Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nicco33]

So I was able to apply for a Russian Visa in spite of having only 8 weeks left on my Alien Residency Card. Great news! That said, I'm not entirely sure I'll make it all the way to Baikal after all, because it turns out I was planning my dates around an outdated Sokcho>Vladivostok ferry schedule.

How incredibly ... worldly of me (*blush*)

That said, I figure that even if I don't manage to see the "Blue Eye of Siberia", I may as well put my very expensive Russian visa to good use and spend a few days in and around Vladivostok touring the old fortresses, and (hopefully) tracking down a local climber (or two) willing to guide me to a crag. Here's hoping.

In the meantime, thought I'd compile into a single thread the long list of helpful links that have been accumulating in my bookmarks folder over the course of the last few weeks as I researched the nuances of traveling in Russia.

Here goes:

1. Dongchun Ferry's website (Dongchun runs year-round ferry service between Sokcho and Zarubino, Russia:

http://www.dongchunferry.co.kr/ (Like so many Korean websites, this one uses pop-ups as in integral part of the site. Be sure to allow them, or you might just miss an important notice or two.)

For the period of June 19th through September 4th, 2009, ferries arrive and depart from Sokcho at 10:00a.m. and 3:00p.m. respectively, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Bookings can be made by either email ([email protected]) or by phone (02-732-5100).


2. Russian train schedules can be found here (*ALL times listed for Russian trains are MOSCOW time*):

http://eng.rzd.ru/ (click on "passengers" to access schedules)


3. Flights within Russia (connecting Vladivostok and Irkutsk):

S7 (a.k.a. Siberia Airlines):

http://www.s7.ru/en/index.html (twice-weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays) linking Vladivostok and Irkutsk)

And Ural Airlines:

www.uralairlines.ru/en/

4. Helpful links at Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum:

On the logistics of Russian Travel:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1138063

(*The "Hostel Voucher" required as part of the visa application process is bureaucratic red-tape at it's, *ahem,* "finest". The easiest way around it, is to request one from your travel agent before you apply for your Visa).

And... tips on getting around Baikal:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=808599

5. The Great Baikal Trail Organization's website:

http://www.greatbaikaltrail.org/index_en.html

6. The Baikal Adventure-Travel Company's website:

http://www.baikal-adventure.com/index.php

7. Homestay options in ...

Irkutsk:

http://www.helenpot.com/page/6.html

And on Olkhon Island:

http://www.olkhon.info/en/ (rumored to offer an opportunity to WOOF it up)

And that about covers all of the information I've tracked down up to this point.

Before submitting this, however, I thought I'd include a quick note on the costs of applying for a Russian visa from here in Korea. I applied for mine via a travel agent (SOHO Travel) in Seoul and was charged 160,000won for the combination of the "Invitation Letter" (20,000won) and Visa (140,000won), based on a 2-week processing time. The alternative (for someone in more of a rush than was I), would be to apply for a Visa based on a 1-week processing time. The price quoted for the rush order was 230,000won. And that's that.

For anyone else planning a trip to Russia in the near future, I hope this comes in handy.

Happy (t)rails!

[chris_J2]

Why not check out Khabarovsk & Kommsomolsk Na Amur? They're both easy to reach by train or bus from Vladivostok, which is really only worth about 3-4 days tops imho. There's also a Jewish autonomous region in the area, which I would have liked to have stopped in, if my visa was not running out of time. You can get a LP Russia guidebook in Kyobo or Banda & Luni in Seoul.

If you're really brave, you can fly Vladivostok to Irkutsk on the local airline. Contact 'Everbrite' or 'Sovietman' for better info on flights.

[nicco33]