Moscow – Cairo – Muscat Tour [March 28 to April 28] all parts in one blog
Moscow – Cairo – Muscat Tour
[March 28 to April 28]
On 15 Jan 2007, Pongal Day, MWO Tanti knocked my door.
He had a good news. We both are in the Advance Party to Russia Trip.
Thanks Pongal - God. 2006 Pongal I got this house.
This pongal this. [Eppadimma namma englishu?]
On 19 March, I went to Reliance Infocomm, cut off my post paid temporarily.
From 20 March to 28 March, was in New Delhi… doing the special tour works…
28 March 2007 morning we got the GoI letter – which is the authority for everything… from flight ticket [free warrant] to our pay to passport.
We got our official passports. In white color. Civilians have blue.
No visa required for officials in Russia & Muscat. Egypt visa we got for 3 days.
Reached airport on 28 March early morning 01:30 am.
Custom check, immigration done…
Aeroflot SU-530 flight.
Boeing 767 business class with full reclining seats.. gourmet meals… whiskey, juices, ice creams bouncy all white Russian beauties as hostesses…
Started to video tape from here onwards… the customs clerk asks me..
r you a documentarian.. all things you record digitally…what u say?
Business class only 9 people… Economy class house full…
Economy class people are mostly middle class Russians or Sardarjis
6.30 hrs flight over Afghanistan, Iran…
Landed safe on 28 March morning 9.45 am local time. 11.45 am IST.
Miss. Yulia & Andrei came to receive us.
Both are well educated, polish, posh.
Went to Indian Embassy for credentials.
From 29 March to 25 April the day of our return, our routine is:
Get up 6.30 am. Reach "Ballanchine" the Russian Cuisine restaurant.
Tell the Room no. Breakfast Complementary by hotel.
Have the following:
2 glasses of "Kornet" Shampagne / rarely Apple juice
2 or 3 Eggs hard boiled or omelette
4 slices bread laced with Holland cheese and chocolate
1 cake
Some dry fruits, pine apple pieces, tomato slices
1 Apple, 1 Plum [big size]
Little noodles, little oats
Then coffee
After the Breakfast, take the Free Moscow times English news paper..
Read it on the Ilyushin company van [Toyoto] till Zhukovsky – Ramenskoye Airfield.
52 kms, 1.30 hrs drive - Lot of Traffic
Van crosses the Borodinsky & Rostov Bridges, goes along the Muskva River
takes a right turn at SAFISA manor, then catches the Ring Road,
get the World War II Memorial Bridge [side by side see the Russian heavy weight
Railways and their Black – Ship like engines]
See the Gazprom office.. [Russia is the largest exporter of Natural Gas]
See the Red October Chocolate factory
See the Power Station … How Quiet it is, in the midst of the City?
They say during World War 2 the power went off for 3 days.. Metro trains also stopped for 3 days. That's all. other times they are working.. wonder?
These Power Stations also supply the Moscow city with its hot super heated steam which is used for Room Heating.
That's a poor method of maintaining temperature..
Its not accurate..
Sometimes you feel nausea, because of the double glassed Russian windows.
Till Zhukovsky you only see 3 types of trees in Moscow.. the Fir, Birch & Deodhar
Not much flora & fauna….
Even some birds we saw were very tired looking, sad … Russian winter effect?
Sergei Karabanov our male interpreter says the Communism as an Ideology has got its faults and it was mismanaged also. So he says it failed.
He is emphatic about China and its communism.
After Communism what they got?
The Moscow full of Prostitutes, strip dance bars, beggars in metro stations…
Sergei says only 10% of the Russians are Rich the rest are suffering in villages and cities too.
Most of their day to day products are imported…
I see the
common bulbs, tube lights from Philips Holland
chocolates from Ukraine [except a few brands of Russia]
match sticks from china
Blazers, jersyes, jeans from Italy/France/USA
Shoes from Holland
Not even 2% of the any shop's saleable material made in Russia or USSR
With this much imports, how their population can be richer?
Or at least not poorer?
Other thing I noticed was the Russian IST code : No. 007
It's a Bond No. James Bond.
They are good at Spying, Killing… suffering
Russians toil from -50 deg C to + 40 deg C
They have Oil, Gas, Nickel, Titanium and many minerals.
Most of them in Siberia…
More to come… wait…
Part-2
Every day we have to go at 8 am and come back at 8 pm from Moscow to Zhukovsky
Once upon a time, during Soviet times, this Rameskoye – Zhukovsky airfield was a TOP SECRET airfield
4 km long – worlds largest airfield – Flight Research Institute…
Now a days the secrecy is reduced…. Google Earth, internet…
All along the 52 km stretch of road, u feel the bumpy unruly ride…
Roads are not that smooth…
All roads lead to Moscow.. from far away villages.. towns…
So many ways to reach Moscow… we saw 3 to 4 of them…
Along the way there is a Gagarina township – named after Worlds first
Cosmonaut – Yuri Gagarin – whose mortal remains are kept inside the walls of Kremlin…
The apartments are quiet clean and big…
With the ubiquitous Hot Water [Steam] Heat Radiators…
I never saw anyone leaking …
They are all made of good metals.. Russians are good in metallurgy…
Russian Toilets are as nasty as Indians…
At BOAR HOUSE – Kurskaya Metro [it's a WHORE HOUSE literally] we found to our horror one Russian [?] Urinals…. Just an aluminium sheet channel of 1 foot wide where the Russian Gents Pee….I wonder what may be for the Ladies?
So many Russian – or Expat Prostitutes visit the Beer Pub after 10 pm
They all ask 300$ for a night….
Too high…
100$ or below no one…may be on the roads… they say… pure shit…
All like Dolls, smoking, heavy pants, black stockings, knee high leather shoes…
Kiss them, talk to them, caress them, cuddle them… FREE…
But price no compromise…
India far better………
How these smoking guns become mothers?
How these TOK TOK walking dolls behave like Mummy?
Someone said the Western Civilisation's National Anthem should be TOK TOK walking sound these ladies shows….
That's why they put carpets everywhere…
To lessen this damning sound…
Anyhow, Kurskaya Metro and the BOAR HOUSE beer unforgettable…
The Russians are less rule abiding
They spit on the Roads, Squares, Parks like Indians
They throw buds everywhere…
But still somebody is there to clean them
In India no one cleans them... That's why our places are uglier…
Part – 3
Heavy job these days my dear boyz….
Back to the Computers again… Files… A/C Room…Ha..Ha…
Thank God I am not in to Engine Maintenance these hot Desert Summer Days!
Sipping from Tri - Medvedvskaya Russian Beer, I write this Blog…
Its 11.5% alcohol – strong like our 5000
Russian Vodka is 40% alcohol
They say 40% is more suitable for human health [?]
Some say Polish invented this…
They brew it from Rice or Potato…
Good vodka is pure white, tasteless, odourless like water…
Before drinking it, you turn your face to right, puff the air out,
Then sip the first peg in one go
Vodka must be drunk without additions
More than 3000 types of Vodka available
Some chasers like Orange Juice is welcome, but with beef/pork its better they say…
Aiyo… no to Beef/Porkuppa… namalala mudiyathuppa…
Even so many different Sausages I didn't touch at Radisson.
Anyhow, the Moscow was really enchanting….
Kievsky Vokzal
Metro Kurskaya
Here the famous ATRIUM shopping mall is there…
6 stations away from Kievsky..
Go anywhere in Moscow – pay only 17 roubles…
3 layer underground metro trains…with high speed elevators…
Electronic tickets and way bars…
1940s design…
Each station is unique Architectural marvel…
Compared to Delhi Metro – totally Japanese Design – state of the art technology
But single layer only underground…
India has to grow a lot…
Moscow officially has 15million population
Unofficial – may be 20?
Worlds most populated place – they say in RT – Russia TV
Metro Ismailovsky
This place is after 7 stations from Kievesky. Famous for budget shopping.
Chinese/Pakistani/Indian/Afghan Goods at cheap rates…
Saw 4 Srilankan Tamil Girls – studying medical in Moscow.
Their lilting Tamil – Oh lovely!
She guided us to buy Russian Samosa – 15 Roubles..
After seeing them I thought – How generally ugly we Indians – compared to these Whito White Europeans?...
Metro Pushkinskaya
This is in Central Moscow – near Kremlin
Famous for Pushkin statue and Boulevards – they call them Bulvarins
Bulvarin means the road covered with Trees in both sides
The Central Moscow is full of Ring of Bulvarins
They call it the Garden Ring Road
Its real nice u see? Walking amidst the Trees in the Central Moscow…
With a Beer Can in Hand
A Girl in the Arms?
Kissing… Nosing….
You can see many couples doing this all along the Moscow streets….
Near the Statue – Signal place – u see the Ploshad
Ploshad means Centre or Square
Like Lenin Ploshad – Lenin Square
Red Square – Red Ploshad
Red is the most like color still in Rossiya
The people wear Red mostly…
Strastnoi Boulevard near Ulitsa Dimitrovka
Ulitsa means street
I walked alone with little Russian [I can read Russian talk a little] on the very 2nd day after reaching Moscow
This is where my club DIVAS is there…
Entry FREE for Radisson 5 Star Hotel inmates – show the Hotel Room E-Key
Its like a Credit Card
Latvian
Ukrainian
Russian
All most beautiful Girls – in Indian point of view…
Fully white, slim, well maintained figures…
Even one Angolan – Black girl was there
Vodka 60ml = 180 Roubles = 360 Rs.
Outside the DIVAS, 300 ml vodka is 90 Roubles…
Pole dance…FREE
Private dance 100 roubles – 3 mins
Private massage – 1600 roubles
All are ARTISTIC ladies…
No more than massage.. mmmm….adhu eppadi?....
Metro Lenina
This metro station is just opposite the Kremlin entrance
Big, sprawling station – with a Dostoyevsky Ploshad
Fyodor Dostoyevsky is my beloved Author
I read his famous master pieces…
"The Idiot"
"Karamazov Brothers"
"Crime and Punishment"
His statue… the famous fingers clenched, depressed old man…
I stood near his statue, videoed it, it was night 11 pm, felt him inside me…
Its not a visit yar, this is pilgrimage!
Russian War Museum
All World War 2 memorabilia's
Even Stalin's pistol
General Zhukov's dress
Captured German parliament [Reichstag] stones – Nazi emblems – Nazi flags
Good visit
Kremlin Diamond Fund
Inside the Kremlin, this is the Diamond collection of the Czar
Kremlin Czar Palace, Armoury & Museum
Saw this magnifiecient, larger than life palace
Remembered the story of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin [Ulyanov]
I read his life story 9 times as a to 4th to 6th std child
By Olga Petrovskaya
The Winter Palace of the St.Petersburg
The capture of the Kremlin by the Red Bolsheviks
In 1917 October Revolution….
Wow…. these places Lenin walked…
These places our Leo Tolstoy visited… worked…
[Tolstoy served as Army Officer during Czar times]
The articles used by the Czars….
Vases, tables, dresses, crowns, clocks, drinking pots, cosmetics….
All breathtaking variety, home made and imported…
Mostly imported…
Czars lived lavishly…
Christ the Saviour Church
This church is world renowned
Built during Czar times…
But Stalin bombed it to make a swim pool
They say Stalin is not a Russian – he was a Georgian
Recently during Boris Yeltsin times this Church was rebuilt
600 million dollars spent
5 years it took – In India we cant do it like them – sure!
We are more laid back, chata hai people…
All to the point the same old design
With even the same old murals inside
We visited the Church… Yappa… Enna perisu….
I prayed… prayed….for all…for me.. for Soorya…
It's a marvellous church…. Words can't describe it…
Boris Yeltsin died on 23th April – we were there
He was kept in this church for 3 days – lot of rush
I thought of going there…
On 25th he was buried in near by Novo Devichi Monastry church
Where wife of Gorbachev is interred
Where Kurushchev is interred
Novo Devichi means New Maiden
Devichka means Virgin – Maiden Girl
Devi is in India also… Parvati Devi.. Lakshmi devi…
Like this you can find lot of common words in Russian in Sanskrit
Ya, Russian language is closely related to Sanskrit
The Nordic, the German they are all related to Sanskrit
The Aryans – Brahmins came to India from these parts only
Their inborn urge is to rule – to lead…
Dolphin Show
Russian trainers doing good tricks with Dolphins, Seals…
Good show
200 roubles
Russian Circus -1
Russian Circus -2
Two times we saw this Russian Circus
Accept their manual-gymnastic abilities
But the World is totally in Digital Maja now
So the Circus is little boring
But we saw good crowd
Near me, one 45 years old Russian father cried while seeing the Circus
Maybe he is nostalgic about old Soviet Era?
May be he is unable to accept the defeat of their ideology?
I also saw many crying faces in Moscow
One 30 yrs old woman crying while talking on cell phone…
One old lady selling fruits in Metro crying to a co worker…
[Putin ruled all expatriate fruit sellers to quit Russia – may be that?]
I saw mostly SAD faces in Moscow
7 out of 10 are SAD – UNHAPPY
In Russian SAD means Garden – ironic?
Lenin Mausoleum
The GUM – Shopping center near Kremlin
The TSUM – shopping center
The E – shopping Mall
All shopping malls are quiet expensive… good rush anyhow…
Only 10% come for really buying anything
More in next…
Part-4
LEO TOLSTOY in KHAMOVNIKI
"Life in Moscow has been a precious experience.
It made my mission clear to me" – these are the words of L.T in March 1882.
In March 2007, I felt the same…
Just now I have completed LEO TOLSTOY in KHAMOVNIKI a small book I bought for 20 Roubles [40 Rs.] at Tolstoy's Moscow Home-Museum.
The entry fee to this Museum is:
200 Roubles for Foreigners
60 Roubles for Russians
30 Roubles for Children
The old lady clerk asked me and my colleague, Sergeant Behera [Orissa] 400 roubles.
I bargained with this Old Lady Clerk.
She didn't agree.
So I made an about turn – just as I would do in Karol Bagh, Sadar bazaar…
The lady called us again – she told OK, pay 60 roubles per head, see your beloved Author's home…
I thanked God and giggled.
Leo Tolstoy lived here for 19 winters from 1882 to 1901 [In summers he went to
his Yasnaya Polyana estate village – 5 hrs rail road from Moscow]
In 1901 he escaped from his family [he fought with his wife on spiritual-ethical matters]
1909 he returned for a last time to this house, before returning Y.P via
Kurskaya Metro – that also I saw…
So I am proud to see the Entry and Exit point of this Master in Moscow…
1910 he died.
1911 this home was sold by his wife, 1919 it was donated to Tolstoy society
1921 Soviet Govt nationalized it & made it a Museum
Such a Historical Place!
In this Home, called Khamovniki, Tolstoy wrote
Resurrection, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, The Kingdom of God is Within Us…
And many more…[I read all the 3 above]
Some quotes, notes from the Book…
"There are many things to know in this World. But how to live is the only thing that really matters"
"The only thing to salvation is to live for others"
He turned Vegetarian, gave smoking, turned teetotaller in KHAMOVNIKI and compelled his children to be one.
"To serve my neighbour? I want to teach them how to lead a Good life"
Tolstoy had 13 children through his wife Sophia, 16 years younger to him.
5 of them died young. Rest survived him.
Some remarkable children of him are Tatyana – the painter
Maria – Leo's daughter & friend - died early
Part –V
OK OK people I may be boring you all with intrepid details.
But I have to write all this..
A Record… Audio, Still, Video and now in Text… of my life…of my experiences..
May be of use?
Kutuzovksya Ulitsa – in memory of Russian General Kutuzov who fought with Napolean Bonaparte – his psyche is portrayed by Tolstoy in War & Peace
Metro Tverskaya & Tverskaya Ulitsa near the Kremlin where the Mayor of Moscow Mr. Yury Luzkov lives - I saw his sprawling home in evening walk
to Kremlin…
What I wanted to see but missed in Moscow?
Park of the Statues
This park shown in the James Bond movie "Golden Eye" I wanted to see it.
It is also walk able distance from Radisson, but due to time problem missed.
Then the Novo Deviche Monastry, again walk able distance…
[I mean walk able here for at least 3 to 7 kms]
I am a good walker… from my home at 3rd mile to Caldwell school I walked many times [7 kms].
Walking improves thinking, imagining.
Many wondered at my walking stride… some not joined me….
I like to walk alone… because people cant catch my speed..
Sometimes purposely I go slow, and gape at the view… this also irritates my colleagues…
I am better be alone.. I can work well… think well.. write well…
In Chennai I used buy 10 Rs. Travel As you Please [TAP] Bus Ticket…whole day you can roam around Chennai without taking any more ticket.. it is valid for a day… in 1991, 1992. that's how I used to see Chennai.
Walked a lot in Chennai, Delhi, Chandigarh… thereby you know the places well…
Want to be a true Traveller like Huan Swang – Vasco Da Gama – Magellan – Columbus
Let's see if fate can be more benevolent?
April 25 take off to Cairo
After 4 hrs flight, we are about to land in Cairo.
I see through IL-76 navigator window, passenger window…
The Nile river bending and turning like a Lady's hips…
Ships, boats, bridges in them…
Cairo full of apartment houses…
Better laid out than Indian cities.. it seems from above…
Could not locate the Pyramids…
Their songs are so sweet, sexy… especially "Al Lil Il Leel" type Muslim Munahals… the driver said it is RELIA a great female singer…
Should download her Mp3 soon
We also remember "Di Di" song?
The BMW van takes us in the outskirts… oh dirty like India…
We reach 5 * Hotel Meena Oberoi near Cheops Pyramids
Indian hospitality, great hotel.
At 5.0 PM out to see the Pyramids… sorry Friday closed…
Saw from outside, took pics.. sun setting behind the pyramids…
One boeing flew above the pyramids… videoed…photoed…
Then went to ASFOUR crystals. www.asfourcrystal.com
Bought some for family.
Returned and walked down the Nile.. nalla kathu…
They say like the Pyramids, many Aparments and houses are still built with some empty rooms for the ghosts of the family to live…
We saw many empty – ghost apartments – looking ghastly empty – dark in the night – without light
Huge wastage of Real Estate or maintenance of culture?
What u say?
Some took Kabuli Channa, hot water & masala mix available near Nile…
Chai also available… 2 L.E [Egyptian Pounds]
I avoided them as I always believe in Indian Tea only
Nile Crystal Cruise… with Belly dancers….videoed them…
Night time pics are not that clear… video OK type…
Returned at 2 am slept at Meena Oberoi
Got up at 5, took off to Muscat at 8 am
Good night at Cairo!
Landed at 11.30 am Muscat
Fuel leak at Starboard wing.
Engine Technician screwed. [I am!]
At 45 Deg C, go to the top of the Wing, open panel 432-D check the Master Refuelling Valve for leak… checked None found…
Open the side panels on the Fuselage, My Dear Pashu, Pilot says…
Opened it with my colleagues, with big Giraffe ladder lent from Oman Airway ground crew – [billed to embassy] no traces of leak found…
Pilot, Flight Engineer agreed the leak may be from the Tank fillets…
That's not Engine Technician bother… [God saved!]
At least Refuel the Aircraft, My dear Pashu, for 55 Tons…
I did, with prayers inside my heart… [Computerla ukkanthathu thappu!]
Eppadiyo, landed at RUWI HOTEL, Muscat at 3 pm.
Immediately went to Carre Four super market, then Lulu.
Had dinner at the RUWI, free. Aha, Chapathi, Roti, Chicken, Dal after 1 month!
True Indian Food after 1 month!
9.30 pm One Chinese and One Philipino ask for Beer [!]
Ok, Ok, we can have them… at Room… at Al Farhat Bar…
Room No. 810… nalla room with a view of Muscat Saravana Bhawan…
Beero Beer with Latex flushed…
Kanjoos, Kanjoos they say… haiyoda… [It's a pleasure to listen Hindi from Chinese at Muscat you know?]
10.30 pm
Al Farhat Bar – Malayali Bar man..
Foster's, Lawenbrawns, Tuborgs... go inside…
6 Moroccan Girls dancing [?]… actually standing and shaking only hips…
to the Arab music tunes…
They Sheikhs are smoking, drinking [!] and donating 1 Riyal, 10 Riyal for a Mala – crystal mala to be worn to the dancer.
Sheikhs send some notes in paper… may be song request…may be his mobile no… one Pakistani says to me.. after giving the Mobile no, the Girl calls him and goes to his home…so this is a polished method of flesh trade…
Jana Gana Mana!
Left to Mehfil Bar near Ruwi Hotel [enna sooduppa velila]
Without A/C no one will live in this Desert…
Nothing but Desert, Oil, Shopping malls…Enna ooruyaiyya ithu…
Indiya athuvum Tamilnadu sorkkamda…
12 masamum baniyan illama verum jattila thiryalamle?
Namma nadu sorkkamda… summa sollakudathu…
OK, OK, back to Bar…
Operated by Sardarji… who lives permanatly in this Ruwi hotel…
6 Indian – North Indian – Bihari [?] Girls…
Not so good structure, not so good looks… but hindi film songs..
Dance… again shaking hipls lightly only…Easy way to earn yar…
In India these Girls has to dance a lot and sweat to earn money…
Here u see just shake hands and hips, earn Riyals… send money home… Aha…
They also read the white chits…the Sheiks send…
They also wear the Crystal mala the viewers offer… the crowns also [5 riyals]
Nalla culture-da!
Bored with these Girls!
With the Chino-Philippo memories slept in Ruwi……………
Kanavula Saravana Bhavan Dosai Varuthu…
Ethana Riyalo? Pavikala!
They saif take off at 12 pm so shop in the morning also
Morning 9 am 42 Deg Veyilu! Yamma!
Etho konjam shopping pannempa…
4 swiss watchu, 19" LCD monitor, small vacuum cleaner for PC,
5hrs battery for Sony camcorder, 4 GB I-Pod and itsu bitsu…
Ithu oru Oorale?
Pesama namma nattule lottery adikkalamle!
Took off at 4 pm Landed 8.15 pm Delhi…
Thanks ma Mariyatha Kaliyatha
Fuel leak busvanama pochu…
Polachompa…
Apuuram enna… Agra… Petha… PC…Netuuu..
Nattu kalarthu….
I think u liked my above blogs!....
If u don't like, simply hit DEL key in yahoo or gmail…
Don't curse me.. this is my first PARIN TRIP doy!
Meet ya soon!
Bye!
PKP
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Best Wishes,
Mr. & Mrs. Pasupathi K Pillai
Webmaster & Owner of Saivaneri.org
Reliance Mobile: 0-9319065766
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