Korean Job Discussion Forums

[static2]

2 Questions
Is anyone aware of how the Russian embassy works with giviving out visas. I'm currently on a work visa here in South Korea which has less than 2 months remaining. I plan to come back here in September 09. Is that a problem in the embassy's eyes? I (we) plan to book train tickets first through travel agent (who will supply travel voucher) and the go and get visa, we just hope getting a visa what cause us any drama? I have Australian passport and went to Russia '07. (They have Polish passports and are were students here.)

Also: What makes the Transiberian such a must do for many travellers? What can one expect to be doing?
Is it worth it? I know looking at the towns along the way as far as wooden architecture goes is top marks. But is it right to say much time will be reading/listening to music/playing board game/drinking vodka/a little russian speaking/ sleeping / and a few looks out the window.

Cheers, thanks.

[soviet_man]

[oskinny1]

I went through Mongolia and my roommates were 2 Russian girls. My neighbors were 8 Poles. We had a great time singing and drinking. I was in the second class cars. In the first class it was full of Brits and Germans that stayed to themselves for the most part (but even some of them were great to chat with).

That said, you have no idea who you will meet and what you will do. Looking out the window was never boring.

[joeyjoejoe]

the train i took from moscow to irkutsk 2nd class was entirely non english speaking russians (i assume russian, may have been ukrainian etc.)
i found it very boring, no party types, and no other western travelers.

from irkutsk to ulan ude 2nd class i shared a room with two guys who looked like they'd kill me in my sleep (one was ex military, his friend ex something else that seemed more sinister, they didn't speak english well at all) but they were really fun, pulled out a bag of meat pieces and few bottles of vodka and had a good time.

from ulan ude to ulaan bataar was almost entirely westerners

ulaan bataar to the chinese border is mostly chinese and mongolian traders with a smattering of westerners.
within china is almost all chinese, especially if you ride in the seats, not the sleepers.

the long bit, between moscow and irkutsk was so boring for me that the second time i crossed russia i flew instead with a cheaper ticket than the train and spent 4 extra days (out of 30 day visa) on olkhon island that would otherwise have been on a train.


if you're just looking to do the trip one way then fly home, ie. not end up staying in europe, then i'd suggest flying to europe and coming back the other way. if only for ease of visa.
there are loads of little travel agents through poland, lithuania, latvia and estonia that will organise a visa for you that will end up being cheaper than paying for all the supporting documents yourself with none of the stress. just show up with your passport and some money, they do everything else.

[RufusW]

I've just done trans-sib to Vladivostok, it was in winter so not full and the scenery's just snow, and it was about -20 outside.

Anyway, the only bloke who shared my cabin for most of the way had the same birthday as me! He was getting off at his home town to see his son and wife for his birthday. When he was leaving I showed him it was my birthday and he gestured it was his too. I gave him a bar of Milka (fruit & nut no less). I laughed so hard I woke up the second attandant and got a shouting at.

6 days is a long time but if you're tired from travelling when you board the first few days go quickly. Then it's down to some serious drinking to make the time go by. If it's summer, I'd probably prefer to stop along the way, maybe a few times and certainly in Mongolia.

Also, St. Petersburg and Moscow are truly great cities, I'd definitely suggest seeing somewhere else to get more of a feel for Russia, but I don't think the trans-sib is absolutely necessary?