Kuterem, Russia?

[Killer-B]

MY GOD 

What now? You want me to go the WOVO route? No backup?


-----------

Oops!

(casually removes boot from mouth)

My apologies Olly, I didn't realize you were female.....

I am not some dawg - just so you know - All I'm saying, is that I'm flying a million miles to BFE to meet this gal, and I sincerely hope things work out.... But on the long shot they don't, why is it BAD to go back to Ufa to maybe meet someone there? I'm not contacting anyone before I meet her... 

What would you suggest I do Olly?

[Olly]

where'd you get that pricing?

Cheers

I got price in internet but it is only in russian. i just translated.

[Olly]

What now? You want me to go the WOVO route? No backup?

I don't know what is WOVO. Please just not call women - backups!

[Killer-B]

I don't know what is WOVO. Please just not call women - backups!

See my "edit" above... I did apologize, even before you responded...

I was referring to RWD's Rule #2  --- Always have a backup PLAN --- I should have said that, sorry

WOVO = Write One, Visit One

[Killer-B]

I got price in internet but it is only in russian. i just translated.

Thanks!

[Olly]

See my "edit" above... I did apologize, even before you responded...

OK. Apologies are accepted 

[Killer-B]

OK. Apologies are accepted 

Thanks for your understanding )))))) I am sorry

By the way, for those wondering (or following) the saga of Kuterem, I've just received word back .... It's an interesting twist, as I asked her about 'when and where'.... Maybe those more fluent in Russian can explain better, but to me, it sounds like... Well, I'm going to withhold comment for now... Not sure what to make of this? I do know she sounds terribly self-conscious about me seeing her 'town' - Maybe it's an excuse? Am I being played here? I think it's genuine and sincere... but I've been wrong before...

-snip-

Что касается моего поселения. Я думаю, что в США нет таких понятий, как "поселок". Я могу сказать, что Кутерем - это не городок (town), а, скорее, поселение (settlement). Ближайший город - это Нефтекамск, где я учусь.

-snip-

[Vincenzo]

I think she means that Kuterem is not a town, but a small village.

She says that she studies in Neftekamsk. That's the place where you should go. You can always visit her village using marshrutkas.

[Killer-B]

Hi Vincenzo - I deduced the same, and was kinda relieved to see we were looking at the same place (Neftekamsk) so that will make things easier... What I'm not clear on, is the "village" or "settlement" part ... in the paragraph leading up to that, and the one that followed, she seemed almost embarrased by it - and whilst she never stated it aloud, she inferred that she did not wish for me to see it (allot of me reading between the lines there) - so I very well could be wrong with that one....

Additionally, she raises the topic of finishing her last year of education - and how that's important to her - doesn't want to straddle the 'future husband' by having no skills... Admirable - yet now she's pushing back a meeting due to this?

I have mixed feelings right now...  I sense she's wanting to do the 'right thing' here... or maybe she's backpedaling because I'm the first to actually map out a trip to her doorstep? and maybe she's freaking a bit? I dunno - Need to ponder this one a bit...

[Vincenzo]

She may live in a small log house with her parents and feel embarrassed to show it to you. Also, if you visit her, all other 999 people in the village will know it.

You should visit her when she has free time. Then you can travel somewhere nearby together.  If she likes skiing, you can go to a skiing resort in the Urals.

I don't think there are many things to do in Neftekamsk. So, it's better to travel.

[mendeleyev]

As someone who owns a car in Russia, I'd sooner advise you to jump off a 300 story building before driving on a first visit, especially since this is out in the country. Not only can the liability issues be very different from renting a car in the West; for example, in some cases you buy the car if its stolen. Russia is near the top of the world in car thefts so that is a real issue.

The other dangers are from police, other drivers, and bandits in the countryside. The danger of police is a shake down, as in any accident the foreigner driver is automatically at fault no matter obvious the real fault may be, and while it sounds like out of the 80s and early 90s, there remain dangers to strange drivers in out of the way places.

The immediate example which comes to mind was the high ranking Russian Army officer who was ambushed and murdered this summer. He had pulled over in the middle of nowhere, lost because of unmarked roads and apparently decided to get some sleep in the front seat until daylight. Daylight never came for him as he was murdered and the car stripped by morning.

Russian joke:
At a 4 way intersection there was an international 4-car accident. The 4 drivers were a Moldovan, a Ukrainian, a Belarusian and a Russian.

Who was at fault according to police? The American.

There is truth in humour.

Most foreign drivers are wiser to first get familiar with the country and the roads before jumping behind the wheel on a first visit.

[Jumper]

The immediate example which comes to mind was the high ranking Russian Army officer who was ambushed and murdered this summer. He had pulled over in the middle of nowhere, lost because of unmarked roads and apparently decided to get some sleep in the front seat until daylight. Daylight never came for him as he was murdered and the car stripped by morning

I've  a friend seriously contemplating and planning a trip across Russia.
 
I warned against all the various dangers, the crazy logistiocs needed ,
 but had no news story to go along with any of it..
 
Do you have a link to that?
it might change his mind.
 

 

[Killer-B]

Yes, I've heard the horror stories (reference my bullet holes quip!) .... So I think I'll stick with the caravan idea ... Just need to suss one out from Ufa -

@Jumper - if you want a good idea about that exact trek, I watched a series called "Long Way Round" as 2 blokes saddled up their BMW's motorcycles and trekked across all parts of Russia, Mongolia, the "stans" and many points beyond - filming the entire way ... Available on Netflix or DVD  - very entertaining (and scary at times!)

http://longwayround.com/journeys_long-way-round.htm

Long Way Round Journey

In 2004 Ewan and Charley embarked on an epic Long Way Round challenge, to bike 20,000-miles, cross 12 countries and 19 time zones in just 115 days.  Riding their BMW GS R1200s, they crossed Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to ride the Road of Bones through Siberia, over to Alaska, through Canada, North America and finished in New York. The Long Way Round journey would challenge their view of the world and also test their physical endurance.

Cheers

[Killer-B]

We're now #1 in Google search for Kuterem!

[Jumper]

Yes, I've heard the horror stories (reference my bullet holes quip!) .... So I think I'll stick with the caravan idea ... Just need to suss one out from Ufa -

@Jumper - if you want a good idea about that exact trek, I watched a series called "Long Way Round" as 2 blokes saddled up their BMW's motorcycles and trekked across all parts of Russia, Mongolia, the "stans" and many points beyond - filming the entire way ... Available on Netflix or DVD  - very entertaining (and scary at times!)

http://longwayround.com/journeys_long-way-round.htm

Long Way Round Journey

In 2004 Ewan and Charley embarked on an epic Long Way Round challenge, to bike 20,000-miles, cross 12 countries and 19 time zones in just 115 days.  Riding their BMW GS R1200s, they crossed Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to ride the Road of Bones through Siberia, over to Alaska, through Canada, North America and finished in New York. The Long Way Round journey would challenge their view of the world and also test their physical endurance.

Cheers

lol Yes, that's what inspired the lunatic.
He bought a Ural already in preperation for the trek,and to do it with something of Russian make.
 
(and yes he has done similar trips before,in dangerous areas
like Africa, South America-
 so he isn't new to difficulties , but I think he under estimates the ones  the remorteness of some areas of his planned route across Russia might pose)
 
sorry for the off topic.
 

[Vaughn]

Oh brother, this one's gonna be an adventure....
I noticed how close Izhevsk lies to Neftekamsk, so I checked bus schedules.

Get a load of the route !!   
 I always thought the shortest distance between 2 points
was a straight line. Nope, the the best way from Izhevsk to Neftekamsk is thru Perm'....

LOL !

[Chicagoguy]

There is a new very good book that I finished earlier this year.
Travels In Siberia by Ian Frazier       He is a writer for The New Yorker

[mendeleyev]

Jumper,

While haven't yet found that particular story, here is one of a postal carrier who was driving in a rural area. Robbed and murdered. http://www.regions.ru/news/location01807/2353931/

[Kineo]

Funny! - I just did search again, and my post - only 24 hours old, is already ranked #4 in Google LOL!

I did find some Panaramio fotos... wow, stepping back in time... Hmmm - No 5 star resorts here!

That is so cool!
 

[mendeleyev]

Here is a news story (Sept 2010) on how for years the village has done without natural gas service to homes despite the fact that a major pipeline runs thru the village. Most houses use coal or wood for heat. However, recently the utililty Neftekamskgaz came thru the area and gas is being installed for heating and cooking. http://kaltasy.ru/news/324

The village is in the Калтасинского район (Kaltasinskogo administrative district) and the postal code (zip) for Kuterem is 452878.

Neftekamsk airport code: NEF  Flight from Moscow is under 2 hours on very small planes. Considered a minor airport.

The best photos of this little district are here.

State:  Republic of Bashkortostan; this village is 210 km from Ufa. The main town in your region is Нефтека́мск/Neftekamsk. (Don't confuse it with the city of Neftekumsk.)

Perhaps you'll use the Moscow train station Kazansky to Ufa, or go from Moscow's Yaroslavskaya to Perm?

Edit: Looks as if the closest train station is Yanaul, very close.

Facebook is here.

[SANDRO43]

The best photos of this little district are here.

It does look VERY rural .

[Kineo]

 
I live in a town of about 1000. This looks smaller than my town............
 
 

[Killer-B]

Thanks Mendeleyev - Excellent info - Simple, but effective site! Looks so 'old school' - lost in time...

That's some bus route Vaughn!! Wow...

This is gonna be interesting....

Given this is such a small town, any suggestions as to "what to do" for a week? Skiing in the Urals is a good one.... Have suggested that - waiting on an answer...

Thanks guys -

KB

PS: Found this wide angle shot - Reminds me of rural Pennsylvania 

[GQBlues]

Holy smokes, Killer-B! If you two ever get married and moved with her to Bishop, CA; she'd definitely suffer a serious culture shock! Input overload...

[OlgaH]

Kuterem map

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&cp=5&gs_id=46&xhr=t&q=Kuterem,+Bashkortostan&pq=kuteeram,+bashkortostan&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1130&bih=522&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl