In the interest of public safety and suitable provision of wild bear warnings, we bring you this important information from Russia. In southwest Siberia, global warming or some other quirk of the climate has given the region around Kemerovo an unusually long fall, and the bears who normally begin hibernating in October are still wandering around.
To date no tourists have been caught up in this bear frenzy, but locals are worried about possible attacks on hunters or crops. These insomniac bears are a bit unpredictable: just remember what you feel like when you stay up all night without sleeping, and multiply it by at least a month of waiting.
Seems like nowhere in Europe is safe for travel right now, with the drunken elks in Sweden and mad bears in Russia, and the ever present threat that Germany and Austria could expose another dangerous Bruno the Bear. And you thought terrorists were bad.
No surprise that you can keep the vodka flowing on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The route isn't famous for its onboard dining, but the various snacks available at service stops get some attention. Dining on the train itself, especially for those who don't speak Russian, is usually relegated to using boiling water for soup cups and other provisions. But we're sure you'll be able to get some vodka easily, and if you're bored enough, you'll more than be able to make a night out of it. Above, travelers on the train enjoy a steady flow of vodka and get drunker and drunker as they go. Air travel may be a little faster, but there's no way they'd let you get trashed like that!
Museums devoted to just one famous person can clutch at straws a bit for material. A photo there of the house of the neighbor of the celebrity's father at age 6 hangs next to the framed wrapper of the first piece of chewing gum they ate, and so on.
In Russia, a museum devoted to classic writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky doesn't really manage to break this mould, but is worth visiting just the same. The Dostoyevsky Memorial Museum and Flat in St Petersburg features, as is reasonable, original manuscripts from many of his novels, newspaper clippings and pictures explaining his narrow escape from death by firing squad and displays of some of the rooms of his flat as they were when he lived there from 1878 to 1881.
But to fill the flat other sentimental objects are needed which round out the character of the man, as the museum curators would say. You'll find short notes from his children ("Papa, please give us sweets"), an old hat protected by a big glass bubble, unused papers and most tragically, the very pencil stub he was writing with the day he died.
Where's the coldest place on earth? The North and South Poles probably rate a mention, but so does Siberia. There's one small problem, though: it's melting. Despite the fact that over 6 million square miles of Russia is permafrost--to make that clear, permanent frost--Siberia seems to be thawing out.
The facts are pretty scary. In the last thirty years, satellite photos prove that the total areas of lakes in Siberia have increased by some 12 percent. So animals are on the move, houses are sinking and, worst of all, this whole process is releasing massive amounts of methane gas, five times more than scientists predicted.
Two lessons: try not to add to methane emissions if you're traveling through Russia; and book your Siberian trip before it's all just one big puddle.
Tourism in Vladivostok, Russia, is largely based around Chinese and Japanese visitors--these countries are, after all, nearby--but intrepid Western travelers love it as the romantic end (or start) of the Trans-Siberian railway. In Russia it's better known as a naval base and port, and most of the sightseeing centers on its pivotal role in sea trade and defense.
If you're in need of a good solid frightening from a very loud noise, then the place for you is this somewhat desolate part of Far Eastern Russia. Get yourself to Vladivostok's Fortress Museum at midday and you'll successfully have your wits scared out of you when a canon fires a blast much louder than it looks like it should be. If it doesn't deafen you, you'll hear the Chinese tourists cheering. Kind of crazy, since defending itself against China was one of the reasons Vladivostok built this fortress in the first place.
When we've reported on Latvia before, it's been for worthy and decent tourism reasons like promoting a visit to Riga's Occupation Museum. This decency is all about to change.
Recently in Russia, workers digging holes to plant trees hit a pipe. A common-enough occurrence, until they discovered the pipe was filled with homemade vodka. And this spirited spirit was heading over the border into Latvia. Incredibly, this wasn't even the first such pipe to be found. Nobody's quite sure who's responsible--this pipe ran between two empty, rented houses--but the Russians have turned off the pipeline, anyway. We suppose there are a few thirsty Latvians this week.
Visitors to Moscow usually have a few key objectives: to sneak around the Kremlin, step foot on Red Square and pay a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum. Looking at dead guys is a strange branch of tourism, but there's some morbid fascination that brings the crowds in.
Each year, Lenin takes a short break from being on view, and this year it's longer than usual. From November 10 to December 26, Lenin'll be on a prophylactic break, according to the Russian tourist board. Some special biochemical procedures will spruce up the old fellow, and they say that with the right regular treatment his body will survive at least another 100 years. A pity, though, as all he really wanted was to be buried in St Petersburg. But he's not around to change anybody's mind, and we are, so get into Moscow fast, or wait til the post-Christmas viewing to see the waxy face and maybe a new suit.
We might not always agree with the approach the Russian government takes to solving its society's problems, but we have to agree that their ideas are original.
Last week we told you about the fake beggars being used to turn potential gambling addicts away from an all-consuming life in casinos. This week, news comes that the Russian government is tackling the corruption problem they admit is rife in the country with scare tactics. A new brochure trying to discourage Russians from taking bribes warns people that to do so will lead them to "burn in the flames of hell."
We prefer the strategy some bank-robbers in Kyrgyzstan used this week. It's gentler than threatening the flames of hell, and involves some relaxing hypnotizing instead. The exact nature of their tactics wasn't revealed--a pity--but somehow they persuaded two different bank tellers to hand over money without noticing. We're not saying you shouldn't travel to Russia, but do keep an eye out for flames and gently-spoken balaclava-wearers.
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by amandak
Museums devoted to just one famous person can clutch at straws a bit for material. A photo there of the house of the neighbor of the celebrity's father at age 6 hangs next to the framed wrapper of the first piece of chewing gum they ate, and so on.
