From the Beginning; A Trip to Siberia in Winter

[Anotherkiwi]

Here is a video of us driving over to her work place.  It is the industrial/shopping area of the city.

Just a couple of observations - I bet it felt a bit strange being in the passenger's seat on that side of the road!  Did you notice many right-hand drive cars as you travelled around?  I was surprised to see as many as I did in Sochi, and that's a long way away from any RHD country.  At least Krasnoyarsk is a bit closer to Japan, and presumably all RHD cars (including your girlfriend's) are imports.
 
Are you sure you filmed that video in Russia? The standard of driving was more like what I'm used to at home! 
 
I spotted the perfect present if you are really serious about this woman - get her a new windscreen for the car.      I would expect those cracks to explode over ANY bump!

[Anotherkiwi]

Here is a video of the night time

People seem to be making a real effort - there are some very nice displays on show.
 
And one last thing - you can now update your profile to show 1 trip! 

[Kuna]

Loving the photos and video.

Thanks for putting in the effort for our benefit kmin!

[JohnDearGreen]

Between Paris and Krasnoyarsk I have a 5 hour 40 minute layover at St. Petersburg.  Good thing too, because the line to get the ticket and check the baggage for my last flight was really long.  It took about 2 hours just to wait for ticket, had to go through security twice, once to get into the "other terminal" and again to go to the gates.   

Happened to notice the 5th annual Siberian Salsa Festival starts Tuesday in Krasnoyarsk.
Maybe quite a few travelers were going there.  Good thing you have a flat reserved.

[kmin]

Update;  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia 1 Jan, 2012   1600 (4pm)

OH WOW, talk about a New Years,  it is the best one I have ever had.

Last night I made stuffed chicken, garlic mash potatoes, Real Minnesota Wild Rice, and her mom brought over a traditional Russian Fish Salad that was wonderful.  We ate the food and talked about many things.  About past, present and future.

After we ate and celebrated new years, her brother came over with his girlfriend and we exchanged gifts.  I had brought mom a nice tea cup a friend of mine made www.parselypottery.com, some wild rice from Scenic Waters (best wild rice in world), some honey from Ames Farms (from Minnesota), and she had presents for my mom, dad, and me.  All were really nice and significant.  For the brother and his girlfriend I gave them honey and special soap.

Brother brought over beer and we drank along with some Alize I brought over on the plane.  We than all went out to go ice skating (I had not been in 20 years, but I didn't fall down once!  ) till 5am.  Next was to brother's girlfriend's flat for Campaign, Wine, Tea, and Cake (which was really good).  Around 7am we brought mom back home and we were back to the flat for some much needed rest.

I have totally falling in love with this girl and she is wonderful and great woman.  This trip has been one of the best things I have done in my life and lots of fun.

My girlfriend was able to get this great flat which is very nice and owned by a friend of her family who lives part time in Switzerland and part time in Krasnoyarsk.  They are letting me rent flat for only $200 for the month including all gas and electric.  It is fully furnished and has everything for home like dishes, sheets, cleaning supplies, etc.

Her mom and brother likes me which is good.

Here are a few more pictures;  Hotel Krasnoyarsk, Christmas Tree, Us in flat (My girlfriend, Me, Her Brother, and his girlfriend in flat)

 

[jeff9556]

Wow, not sure where you get the time or energy for these updates but its great, sounds like things are going along well for you. Nice TR, looking forward to future installments.

Does that last picture put paid to the idea that RW don't like men shorter than themselves

[kmin]

Update:  2 Jan 2012,  0119  (1:19am)  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia

Real quick update and some pictures.

We went up to church on the hill to see the whole city.  After that we went over to the main area of the city for the holiday celebrations.

Here are some pictures for you guys;

First up are some ice sculptures

Next is the church on the hill, (pictures of locks are for married couples, they write there name  on the lock and lock it to the fence surrounding the church.

[JR]

Glad it is going sooooo well for you))) Hope it only continues to get better!

[Jumper]

Russian Fish Salad

shuba?
 
 
 
 
Thanks for ther updates and cool to see your trip going well!
 

[kmin]

Update, Krasnoyarsk, Siberia      5 Jan 2012    1231  12:31pm

Things are going Great.   Here are a couple videos for you guys.  Winter wonderland and some of the mountains.


http://youtu.be/ZtD9uc-kUo4

[JohnDearGreen]

As to the departing the country with one day to spare, I will be in the departing airport almost 40 hours before my visa expires, so it should work out. 

From the video, it looks like decent weather for January.  On my trip to Poland this time of year, there was one blizzard which caused one day delay flying into Warsaw.  Made it by train to Zakopane before the 2nd blizzard hit which shut down the trains and everything for one day.   So I would repeat the previous warning and you might want to watch the weather forecast the last week of your trip.

[kmin]

Quick Update;  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia   6 Jan 2012   1922 (7:22pm)

Here is another video we took yesterday at the top of a mountain overlooking Krasnoyarsk

http://youtu.be/RJqc-X7myqw

[Kuna]

Quick Update;  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia   6 Jan 2012   1922 (7:22pm)

Here is another video we took yesterday at the top of a mountain overlooking Krasnoyarsk

http://youtu.be/RJqc-X7myqw

Looks nice... thanks for continuing to update...

Seems that you're lucky to be having some mild weather there at the moment.  Hope this continues for the remainder of your stay.

[SFandEE]

there are 10 americans in Krasnoyarsk.  They teach locals like me. Students of English speaking club invite YOU and yours friends handshake with local residents. pls send cell skype email   to   142142@bk.ru
i am wait    happy new year 4 all !!!    -   
Hallowen in English speaking club

This appears to be a district of Mormon missionaries that use English classes as a strategy to build trust and rapport with locals in order to convert them to their religion.  Notice how none of them departed from their suit and tie uniforms to participate in the festivities.


Why was this video posted?

[kmin]

Update;  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia    7 Jan 2012   1139 (11:39am)

Merry Christmas everyone from Siberia.

We are having a great time here in Siberia and the weather has been good so far.  Yesterday we went to a nice ski resort to look around and we took a ride on a roller coaster like thing that went from the top of the mountain all the way to the bottom.  Lots of fun.

Now we could use a little help from contacts in the Krasnoyarsk area.  Our flat is nice, but we would like to find another one which is better with more room and a bigger bed.  A bath tub would also be a plus but we can do without.  Please reply or send message if you have contacts that can help us out. 

Thanks everyone 

[kmin]

Update 9 Jan 2012, 1400 (2:00pm),  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia

I have been very busy lately.  Yesterday we went to "Chinese Wall" mountain in Stolby, Siberia and climbed to the top.  It was about 18 F and winds around 40 mph at the top.  It took us about 2 hours or so to reach the top but the view was wonderful. 

Her mom stayed at our flat and made food for night time celebration.  After we got back to the flat her mom, brother, brother's girlfriend, came over and we ate food all night.  Her brother and I drank some traditional Siberian Whiskey that was made from pine nuts.  It was very good whiskey and some of the best I have ever had.  Her brother and I finished the bottle, needless to say I was a little drunk.  It was a fun time.

Her mom had made traditional Siberian food including a potato salad which was the best I have ever had. 

My girlfriend and I are having a wonderful time together and now we are in a new flat which has a better and bigger bed, and more room.  This has been a great trip so far and I am really enjoying it.  Below are some pictures from the mountain top. 

Here is a video of a climber on the mountain

   

[GQBlues]

Hey Kmin!
 
I'm really digging your report, man. I just love these *live* T/R! You've made it especially interesting too by these pic and video feeds. Feels like we're out there along with you!
 
Nice touch...
 
Your last video showing the climber...man, I wish I was there to help the poor guy. I would've yelled and told him to use the ledge (stairs) to his left and he would've gotten to the top of the wall much faster and easier. 
 
Anyway, have a great time and good luck with everything concerning your lady. Thanks for the T/R!

[jeff9556]

Looking forward to the next installment!

[kmin]

Update;  Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia  15 January, 2012  1400 (2:00pm)

Hi all,

I have a lot to tell you guys, it has been a while since my last update and have been very busy.  Things have been going very good and I have been having the time of my life.  On Saturday her brother was able to get us great tickets to a ballet show he is in.  It was a great show about an astronomer who was also a teacher in a small town who found a star that was not named yet.  He fell in love with a crazy woman who was traveling through the town, but it end with the woman going back to her old boy friend who was a fast paced city type who loved to party all the time.  It was a great show and I enjoyed it.  The show was based off a popular movie that was made a number of years ago in Russia.

After the show we went to the second floor balcony where I asked her to marry me, she said yes and now we are engaged to be married and starting the K-1 process and paperwork.  She has made me so happy and we love each other deeply.

On Sunday we travel out to Stolby Natural Park again for some more mountain climbing.  A fair warning to anyone considering doing the same,  DON'T go climbing unless you know what you are doing and very experienced.  Some of the pictures and video I am posting is not for inexperienced climbers.  This time of year the rocks are covered with snow and ice and your chances of falling are very high.  Yes we climbed without safety gear or ropes, but the two of us have many years of experience and we were very careful.  That being said we probably should not have done the climbing we did, but we survived.   Others didn't fair so well I think that day, on the way back down the mountain we passed an ambulance on the way up. 

Fair warning aside it was one of the most beautiful places in the world and the views from the top are truly amazing.  Here is a video of some of the really crazy climbers who most definitely were playing a game of "Russian Ru let" with the mountain



The woods were amazing yesterday with newly fallen snow covering the trees and rocks.  It was a winter wonderland and here is a video of me taking a Siberian snow shower 



Temperature was about -15 C and little winds in the forest, but the mountain top had about 20 kph winds.  In all it was about 6 km up the mountain and 6 km back down.  It was a long day and some of the grades were in the 15-20% range so we got our work out for the day.

There are some pictures below for you guys;

Picture one is from the top of one of the mountains.  It is about a 100-200 meter drop off straight down.  Watch your step

Picture two is a bolder the size of a small house pinned between two large rock formations with a tree growing out of the top of it

Picture three is of some of the crazier climbers. 

Picture four is of one of the most famous and hardest to climb rock formations in Stolby

[kmin]

Update Continued;

Here is a video of us at the top of one of the mountains.  Seriously don't do this guys;



Here is another from the same mountain top;

[kmin]

Update continued;

More videos of the winter wonderland that is Stolby Siberia;




and another;

[GoodOlBoy]

After the show we went to the second floor balcony where I asked her to marry me, she said yes and now we are engaged to be married....

Congratulations Kmin!
She sounds like a real keeper.
 
GOB

[Hammer2722]

Great vids Kmin!!!! You have more guts than I do! 

[GQBlues]

More cool update vids...
 
Congratulations on the engagement as well!

[kmin]

Update;  Krasnoyarsk Siberia, Russia  18 January, 2012  1715 (5:15pm)

Temperature this morning was a cool -31F  (-35C).  Good thing I had my cold weather parka from Canada Goose, if you need a cold weather parka these are the guys, I have been very comfortable and warm this trip.  Also I was wearing my cold weather long underwear pants, plus cold weather military pant inserts, pants, turtle neck scarf, stalking cap, and gloves.  So I was able to stay warm even though it was cold outside. 

We had breakfast and headed out to work here is a video of the drive in.  We passed 3 car accidents on the short 5 minute drive into work, yesterday on the way in we drove 3 blocks and the car in front of us was hit by a large truck that ran a red light, and we saw two other accidents on the way in.  Needless to say if you travel here leave the driving to the locals. 



My fiance has been working during the day so I have been at her work too.  I have spent my time catching up on emails, playing some video games, and getting the K-1 Visa paperwork in order.  In the evenings we have been hanging out at the flat and eating food.  Tonight we are going to do the same, but will go out in the cold for a walk around the city to take some more video and pictures of the lights, Christmas trees, and ice sculptures which are all over the city. 

I am so glad I found this site and started this process, my fiance is better than I could have dreamed for and she feels the same about me.  I hope the K-1 process goes fast.  While the process is going on I think we both will make a trip to see each other.  We are thinking about traveling to Israel as we both don't need visas and she has good friend there that will let us stay at their place for free.