List of things to take to the Ukraine

[JR]

So yes, i am a Gastrosexual so look out ladies.    I can make Spaghetti, Pizza, Ramon Noodles, mac n cheese, Lucky charms, you name it. 

Gordon Ramsay's got nuthin' on me girl.

You can make Lucky Charms?????? I'm in LUV!!!!!!!!!!

[JR]

I was thinking when I travel to russia in may i might just turn off the cdma and use wifi to make calls with skype, since there is an app for that.  Works just as good as any other option, and can do video as well, although calling mobile to land lines are extra.

Why would you do this when you can get a sim card for as little as ten bucks and free yourself from the hassle of finding a hot spot when you need to make a call?

[mendeleyev]

I agree about the dryer, but are you sure about cell phones? It seems to me that I have plugged in my iPhone with an adapter in the 220v parts of the world without any problems.

Thanks for the correction! Good to know.

[mendeleyev]

1) Roll a quantity of TP around your hand until you  have approximately the bulk of a folded handkerchief.  Put this inside a zip lock baggie and put in your back pocket.  Carry it with you every day of your  trip. Your gals will swear you are crazy (if they see it), but then they will also ask to use your stash at some point.

2) Find a standard sized roll of TP at your house that has about one fourth to one third left on it.  Pull out the cardboard center.  Yes, this  takes a little playing around, but can be done.  Then flatten the remainder, put in a zip lock baggie, and place in your carry-on luggage.

Good ideas, ML. I buy those little travel size tissue packets at a dollar store, usually 10 packets for a buck. One packet goes into a back pocket daily and it is multi-functional for every use from tp to napkin.

[JR]

Nowadays most charging systems for 'mobile' appliances such as cell phones and laptops will accept input voltages from 110 to 220. So you don't need a converter, just an adapter. Just look at the charger, it'll tell you what input voltages are accepted.

[celluloidheros]

You can make the luggage lighter by dropping "the" from the name of Ukraine. That should save a few kilograms.   

thanks for the info, it's just what i grew up calling it.  Like saying "the canada" or "the cuba" sounds terrible to me and i'm sure sayinmg "the Ukraine" sounds bad to you.  But saying "The soviet Union" or "the Bahamas"  or "the virgin Islands"   sounds normal to me.

I will try to just say Ukraine Thanks for the pointers

[Faux Pas]

Good ideas, ML. I buy those little travel size tissue packets at a dollar store, usually 10 packets for a buck. One packet goes into a back pocket daily and it is multi-functional for every use from tp to napkin.

Thank you. I can't imagine traveling without tissues anyway but, I guess that's just me. I have never seen my wife when she didn't have a pack of tissues. I usually always pack moistened wipes as well. They are almost as cheap as the tissues.

Bottom line, the TP hysteria is just that, hysteria and it's unfounded for the most part. If you travel well off the beaten path then by all means, pack some TP. The usual everyday TP for sale in most all places that sell such in Russia isn't like newspaper or sandpaper. It's just TP and like you'll find most anywhere in the west. If you MUST have Charmin with aloe then, by all means pack it in your suitcase although you can likely buy it in the East 

[JR]

I will try to just say Ukraine Thanks for the pointers

Such a waste.....you coulda just said "thanks" 

[BdHvA]

As a gift for a woman I would bring some good quality cheese.

A sharp cheddar, a good Parmesan or a firm Dutch cheese works well. Vacuum seal them other wise your clothes will smell of cheese. Avoid crap cheese they already have that in Ukraine.

If you are leaving in the next ten days think winter, like serious winter! - 20 centigrade that is rather cold at present.

[GQBlues]

So far, there's only been 5 generations of iPhone. June 2007, the release date for the original iPhone; July 2008 - iPhone 3G; June 2009 - iPhone 3GS; June 2010 - iPhone 4; and the latest (5th) generation is iPhone 4S ('S' stands for the SIRI feature). There is no such thing as iPhone 5, there is a 5th generation iPhone however.
 
I can understand how an iPhone 3G could 'cost' $200.00 considering it's almost 4 years old (bought with no service contract).  Though not sure of its market in Ukraine. Just take along the cheapest quad-band, unlocked phone with you. I'm almost certain any of your friends have at least 2 or 3 of those laying around.
 
The guy is going to Ukraine for a week - 10 days...Chrissakes, bring a bullhorn. This way he can use the bullhorn's muzzle as a place to store his US-issued toilet paper roll between swipes. 
 
If you are taking Jack's tour, I would presume the best guy to ask on what to bring would be 'Jack', no? You're going to Ukraine to meet women, not to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.
 
Relax.

[SMS60]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Creepy

[GQBlues]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Creepy

I think that has largely to do with the majority age set of the men trekking to FSU. Something to do with diminishing muscle control/vowel movement....
 
One would think FSU's abrasive tissue can't possibly more intrusive and uncomfortble than colonoscopy, which generally, these men has got to be more than used to by now.

[JR]

You're going to Ukraine to meet women, not to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.
 
Relax.

Well depending upon how he looks he may just have to fight off the women using wet toilet paper

[mendeleyev]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Maybe it's a political undercurrent and the looming election on 4 March?

[BC]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Creepy

Yes, it 'runs' ..  http://jeremyinc.com/

[Anotherkiwi]

I think that has largely to do with the majority age set of the men trekking to FSU. Something to do with diminishing muscle control/vowel movement....
 
One would think FSU's abrasive tissue can't possibly more intrusive and uncomfortble than colonoscopy, which generally, these men has got to be more than used to by now.

"Vowel" movement?  You mean they swap them for consonants?
 
As for colonoscopy, you sound very experienced in this regard.  I'll take your word for it regarding the discomfort.

[GQBlues]

"Vowel" movement?  You mean they swap them for consonants?

Yeah. I'd like to buy an 'E' please... 
 

As for colonoscopy, you sound very experienced in this regard.  I'll take your word for it regarding the discomfort.

I'll get back to you in 3 years. I'll certainly know by then    But don't take my word for it, you're more than entitled one for yourself, LOL.

[ghost of moon goddess]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Creepy

With T.P., they turn their challenges into opportunities 

[JR]

I never seen such a group of men infatuated with toilet paper in my life.

Creepy

Good TP is an execellent "experience enahancer." Why not enjoy life's little pleasures?

[celluloidheros]

Originally I was looking at a Tour By mark Davis, he wants 4650 for 9 days, this does not include airfare which will run about $ 12-1500 in the end.     I then spoke with Jack who has a 3 week long tour that you can go for 2 or 3 week sections or even 1 if he has an opening.   At the same time i wanted to find out all the things on my own to evaluate when jack and mark were telling me and to see if i could go it alone.     I think the answer for the first trip for me is no.     jacks tour was considerably less expensive but i still need to do a side by side comparison.    I'm a spreadsheet kinda guy, what is a wild card is the quality of girls, who knows they may pull from the same agencies, not sure.   Jack is extremely knowledgeable with a huge amount of experience as a guide.   Mark has a brand new business and an extremely cute wife,  Lily said he's very handsome too !  One difference is that mark stays in hotels and jack is in flats.   i have not spoken with Eduard yet, but he's certainly in the running. 

It would be cool if we rolled up much of this info into a sticky, kinda a continuation of ML's  boiler plate, the TP, cell phone info is great.  Could tell how to take a taxi w/o getting ripped of etc...

Then mixed in with all this, I met someone from an out of the way country who is on the young side (30) and I also like someone from this board who is more my age.


I like to learn as much as i can and then relax and let it sink in. 

Take care, Don 

[GQBlues]

Mark can certainly speak for himself, but I don't think it's kosher to be publishing what he may have privately quoted you for his services....specially since you're still undecided. Or, dunno, maybe he wouldn't care.

[celluloidheros]

Mark can certainly speak for himself, but I don't think it's kosher to be publishing what he may have privately quoted you for his services....specially since you're still undecided. Or, dunno, maybe he wouldn't care.

This is not a private quote, it's the std fee he quotes everyone on his website, so it's public knowledge.

[GQBlues]

Ahh! That's good to know.

[ghost of moon goddess]

Good TP is an execellent "experience enahancer." Why not enjoy life's little pleasures?

Who knows...   
It seems that Eric (the ballet boy from the ad) came out of the WATER closet to enjoy life's big pleasures   

[BC]

Boy oh boy this thread has degraded...

confession:

When I first dated my wife, I used to go down to the toilet in the lobby to poop instead of in the room toilet.

I did pick good hotels, so the TP issue was not a problem.

I guess I am a wuss....