Why Russia Sucks: Part 2

Russia sucks because Moscow is full of very angry people who yell at you because you don't understand Russian.

On the other hand, a lot of people appear to be getting married, all the time, so that is nice.

Another nice thing is that there are lots of very very beautiful women everywhere. This of course is undermined by the fact that, without a Rolex, a BMW with a driver, and a formerly state owned asset in the family, you are unlikely to have any luck with the elitnik Muscovite women.

(... I guess that church in the background of the photo above is pretty nice too eh?)

This is a photo of one such dyev (chick) in the equally stunning Moscow subway.

Railway Blues

No, it's not the name of a John Lee Hooker song... It's the description of my feeling as I sat in my hotel room at the Suhbataar railway station on the Russia-Mongolia border.

Hardship reveals your true strengths and weaknesses. My weakness is an inability to cope with shit food. Initially, I felt like I could probably wait 5 days in this dusty one-yak Mongolian border town until my Russian visa commenced. However, after two meals of floury noodles with mutton and sploshes of tomato sauce at the only restaurant near the station, I couldn't hack it any more and left.

Obviously, my strength is an ability to adapt (and sometimes realise when it is time to throw in the towel).

This is the beautiful train station that was my home for two nights.

Just in case the Mongolian immigration officers hadn't heard, this handy poster reminded them all (in English of course, which not one of them speak) that Osama bin Laden is a bad guy, and should not be let into or out of Mongolia.

Why Russia Sucks

Russia sucks because its immigration people would not let me in 5 days before my visa said I would come in. Because of that, I am forced to wait for five days in Mongolia.

I HATE waiting.

I will survive with the help of my faithful friend, vodka.

The Two Faces of Beijing

One: Tianammen Square, lit up at night in all its glory, guarded by the stern and disciplined men of the People's Army.

Two: The decoration in my hotel bathroom. Just the image to accompany a hot shower after a long day eating dumplings...

Makasih, Temanku

Travel is nothing without good people. I am lucky to have met these beautiful people during my time in Salatiga. Thanks Onny, Wasis and Ed!

Bebas Ketakutan!

I survived an Adam Air flight and I didn't even get a stupid tshirt...

Bermotor Dengan Orang Tuaku

Well I never thought I'd say it but my parents make pretty good bikies. Roll on over 50 yr olds, roll on! You can do it too!

This could be a mural on the wall of a gothic church... ie. this is what happens to bad people when they die. In fact, this is what happens to hundreds of sulfur miners at Kawah Ijen in Eastern Java. They descend into the poisonous fumes of the crater, hack up to 100 kilos of sulfur rock from right in front of steaming thermal vents, and then lug them back up to the perimeter in baskets over a shoulder.

This is hell on earth if ever I've seen it, and they get paid about 4-5 dollars each time. If anyone wants to help, I think I will try to set up an organised donation system for tourists to the crater.

This is cool huh? These massive bursts of ash materialise in seconds from Gunung Semeru, the highest and one of the most active volcanoes in Java. Anyone want to climb it? I'm going to take a shot in November...

This is Bromo, just before sunrise. One of the most spectacular sights in the world. The moon, from the TOP of Mount Bromo!