Some gift ideas

[Sohkay]

I'm getting ready to go to Ukraine and see zaichik moy and the little zaichik and here's some of the things I'm taking.

My last trip there, I was astounded at the high prices for electronic items in Ukraine. Crappy little CD layers for$100! Gimme' a break. I picked up a Toshiba SDP 1850 portable DVD player for $200. It has an 8" screen, remote control and can can play DVD, DVD-R, CD, mp3, wma, jpeg and others. I'm also going to leave the zaichiks with a bunch of movies, audio CD's, mp3's and jpeg discs. What has me excited is that they will be able to view the English subtitles for the movies, which should really help with learning English. I picked up a $20 Radio shack voltage converter. Now, I know some of you are going to think of the PALS/NTSC compatibility issues. Interestingly, I accidentally had one of the little zaichik's Russian DVD's in my luggage from the last trip. I put it in and it played flawlessly. There are plenty of DVD's over there that will play in American machines.

Also taking lots of good coffee, chocolate covered cherries. And for the little one, a nice new inflatable ball with a small hand pump and extra needles, a Frisbee, and good quantities of Bazooka bubble gum, Pop Rocks, Gummy Worms and Bubble Tape.

It gets pretty hot in their house sometimes, so I picked up a Caframo fan and another Radio shack voltage converter for them. These are really cool little fans that work great and I've used them for years. It's an open plastic blade that you can put your finger in and it won't hurt you. Funny story about this fan and the safety of the blade. One morning a few years back, I was sleeping on the boat...in the buff. It was a hot night and I had the fan going all night. Well, I woke up and walked over to the power panel to flip a switch and sure enough, caught my Mr. Happy in the blades of the fan! I jumped! But Mr. Happy was unscathed! Now that's a product testament!

If you guys have any other lightweight gift ideas, please let me know. Here's a link to the Caframo fan.

http://www.caframo.com/images/fan707blacklarge.gif

Wish me luck. I think this could be the trip that leads us to starting the visa process.

[LatinSwede]

Well, I've pretty much given anough coffee and candy to my "in laws" to open a store, after combining all my previous trips.  Except for the electronics, I've always showered my Dyevoshka and her family with gifts.  Her little nephew has become attached to me now.  Some of the bags of candy, he's taken to school to pass around and play hero fo the day.  My "mother in law" love Panamanian coffee because of me.

[Sohkay]

Yeah, the Ukrainians are definitely a "coffee challenged" culture. I was shocked to get instant coffee in a resto. I left a filter cone and a bunch of filters the last trip and my girl and her father loved it. They had only drank instant before. Taking some nice Kona and some French Vanilla. The only thing I was able to buy in Ukraine that was any good was the Lavazza Italian brand. Speaking of which, it's about time for a cup.

[Louie]

So how do you make coffee there, do you use a coffee maker or just pour the boiling water thru a cone filter into a mug? because like you, I need the java, tea just doesn't cut it

[Sohkay]

Yeah, I took one those Melitta cones and a bunch of filters. None of the places I stayed in had a coffee maker, so we would rig the cone to hang over a pan or large glass container. I agree on the tea. They even say that green tea has more caffeine than coffee, but its sure never felt that way to me. Oh, and obviously if your buying beans, make sure to grind them before going over. ZipLoc freezer bags work good for storing the bags of coffee in, otherwise your underpants end up smelling like a damn Starbucks when you arrive and unpack. Keeps the coffee fresher too.

[Louie]

Oh I forgot to wish you good luck on your trip, I hope every thing works out for you! I will be going on my first trip in August to Russia, looking forward to that.

[Sohkay]

Thanks Lou! And the same to you. Let us know how it goes.

[KenC]

hey guys,
Here a hint: freeze dried instant coffee isn't all that bad.
KenC

[PeeWee]

Oh I forgot to wish you good luck on your trip, I hope every thing works out for you! I will be going on my first trip in August to Russia, looking forward to that.

Louie, Louie...hey, we gotta go.

I spent a portion of last August in Moscow. The weather was perfect. No rain, not too hot. Just right. I am heading for Hong Kong in early September for an 8 day visit. I am hoping that it will not be so hot there as I would like to visit Disneyland for at least one day.

Peewee

[BC]

hey guys,
Here a hint: freeze dried instant coffee isn't all that bad.
KenC

I kinda got used to 'Nescafe' in RU and even prefer it nowdays.  When I'm in Germany though will buy Tschibo instant coffee to bring home.. is also quite good.

[PeeWee]

Perfume and diamonds.

Peewee

[Sohkay]

Instant coffee...just like instant relationships.
I'll take the slow brewed, thank you.

[lindochka]

Instant coffee?    I take several pounds of the real thing in Ziploc bags, whether I'm going to see the folks or to spend time with my one and only. Whatever we don't drink during my stay remains behind as a memento of me.

I too have packed a Melitta cone and filters in case there was no coffeemaker at my destination, and when necessary I've rigged a set-up like Sohkay described. (Soup pot, two knives in a V-formation, Melitta cone, et voila!)

[Louie]

What about those Folgers coffee singles! there like tea bags with ground coffee


                  http://www.folgers.com/coffees/instant/singles.shtml

[lindochka]

Depends on what your coffee preferences are. IIRC, those contain instant coffee in addition to ground coffee. You could always get a small package to try at home before you travel, to see if you find them acceptable. (Me, I'm stocking up on the real thing and a bunch of Ziploc bags, because I'm leaving for Belarus in three weeks.)

[Michelangelo]

So how do you make coffee there, do you use a coffee maker or just pour the boiling water thru a cone filter into a mug? because like you, I need the java, tea just doesn't cut it

After dealing with instant coffee and horrible cafe coffee, I started taking my little Sharper Image coffee maker with me.  And an 220 power adapter, of course.

[Michelangelo]

Wish me luck. I think this could be the trip that leads us to starting the visa process.

Yes, have a great trip, Sohkay!  And good luck with your girl!

I'll be there 16 July for a couple of months.  We'll be in Kiev and the black sea region and then in her home town of Dnepr.

I hope you have a wonderful time!

[Louie]

Well  think I found just the ticket, I pulled a Bruno and did a little searching and found this little gem for all us Java Junkies


http://www.melitta.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=64+079&Cat=

[SANDRO43]

Why don't you get yourself one of these VERY simple and CHEAP gadgets ? It only requires a heat source, no hassle with power ratings, and coffee is MUCH better !

[lindochka]

Lou, that's a very nicely updated version of what I took on my first trip. Thank you for posting that link because I think that (plus a couple of packs of filters) would be a great present for my favorite coffee drinker, and it will go nicely with the coffee I'm planning to take him!

Sandro, I've tried those, but my mother used a Chemex and I'm just hooked on drip coffee.

[Louie]

And the price is pretty good too, I will definitely buy one of those and bring with me

[lindochka]

I wound up going a little lower tech after reading that the lid on the travel mug set is really a cover (doesn't fasten, just sits on top). The mug on the model I picked is ceramic and microwave safe.

http://www.melitta.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=64+075&Cat=

BTW, Lou, check Amazon for the one you posted -- I think it's cheaper there than at the Melitta site.

[LatinSwede]

IMO, Panamanian coffee is the bext in the world!  The Neighboring Costa Ricans would likely want to debate me on that.  FOr safe measure, the mother in law, gets one from there too.  Maybe Im spoloiled, but I can't drink coffee unless it's a very meel made blend.  Maxwell house and Folders taste like hot muddy water to me.

Yeah, it's it's certainly a good idea to grind it before you take it over.  the local Trader Joes has great selection. I'm going to get acouple other brands like double darkfrom Mexico, and Central American blend.  It's all sold wholebean, but the store has a grinder.

I'll be stopping in The Netherlands on my way back.  Just to see some old freinds in my previous stomping ground of Utrecht.  I'm getting lots of Drop, and other nice Dutch sweets.  Some I'll share with her family, but all the drop is mine!  I miss it, especially katjes and Boerderij.  My favorite drop is kind of salty.  Usually Americans think it's awful.  Maybe all get my Odessa lady some nice products at Kruidvat.  My precious Dutch Drop, will be hidden from her nephew and niece.  Oh yes, I'm going into the Albertheim, and getting a nice tall carton of Aardbeien Vla from the dairy section, and I'm not sharing!