Siberian Railway to Vladivostok, feel the pride of it's citizens in its significance to Russia, its food and history in the Pacific Ocean.
Kamchatka should be on everybody's to do list, don't leave it to the bucket list its too wild and beautiful.
Russian conservation in this part of the world is in good hands.
We visit the Valley of the Guysers by helicopter visting three conservation areas over 6 hours.
Fish the waters and enjoy the catch pan fried.
Ride the dog sled and feel the enthusiasm to their task. Pick me, pick me! they yelp when they realise the harnesses are being prepared. 120 mallamut huskies begging to be included in the team of six.
Matt has envisaged an amazing journey and made it work.
Thanks, Matt, for asking me.
Thanks to Rhon for encouraging me.
You should join us when we go you won't be disappointed.Read more
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Day 34
Saturday, July 14, 2018 at 10:13 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Russia Petropavlovsk 53.01424, 158.6480253°0’51” N 158°38’53” E
Harbour-Kamchatka
July 14, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We've now been waiting 2 hours for port officals to get clearance from the Russian navy to leave port. Submarine exercises are far more important.
Today is a boat excursion, deep sea fishing, seal sighting, crab catching and most importantly eating and probably vodkaing.
We have met Illya who has struck up a deep conversation with Matt on history and politics. The views of the historian and citizen have been amicably debated with Matt being invited to Illya's home near Rostov-on-Don in the west of Russia.
Well I have caught a fish in Russian waters but not the one on display. It came via her friends boat but ot still tasted superb.Read more
TravelerThanks for following Julie, its nice to know someone is sharing it. This is an an amazing trip Matt has conceived. You would live it. We will come back. I know the guides, the local best, and some yet to explore. And the people are so interesting and interested in us and our prrceptions of this confusing world. Looking forward to September 1. Go Croatia!
7/15/18Reply
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Day 33
Friday, July 13, 2018 at 7:06 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 203 m
Russia Shankhay 53.11171, 158.5721553°6’42” N 158°34’20” E
Nicholivkam Village Heliport
July 13, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Today we take a heiicopter flight to the Valley of the Guysers.
The initial flight is one hour and twenty minutes.
We have a beautiful summer's day, cloudless sky, perfect visibility of the snow capped, volcanic peaks surrounding us.
Where there is bear prints there are bears so we are escorted by armed guards the whole way.
The Valley of the Guysers usRead more
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Day 33
Friday, July 13, 2018 at 6:24 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 51 m
Russia Komsomol’skaya Ploshchad’53.03749, 158.6560853°2’15” N 158°39’22” E
Kamchatka
July 13, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
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Day 31
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Russia Gora Alekseyevskaya 43.11789, 131.8880843°7’4” N 131°53’17” E
Vladivostok
July 11, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
After 67 hours in the train (a journey not to be missed) we arrive in Vladivostok and are met by Svetlana our guide and a driver who immediately take us for a late lunch in ine if Vladivostok's finest seafood restaurants (on tbe company of course). They p ride themselves on quality seafood, our chef prepares seacucumber for us and though we know we shouldn't we do and its really nice. A softer texture than abalone with a light oyster flavour.
I do intend to leave all other seacucumber when th hey belong cleaning up the ocean floor.
Its our duty then to be driven around the city with an expert guide (but after 67 hours in the train its a bit tiring)
Fortunately I secombe to a crook tummy and leave them to it and check into the motel.
I am sure vodka is the cure. I will let you know.Read more
TravelerSounds like an epic journey !!! That is some bridge !! Hope you are over the tummy upset .lots of stories to share im sure .
7/12/18Reply
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Day 31
Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 10:41 AM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 148 m
Russia State Kremlin Palace 55.7522, 37.615655°45’8” N 37°36’56” E
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The TransSiberian: UlanUde-Vladivostoc
July 11, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
TravelerLooks pretty comfy !!!
7/12/18Reply
Traveler Is that a banana ? Or a big sausage?
7/12/18Reply
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Day 28
Sunday, July 8, 2018 at 6:49 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 616 m
Russia Stantsiya Novoil’inskiy 51.67657, 108.6997951°40’36” N 108°41’59” E
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Ulan-Ude: All day
July 8, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Ksenya and our driver Serg, meet us 8am to begin a busy day.
The task today is to check out local pkaces of cultural importance in this predominantly buddhist, Buryat society.
Buryatia, The Buryat Autonomous Republic, with a population of one million are warm, hospitibal and distinctly Asiatic.
Agela is our first host who teaches The Ankle Bone Shooting game and Horse Racing using the knuckle bone of sheep. I think we used the same in the game of 'knuckles' when we were kids.
Next stop is to the township of Old Believers.
A Christian sect exiled to Russia in the 15th Century for not adoptimg new practices in the Orthodox Church and marched 5000 kms east to exile and to establish communities in the then Siberian wastelands.
They entertain us with food, song and dancing and of course we participate. Olga's father fought in the Great Patriotic War but was exiled in 1947 for a bresch of discipline (kindness rather) and not released from the gulag until Stalin dies.
Yet there is a photo of Stalin in their home; though its treated as a museum piece rather than anything else.
A final look at Ulan-Ude and the largest statue of Lennon in Russia and its onto the Trans Siberiam railway.Read more
TravelerSpot the aussie. Great disguises!!
7/12/18Reply
Traveler Nice shot
7/12/18Reply
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Day 27
Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 7:53 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 529 m
Russia Ostrov Burdukovskiy 51.8384, 107.5812651°50’18” N 107°34’53” E
Ust-barguzin to Ulan-Ude
July 7, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Our town, Ust-barguzin on a Saturday morning.
Last night was a homestay so in the morning Nina our host a retired Cooking Teacher whipped up a traditional Russian breakfast of kasha with sultanas, fried bread buns with cheese and cold meats.
Then off. Matt has to check out some possible hotels for clients, then onto Olga's for lunch.
Olga is the French speaking daughter of a former soviet politician so enjoys her summer house with family.
Olga often entertains foreign tourists and is bit of a story teller.
Next and final stop, Ulan-Ude and visit Russia's most sacred Buddhist site the spiritual capital if Buddism in Russia. After decades of persecution Stalin approved its initial construction in recognition of the contribution made by these people in The Great Patriotic War.
Tonight we are under the stars. 5 Star ie, and the view west as Lake Baikal's biggest tributary the Angara River flows to its delta.
England is leading Sweden 1-0 in World Cup Quarter Final. Wait. It's now England 2 Sweden 0.Read more
TravelerQuaint archtecture but not sure where the five stars were,??? the breakfast sounds pretty good. Looks like you have good hosts
7/8/18Reply
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Day 26
Friday, July 6, 2018 at 2:57 PM
☁️ 10 °C
Altitude: 437 m
Russia Respublika Buryatiya 53.56961, 108.145453°34’11” N 108°8’43” E
Lake Baikal
July 6, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Leaving Aya Bay by Russian Uaz, their soviet era 4WD whose design our guide Ksenya says was so perfect it has not changed since 1963. Likened by her to a loaf of bread with wheels it reminds us of a kombi van. The design of our 2012 uaz unchanged, was probably borrowed from East Germany we suppose.
We spend most of the morning heading north in Malye More (Small Sea) the stretch of Lake Baikal between the western edge and Olkhon Island.
We stop for lunch at the very scenic town of Khuzhir.
We are currently on a 2 hour crossing of the lake to Holy Nose a former island now joined to eastern Lake Baikal by sandspit. Here we see 65% Orthodox Christians, 25% Shaman and the rest Buddhist. The boat is aluminum hulled and about 25' so its a bumpy ride on open water.
We briefly stop to observe Cape Kohboy but the weather is poor, so poor our kind and captain are in constant communication with the shore for weather updates. The decision is made to proceed.
Rather than 2 hours the journey by bumpy boat takes 4 hours.
We arrive at Chivirkuy Bay then be driven another hour (thankfully this time in a Landcruiser) to arrive at our homestay but more a bnb at Ust-Barguzin
Our host Natasha has a dinner of cabbage and potato soup, fush cakes and rice and sweets ready on the table for us.
What's more she kindly heated up the bathhouse, the Russian way of combining a sauna and a self dowsing shower in one room. A great, cleansing experience.Read more
Traveler4 hours in that noisy boat does not sound very inviting and the weather looked unkind . Fascinating experiences im sure
7/8/18Reply
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Day 25
Thursday, July 5, 2018 at 4:24 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 459 m
Russia Zaliv Aya 52.78702, 106.6004552°47’13” N 106°36’2” E
Eastern Siberia: The Road Less Travelled
July 5, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The World Cup now left behind in western Russia.
Irkutsk to the western shores of Lake Baikal.
A five hour flight from Moscow and Lake Baikal appears and so does Matt.
We leave the next morning for Lake Aya leaving the Russian steppe we enter the steppe of the indigenous buryats.
Our guide Zina and driver Vladmir from Irkutsk to Ays Bay via several points of interest showing the interaction of Shamanism and Buddism within Buryat culture.
The vast Russian steppe and Lake Baikal the deepest freshwater lake in the world holding 20% of the Earth's freshwater.
And we have a swim, 16' I'd say.Read more
TravelerWhen are you home my man. Great holiday, looking forward to a catch up with you . All the best Spiersy ✈️⚽️⚽️🏌🏾‍♂️
7/5/18Reply
TravelerNow in Eastern Siberia! Matt asked me to join him on an inspection tour he has to do. Home about 18th. Great to catch up.
7/5/18Reply
TravelerSome wonderful father and son shots of an amazing adventure !!!
7/6/18Reply
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Day 22
Monday, July 2, 2018 at 10:41 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 127 m
Russia Rostokino 55.81736, 37.6476355°49’2” N 37°38’51” E
Moscow's mighty metro
July 2, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
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Day 22
Monday, July 2, 2018 at 10:33 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 133 m
Russia Rostokino 55.8175, 37.6487355°49’3” N 37°38’55” E
Red Square & Kremlin
July 2, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
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Day 22
Monday, July 2, 2018 at 10:29 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 135 m
Russia Rostokino 55.81697, 37.6474655°49’1” N 37°38’51” E
Moscva pride
July 2, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
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Day 19
Friday, June 29, 2018 at 11:22 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 132 m
Russia Rostokino 55.81732, 37.6476555°49’2” N 37°38’52” E
Moscow: I didn't think I'd see you again
June 29, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
TravelerSafer times this time round
6/30/18Reply
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Day 18
Thursday, June 28, 2018 at 12:56 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 52 m
Russia Mys Socha-Bytkh 43.57382, 39.7369443°34’26” N 39°44’13” E
Sochi final day
June 28, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Yoga in the park for one.
Swim for one.
Coffee for one.
One of the Black Sea Fleet arriving and
The best omelette and cappuccino for $A7.
Today, onto Moscow for the final leg of the 'Life is fleeting, death is long' tour.
5 nights in the capital. Farewell SochiRead more
TravelerWhat a chilled out day !!!
6/29/18Reply
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Day 17
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 9:20 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 38 m
Russia Mys Socha-Bytkh 43.57844, 39.7346343°34’42” N 39°44’5” E
Sochi Sights
June 27, 2018 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
Gardens, harbour (some say Mr Putin's yacht is in harbour), cafes, restaurants, love birds, water slides, grand churches, pristine water, 27' in June, cheap fabulous food, what's not to like about Sochi.
Tomorrow: our last stop, Moscow.Read more
TravelerLovely garden love the live birds
6/27/18Reply
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Day 17
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at 12:01 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 20 m
Russia Mys Socha-Bytkh 43.57396, 39.727643°34’26” N 39°43’39” E
Australia vs Peru
June 27, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Its Slouch the kangAroo, everybody wants to be seen with her so naturally we oblige.
Unfortunately she was declared a dangerous item and missed the game spending the day in the cloakroom. It was that or the bin and I couldn't allow such an ingracious ending, deciding that a random Russian child should be her new owner.
In the meantime the game was loud 30 000 Peruvians with nothing to lose and unfortunately they didn't.
Australia 0 Peru 2.
But the aftermath was a lot of fun.
My kangaroo flag went a volunteer, my broad brimmed hat swapped with a Peruvian, Slouch found her new home and one to show the friendly Russian police and another local interloper.Read more
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Day 15
Monday, June 25, 2018 at 9:42 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 44 m
Russia Mys Socha-Bytkh 43.57449, 39.7366443°34’28” N 39°44’12” E
Sochi Day 2 or Game Day minus 1
June 25, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
It's the hat.
Is that an Australian hat one young Peruvian supporter asked me. Yes and its made of kangaroo hide. Wow!
View from the cafe where I met Urgi and Katrine who recognised me from the overnight train and said hullo.
Another young couple Mishe and Olga who we met on the beach and wanted to know if we liked Russia.
My basic Russian and his basic English established who we were, where we lived, where we had been in Russia and how much we liked Sochi and Russia.
Again the young people are keen to engage and ask our opinion of their country and very aware of western media opinion.
The fish and the feet thing.
Children's playground to the sound of 'Once I saw a fish alive' in English.
And sunsetRead more
TravelerAre they fish or leeches eating your dead skin??? Uuurk theyb will have indigestion for sure!!! Thatv sunset ia stunning!!!
6/27/18Reply
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Day 14
Sunday, June 24, 2018 at 1:25 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 148 m
Russia State Kremlin Palace 55.7522, 37.615655°45’8” N 37°36’56” E
Sochi
June 24, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Frequent stops and occasionally we can hop off to buy something to eat.
Catherine and Matt from Melbourne who we kept bumping into. Their daughter Sophia (4) still asleep.
Me asleep, thanjs Brownie.
The first class carriage was still a bit squeezy and the bed narrow but much preferred to the boredom and monotony of an airport.
But overnight the landscape has changed from the vast Russian plains farmed and forested to lush mountains with wide and flowing rivers to the shores of the Black Sea.
Its Sunday and the beaches are full.
Our motel The Razin is small but clean, comfortable and a lazy fifteen minutes to the beaches past fruit stalls, park vendors and happy beach going families.
My first ever swim iin the Black Sea and remembered it had to be salt.
The city would have to be the Amalfi of Russia, pebbly beaches but great swimming and wonderful promenade, seafood restaurants and cafes, and shops of all sorts for all the girls.
That is a confectionary shop and the confectionary is a cherry flavoured jelly filled with walnuts.Read more
TravelerGreat adventure Den, looks fantastic fun.
6/26/18Reply
TravelerYou are having Way TOO much fun living the resort life style!!! .
6/27/18Reply
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Day 13
Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 11:45 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 49 m
Russia Ovrag Krutoy 48.71513, 44.5334748°42’54” N 44°32’0” E
Volgograd
June 23, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
The overnight train has been a highlight. 2nd class was a little tight but the two young Aussie guys we shared with were pretty considerate.
My first sight of Volgograd is the 72m Mother Russia perched high above Mamev Kurgan, Hill 102 in the Battle of Stalingrad.
Volgograd is so much like the other cities we have met. The locals are friendly, helpful and keen to engage us. When we say we are Australian their faces beam with delight and we are in for another photo.
Our first encounter with the Tourist Police, armed, English speaking and ready to help.
The Panoramic Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad is staggering. A complete tribute to the defenders their city
A quick look at the Volgograd Fanzone and a $2.00 taxi back to the station.
First class this time. Great expectations were shattered when we entered the dining cart and were yelled at by an old babushka who clearly didn't like customers, westerners or both. So we retreated to the sanctity of our compartment and relaunched an offensive 30 minutes later, only to be told there was only enough food for the children.
! previous trip to Russia 18 years ago taught me to hive as good as you get, so out came the 1st class ticket and the demand fir a menu. Surprisingly it arrived and 40 minutes later a modest meal at full price.
A priceless experience, resulting in a good chat to a young Russian couple and a lone Aussie girl on her way to the next game.
10:30 lights out.Read more
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Day 12
Friday, June 22, 2018 at 7:34 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Russia Balakovo 52.00968, 47.7822252°0’35” N 47°46’56” E
Leaving Samara for Volgograd
June 22, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Neale couldn't resist. When in Russia do what the Russians do. Line up for a litre of beer and enjoy the sunshine.
Found some woderful little shops and bars (only to visit) concealed behind imposing timber structures with seamingly no doors, until someone emerged.
Took a taxi to the baksval ( train station) but the driver took us to the bus station. Obviously my Russian was to blame.
A very helpful lady realizing we could miss our train escorted us hurriedly across the car park and into the local bus who didn't want money and we took a nervous half an hour to get to the train station.
We didn't have a plan B but thankfully didn't need one, boarded with 20 minutes to spare.
The train. Well I think its the same old Soviet rattler Matt and I were on in 2002.
The Russian travellers are friendly.
But no English out here.
A few Aussie boys on board cranking it up with the Russian boys and a lone English girl.
I go sleep to rattle of the carriage and awake about 6am.Read more
TravelerNot so sure about that dunnie though ??,
6/27/18Reply
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Day 11
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 9:34 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 49 m
Russia Posëlok Shmidta 53.20562, 50.1098853°12’20” N 50°6’36” E
Australia vs Denmark
June 21, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
TravelerThats the best photo yet . The one with Azani who played so fearlessly. !!! Send ut to me on messenger please. Sush a great game so exciting!!!
6/21/18Reply
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Day 11
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 9:11 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 49 m
Russia Posëlok Shmidta 53.20561, 50.1099453°12’20” N 50°6’36” E
Samara: City of Space Science
June 21, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After a refreshing swim in the mighty Volga a cool 18' but sunny, and among lots if Russian locals soaking in the long awaited sunshine we take the free bus the Samara Cosmos.
The FIFA Fan Zone before it goes feral and inside the Volga Hotel built in the Soviet style of the seventies.Read more
TravelerLove that leather slouch hat with your badge collection.
6/21/18Reply
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Day 9
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 10:30 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 56 m
Russia Samara 53.20706, 50.1147253°12’25” N 50°6’53” E
Samara on the mighty Volga
June 19, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
An early morning walk along the embankment and an unexpected meeting of an ex- student and being invited by a class of young gym students for a photo.
If a temporary misplacement of the travel documents didn't dampen a day nor did a temporary loss of Brownie.
Accommodation is over priced so we change.
At the old sovietRead more
TravelerThere is akways someone you know thst yiu bump into .!!! 🤣
6/20/18Reply
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