Travel Preparations

[mendeleyev]

Oooops, I tend to do okay using charcoal to treat anything that might normally require Alka Seltzer such as acid indigestion and heartburn relief and as you mention, bloating of the stomach. I like that it is natural.

[Ooooops]

Interesting, calcium and carbon are very different elements to have such same effect… 

[steveboy]

Steveboy, just a suggestion: when you quote somebody's LONG post, you CAN cut out its irrelevant parts and save your readers' some scrolling time .

Thanks for that tip!! Im from rural England 

[steveboy]

Really? Only those over 65 get headaches, colds/flu, food related stomach problems, or perhaps could need an emergency clinic? 




As far as toilets go.. I do believe any tree, shrub, or reklama signage would suffice in an emergency.     Except for Steve, who it appears carries his own... 

I cant see any high flying exec flying in from the big city searching for his "Russian bride" P**** up the side of a tree??

[steveboy]

Steve, sorry but I didn't know about your condition. I'll try to cover that in a future post. 

Just saying:) On all my travels over 10 years ( Of course I'm not normal anyway) the last things I have thought about packing are medicines, first aid kits, emergency heart resuscitation kits, stretcher, bandages emergency blood ect. Im just saying it makes it sound like your advising a load of over 70s geriatrics. In which case they will defiantly need a "emergency heart resuscitation kit" absolute minimum just incase the worst happens on a hot encounter with a "Hot Russian bride" 

[mendeleyev]

Steve, aspirin, fever meds and upset stomach meds led you to s stretcher and  emergency heart resuscitation kits, stretcher, bandages emergency blood, etc.

Wow you have an active imagination. Of course I did mention nitro as it happens to be on a Russian pharmacy list of most requested meds by visiting tourists. Truth is that in winter tourists do need the cold and fever stuff and even pain killers if they slip and fall on an icy sidewalk.

I understand that you want to drive home your point that supposedly many visitors for hot brides are senior citizens and frankly I don't encounter many guys visiting Russia or Ukraine for brides. I do see many business folk and they seem to get headaches, etc, from travel stresses and they're not so old. Most of the tourists I run across are retired and usually in groups passing through.

So as long as there are human ailments and folk traveling from other countries, guess we'll give them some practical options. 

[steveboy]

"Take some things with a pinch of salt " as they say

My parents came over to St Petes for the Scarlet Sails festival in june, My father did actually collapse from exhaustion and we were very close to being in a bad situation with, you cannot imagine how busy it was that night. Any chance of an ambulance or anything was out of the question!

[Hammer2722]

Just saying:) On all my travels over 10 years ( Of course I'm not normal anyway) the last things I have thought about packing are medicines, first aid kits, emergency heart resuscitation kits, stretcher, bandages emergency blood ect. Im just saying it makes it sound like your advising a load of over 70s geriatrics. In which case they will defiantly need a "emergency heart resuscitation kit" absolute minimum just incase the worst happens on a hot encounter with a "Hot Russian bride" 

You mean to tell us your never bring your own stretcher????? 

[steveboy]

No, I have no need for one! I'm immortal 

[Chicagoguy]

 They also sell Viagra at the Apleka's.   

[steveboy]

They also sell Viagra at the Apleka's.   

Never looked for that, but then I never need it will bear it in mind for when I pass 95:)

[Faux Pas]

Never looked for that, but then I never need it will bear it in mind for when I pass 95:)

Yeah but your wife or girlfriend might 

[Daveman]

I cant see any high flying exec flying in from the big city searching for his "Russian bride" P**** up the side of a tree??

Or, just carry your own personalized high flyin' exec version...

Executive MOB Emergency Kit

just add the letters C O K with a Sharpie and no one will be the wiser.

[steveboy]

Yeah but your wife or girlfriend might 

I dont think Russian women need anything like that? They are generally highly sexed and pretty forward

[steveboy]

It is something you seriously need to consider! If your in your last years visiting Russia on the hope of picking a hot bride up, and plenty are. Russia is not the place to die on the job!! There will be all sorts of problems repatriating your body!
Probably a good job to get your old ticker checked out before you depart:) if that packs up a box of aspirins will not help)

[cc3]

I cant see any high flying exec flying in from the big city searching for his "Russian bride" P**** up the side of a tree??

High flying executives are fishing in entirely different seas than the FSU.

[Ooooops]

On all my travels over 10 years ( Of course I'm not normal anyway) the last things I have thought about packing are medicines, first aid kits, emergency heart resuscitation kits, stretcher, bandages emergency blood ect. Im just saying it makes it sound like your advising a load of over 70s geriatrics.

Have you ever had Delhi belly?   Or a cold in a country that only believes in herb remedies?   You sound like you never left  chain hotels in your life.   

[steveboy]

Have you ever had Delhi belly?   Or a cold in a country that only believes in herb remedies?   You sound like you never left  chain hotels in your life.   

Chain hotels!! ) No I don't usually stay in hotels:) Or didn't . Actually I never take medicines , Im a firm believer in staying away from medicines and antibiotics it is better in the long run. I want a good strong immune system when I'm older. I picked up some bad bug two years ago in some street cafe run by an Egyptian in St Petes , that was a nightmare, couldnt stop s***** for two days. I try to stay healthy and in over 40 years have NEVER had to visit a hospital once for any problems. "Touch wood" I hope I never do.

[Anotherkiwi]

I think everyone has valid points here.  I'm like steveboy in that, apart from the occasional cold or snuffle, I don't get sick - ever.  It doesn't matter that I'm at least ten years older than him - I'm not going to be packing heaps of different pills, because my immune system kills pretty well any bug that comes close to me.  However, that doesn't mean that I will discourage anybody else from packing whatever they want or feel may be helpful.  JayH is on the mark, though - you can buy anything you need from a supermarket or apteka, and the latter seemed to be everywhere that I went.
 
I realise that steveboy was exaggerating for effect - even he well knows that not everyone travelling to the FSU is an arthritic, wheelchair-bound MOB hunter, but those who do have medical problems (whether short- or long-term) need to make the appropriate provision for them.
 
My only personal medical issue is that the skin on my lower legs is quite delicate, so I can cause damage quite easily if I knock them against hard corners (e.g. the average Moscow hotel bed  ).  I usually carry special dressings if I travel, simply because the quicker that any damage is treated the shorter the total recovery time.  That was amply demonstrated in Australia last year, when I managed to cut my leg on a concrete planter box at a cricket match I was attending.  The rostered paramedic was sitting only a few metres away, and she had my leg cleaned and dressed inside three minutes!  Result - only three weeks to heal completely, instead of four or five if I had had to wait even a few hours for treatment by a doctor or hospital emergency room.
 
Be prepared, certainly, but there's no need to be paranoid.
 
 

[mendeleyev]

The next issue is one of safety.

Most of the time crime will never be an issue for the typical traveler to Eastern Europe and Asia. However as the Olympics are going to bring a lot of extra folk to Russia, authorities are gearing up for certain criminal elements to arrive as well. That is sadly the human condition but by being aware of your surroundings and not being alone while out at odd hours of the night one should be fine.

Some carry a wallet when traveling in other countries but usually in a front pocket while other travelers wear a passport wallet around their neck that is tucked inside a shirt. Whatever you decide to do make sure that your money and passport is not an easy target for anyone.

Sometimes it is best to ignore someone if threatened. The social media sites in Russia are buzzing about the video below and depending on ethnic and political orientation, the blame is laid on either party.

I've only personally felt threatened a couple of times in the Metro and that is over many years in the FSU so by no means am I saying that this is normal or frequent. It can however happen to anyone, and in just about any city of the world.

The potential factors in this video include issues of illegal immigration, terror, race and ethnic nationalism. The young man shot in the stomach by some sort of air powered pellet pistol, then kicked, and then shot in the face is from Dagestan, a hotbed of political discontent, Islamic terror. Some argue that the two shooters are Russian nationalists. The victim apparently didn't realize at first that his stomach had been pierced and that he was bleeding.

Illegal immigration from the "Stans" is a hotbed issue in places like Moscow right now and is only going to get worse as Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest former FSU Republics, was just admitted to the Customs Union of CIS states and already applications for work permits in cities like Moscow are pouring in according to officials.





Perhaps he came over to explain that he was legal or maybe he was a hothead too and wasn't going to take any crap; he was shot and fortunately will survive but maybe he'd of been better off ignoring the two young men.

[Doll]

I don't think shooting is an issue at all in Russia. I mean in terms of "travel preparations".
By the way, Mendy, speaking of medicine (pills)- don't you know Americans? They are VERY suspicious what comes to "not prescribed by AMERICAN doctor" pills. So you wasted that part of your "instructions".

[mendeleyev]

d

I don't think shooting is an issue at all in Russia. I mean in terms of "travel preperations".

The post wasn't about shooting but about safety and avoiding crime in general. The video just happens to be recent and from Moscow and I gave some advice on how to handle something if confronted. 

My advice on meds were general enough to begin with aspirin. Maybe I'm not the typical American but aspirin is pretty well known everywhere.

[Faux Pas]

I don't think shooting is an issue at all in Russia. I mean in terms of "travel preparations".
By the way, Mendy, speaking of medicine (pills)- don't you know Americans? They are VERY suspicious what comes to "not prescribed by AMERICAN doctor" pills. So you wasted that part of your "instructions".

Pure hyperbole Doll. I am ashamed of you. 

[steveboy]

The next issue is one of safety.

Most of the time crime will never be an issue for the typical traveler to Eastern Europe and Asia. However as the Olympics are going to bring a lot of extra folk to Russia, authorities are gearing up for certain criminal elements to arrive as well. That is sadly the human condition but by being aware of your surroundings and not being alone while out at odd hours of the night one should be fine.

Some carry a wallet when traveling in other countries but usually in a front pocket while other travelers wear a passport wallet around their neck that is tucked inside a shirt. Whatever you decide to do make sure that your money and passport is not an easy target for anyone.

Sometimes it is best to ignore someone if threatened. The social media sites in Russia are buzzing about the video below and depending on ethnic and political orientation, the blame is laid on either party.

I've only personally felt threatened a couple of times in the Metro and that is over many years in the FSU so by no means am I saying that this is normal or frequent. It can however happen to anyone, and in just about any city of the world.

The potential factors in this video include issues of illegal immigration, terror, race and ethnic nationalism. The young man shot in the stomach by some sort of air powered pellet pistol, then kicked, and then shot in the face is from Dagestan, a hotbed of political discontent, Islamic terror. Some argue that the two shooters are Russian nationalists. The victim apparently didn't realize at first that his stomach had been pierced and that he was bleeding.

Illegal immigration from the "Stans" is a hotbed issue in places like Moscow right now and is only going to get worse as Kyrgyzstan, one of the poorest former FSU Republics, was just admitted to the Customs Union of CIS states and already applications for work permits in cities like Moscow are pouring in according to officials.





Perhaps he came over to explain that he was legal or maybe he was a hothead too and wasn't going to take any crap; he was shot and fortunately will survive but maybe he'd of been better off ignoring the two young men.

There is more chance for 100% of being shot visiting any store in the US than being shot in any Russian city. Only recently two Brits were gunned down in Florida just for their wallets. Russia is safe as houses I would say for any foreigners using common sense.

Dont get me wrong on this part as Im not racialist in the slightest, but over the last 18 months there has been a big increase in African blacks in St petersburg, street touts ect. Travelling on the metro I saw two attempted thievings by coloured guys on tourists within a month, on one occasion the Japanese guy who was the victim gave the guy a wack for trying , which was pretty amusing because then his Girl friend joined in!
The police also take very serous any assaults on foreigners , one of my Russian friends was picked up last year by the FSB who were looking into a US guy who was robbed in his neighbourhood. You cannot imagine the terror he had in custody, he was expecting to be beaten up for just being around the area and used as a scape goat. They picked him up on a video surveillance camera.

Russian train stations are also places to stay alert. But in general no different from any other country. Once I was in Amsterdam and caught a very clever guy with his hand in my pocket, it was dam sore when he took it out

[Doll]

There is more chance for 100% of being shot visiting any store in the US than being shot in any Russian city.       

This is what I said above too.
Mendy, here we hear "shooting news" DAILY! I mean daily. So Americans who you 're  insctructing here take it literary.
Russian cities are safe in this regard.