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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 4:30 am Post subject: |
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| What's the interest in this place anyway? I asked a Russian woman about it and she said that she was surprised foreigners are interested in it. She said it was a kind of industrial town. What's there to see and do there? |
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soviet_man
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| What's the interest in this place anyway? I asked a Russian woman about it and she said that she was surprised foreigners are interested in it. She said it was a kind of industrial town. What's there to see and do there? |
Well that is exactly it.
The food is terrible, the "attractions" are missable, the water undrinkable and the taxis and hotels shockingly overpriced. There are pot holes in the streets and unpaved hills eveywhere. Even the "beach" really isn't a "beach" and there is always a bleak cold wind blowing. The average wage in Vladivostok is currently $350 a month and even the ice-cream vendor will try and overcharge you.
But THAT in itself is the attraction. Go and see Russia today - rather than waiting 20 years when who knows - it could be covered in Walmarts, Starbuckses, bullet trains and neon signs. See it now while it retains its Soviet characteristics and not wait until the delusional capitalist generation take control of (what was once) the greatest country in the world.
It is a worthwhile trip. Drink cheap vodka, extensively sample the local female hospitality at bargain prices and force yourself outside of the comfort zone of South Korea.
I would also suggest going to www.flickr.com and type in "Vladivostok" and there are 1500 odd photos of the town which should give you a fair idea of the place.
Go for the experience, not the attractions. |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| soviet_man wrote: |
| Quote: |
| What's the interest in this place anyway? I asked a Russian woman about it and she said that she was surprised foreigners are interested in it. She said it was a kind of industrial town. What's there to see and do there? |
Well that is exactly it.
The food is terrible, the "attractions" are missable, the water undrinkable and the taxis and hotels shockingly overpriced. There are pot holes in the streets and unpaved hills eveywhere. Even the "beach" really isn't a "beach" and there is always a bleak cold wind blowing. The average wage in Vladivostok is currently $350 a month and even the ice-cream vendor will try and overcharge you.
But THAT in itself is the attraction. Go and see Russia today - rather than waiting 20 years when who knows - it could be covered in Walmarts, Starbuckses, bullet trains and neon signs. See it now while it retains its Soviet characteristics and not wait until the delusional capitalist generation take control of (what was once) the greatest country in the world.
It is a worthwhile trip. Drink cheap vodka, extensively sample the local female hospitality at bargain prices and force yourself outside of the comfort zone of South Korea.
I would also suggest going to www.flickr.com and type in "Vladivostok" and there are 1500 odd photos of the town which should give you a fair idea of the place.
Go for the experience, not the attractions. |
Put it this way -- no Starbucks and no McDonald's. |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| soviet_man wrote: |
| Quote: |
| What's the interest in this place anyway? I asked a Russian woman about it and she said that she was surprised foreigners are interested in it. She said it was a kind of industrial town. What's there to see and do there? |
Well that is exactly it.
The food is terrible, the "attractions" are missable, the water undrinkable and the taxis and hotels shockingly overpriced. There are pot holes in the streets and unpaved hills eveywhere. Even the "beach" really isn't a "beach" and there is always a bleak cold wind blowing. The average wage in Vladivostok is currently $350 a month and even the ice-cream vendor will try and overcharge you.
But THAT in itself is the attraction. Go and see Russia today - rather than waiting 20 years when who knows - it could be covered in Walmarts, Starbuckses, bullet trains and neon signs. See it now while it retains its Soviet characteristics and not wait until the delusional capitalist generation take control of (what was once) the greatest country in the world.
It is a worthwhile trip. Drink cheap vodka, extensively sample the local female hospitality at bargain prices and force yourself outside of the comfort zone of South Korea.
I would also suggest going to www.flickr.com and type in "Vladivostok" and there are 1500 odd photos of the town which should give you a fair idea of the place.
Go for the experience, not the attractions. |
In that case, the best time to go there would be during winter vacation. you'll be out of your comfort zone. That's for sure. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:44 am Post subject: |
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www.flickr.com is a great website by the way. i just spent a few hours viewing every possible city i've ever been interested - which is quite a few anyways.
regarding the interest in Vladivostok. Essentially its something thats incredibly non-asian (for as much as i love asia) which is VERY close to here. touristic value isn't that high. but i've always been more of an 'observant of daily life somewhere' kind of traveler.. and Vladivostok would rank high on that list coming from North America/Korea.
Dogbert.. by the way.. you'll be happy to know I finally hit all those places in DongDaeMoon with some co-workers tonight! Had some great beer which is numbered 1 through 9.. (we had the 7 and the 9 kinds - 9 was 8% alcohol beer!). Mostly we ate at some Uzbek restaurant which had some incredible food. I'll definetely go back again. |
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davai!
Joined: 04 Dec 2005
Location: Kuwait
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| Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| www.flickr.com is a great website by the way. |
pretty cool, agreed. Is there a way to avoid looking at the photographer with every picture viewed?
| Tiger Beer wrote: |
| Had some great beer which is numbered 1 through 9.. (we had the 7 and the 9 kinds - 9 was 8% alcohol beer!). |
Was it Baltika? (A Russian Finnish joint venture) Seems like their numbering system. Here's a few happy people and a starfish enjoying some Baltika now:
http://photo.baltika.ru/ru/photo/1819.html |
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dogbert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: Killbox 90210
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| Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Tiger Beer wrote: |
www.flickr.com is a great website by the way. i just spent a few hours viewing every possible city i've ever been interested - which is quite a few anyways.
regarding the interest in Vladivostok. Essentially its something thats incredibly non-asian (for as much as i love asia) which is VERY close to here. touristic value isn't that high. but i've always been more of an 'observant of daily life somewhere' kind of traveler.. and Vladivostok would rank high on that list coming from North America/Korea.
Dogbert.. by the way.. you'll be happy to know I finally hit all those places in DongDaeMoon with some co-workers tonight! Had some great beer which is numbered 1 through 9.. (we had the 7 and the 9 kinds - 9 was 8% alcohol beer!). Mostly we ate at some Uzbek restaurant which had some incredible food. I'll definetely go back again. |
Glad to hear that! I hope you make it up to Russia soon. |
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dulouz
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: Uranus
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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Baltika!
Khabarovsk is a good choice as well.. the nighttrain. Both cities seem interesting.. although Vladivostok has a much more pull on me.. seems exotic and crossroads of something. 9 hours by train? |
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poof
Joined: 23 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 12:34 am Post subject: |
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| I used to be very interested in Russia, but as soon as I visited the country (admittedly on the west side not the east), I thought it was a really hard place to be and haven't been interested in returning. People can be friendly, although many are also instantly curious by your dollars (everyone thinks you are carrying dollars), and I'm sorry to say this if any Russians are reading, but any big town is typically a dump owing to financial hardship. Decent food was hard to find - everything soaked in oil. And as for Vladivostock, I think it's just a trading outpost without particular distinction. No more appealing than a vacation in Incheon! Perhaps you'd better stick to your Solomon Isles plan unless your real idea of enjoyment is to get to taste some unusual beers (at least anywhere has better beer than Korea, right??) ! |
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atlhockey
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Jeonju City
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 2:38 am Post subject: |
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Oh, I miss Baltika  |
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Dev
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| It might be wise to get health insurance if you go to Russia. You never know what could happen to you while you're there. |
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atlhockey
Joined: 20 Aug 2006
Location: Jeonju City
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| Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 6:54 am Post subject: |
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I survived three months with no ill effects, but health insurance is generally a good idea anywhere.
Oh, and just as an opposition view to whoever posted earlier about being disillusioned after visiting Russia, I would like to contribute that I was also extremely interested in the country and studied the language for two years before spending a summer in St. Petersburg and Moscow. I loved it. I mean, I don't know about Vladivostok, but the western cities are just amazing. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:12 am Post subject: |
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Just spent the last 7 days there.
General information:
Vladivostok is totally safe. I felt much safer there than I ever would in most U.S. or European cities. Not as quite safe as Korea/Japan, but what place really is?
Everything in the Lonely Planet guide is way outdated.. prices, restaurants, bars/clubs, etc. I could practically re-write that entire section from scratch.
"studio cafe" is the best place for food in the city.. and an interesting 24-hour place to hangout at anytime.
If anyone thought Japanese women dressed well in Tokyo/Osaka.. wait until you go to Russia. My lord. Its like walking through a fashion runway model show in those streets. |
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dulouz
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: Uranus
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| Tiger, your travels are well known and well respected and your amassed locality intelligence is deeply appreciated but gosh son, you sho' have one big travel budget! |
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