I'm hoping to cross Russia in the next year or two.

It will be my first time too. I also hear all the horror stories. Even by Russians themselves.

The same way I was weary about my first time in South America or travelling through Africa.

These are the countries (right or wrong), that you actually start feeling safer and more comfortable in.

My biggest fear about going to Russia is that I have to go through crime-ridden, overpriced and overpopulated Western Europe to get there...

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Hello

Met a Russian biker from Sachalin on his way to Moskow, communikation was difficult but he told me not to stop between Khabarovsk and Chita, 2 Bikers were killed in this part of the country.
Wanted to ask him if I could stop for gas,but there was the language barrier.
:confused1:
How do you do that?
Do I show fear of locals by not camping along the main road or taking my helmet and tankbag with valuables into the shop instead of leaving it on the bike; Do I show superior by beeing surpriced when they expect me to shit in the wooden sheed in the field with no running water in the motel but still asking 700 rubel for a bed, or could the mechanik in Kabarovsk read my mind,although I was still smiling, when he destoyed a brand new heavyduty tube when he replaced my tires, or when he wanted to clench the 120 chain before the wheel was mounted,not even bothering that original is 110, then on my insisting getting angry then measureing on the bike on the central stand with the swingarm relaxt, finally the chain was thight as hell and he didn't understand what was wrong.
Maybe I should have been more pleased when he showed pictures of him and his buddies in "Wehrmachts Uniform mit Hackenkreuz"
I just told him I'm Swiss not German,have nothing in common with that.
Well, then I am guilty.

I wouldn't say Russia is as bad as the Russians itself claim it to be, but that sounds to me a bit to optimistic.
It's a big country with good and bad people.

I came to Russia with the same open mind as I did in every other country in the last 2 years of this trip,
but they are just trying so hard to give me a bad impression of Russia

So is it just me?
What do I do wrong

sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

May be right for England, but not for the Rest

And this is why I love this forum.

Thanks HUBB'ers.

I cant answer that without meeting you or travelling with you.

__________________

"Your Welcome" in response to "Thank You" is not universal - even in English speaking countries - for example Australians will say "No Worries" if they say anything at all.

Just relax and accept the country for what it is - I would suggest complaining about the plumbing of $20 hotel is part of the issue.

As Walter said to me once - it is probably the only place in the world you can knock on someones door at 9pm, not speak the language and get help.

When our bike broke down - we got all the help in the world to rescue the bike and get to accommodation. When we arrived at 1 in the morning there was food and hot tea. After that amongst the best two weeks I have ever had in my life and friends that I will have life.

Hello
Yeah, every IGA has this "special" person who will never see its picture on the wall of the employees of the month.
But you're wright, now I've stoped using any form of communication, as the locals do and it works,feels like I'm in the movie "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_Bodies_(film)".
I felt so sorry for the woman I forced to smile and say bashalsta, must have been a horrible experience for them. Will never do it again.
But the fact that so far in every third place they tried to cheat by raising the price for a bed once I've seen and liked it, still bothers me.
The hospitality sounds great unless you don't want it,for whatever reason.
Yesterday I almost had a fight with a guy who pulled constantly on my jacket while I tried to explain him that I'm not interested in coming to his party nor his sauna.
Well just 4000km of this shithole till the border of the EU.
sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

Whew, it probably was a horrible experience for her to be forced to repeat your jibberish. I guess you realize that "bashalsta" doesn't mean anything in Russian? I think you're doing it wrong.

OK, although this has never happened to me--ever--in my many hotel stays in Russia. I think you're doing it wrong, maybe next time bring a tent?

Nice one. Again, I think you're doing it wrong.

Feel free to dip down into Central Asia so that you can escape Russia, they won't miss you. It's a big world, I guess all of us are lucky you can go to other places and don't have to come back here ever.

So you complain about the lack of hospitality until you are offered it and then you don't want it.

You really are doing it wrong. And to knock back the Banya cleanest I have ever felt.

Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk 2

Hello
Please forgive me. It's all my fault.
I tried to behave in russia like I did in every country in the last two years.
I'm sorry if I can't wright correct russian in latin letters.
I'm sorry that I wright here experiences that are different from ALL others.
Russia is the greatest place on earth and if they don't smile it's clearly my problem.
Nobody tried to cheat,they just have a way of negotiating that I don't understand,clearly my fault.
The fact that I expected a mechanic to repair thing like everywhere else in the world is again my mistake.
Expecting running water for 700 rubel in a motel is also, once again, me, how could I dare.
When you stop for 5 minutes,suited up in the rain gear and still 200km to go that day, then a Russian man,a complete stranger, aproaches you and invites you,it's very impolite to not change your plans and drop everything instantly, to spend hours of great Russian hospitality with him.
If you try to politely say no thanks,he has the right to pull you inside and get mad, because I came to Russia just to visit him therefore it's ALL AGAIN my mistake.
I'm sorry for not falling in love with Russia like everybody is supposed to do and does.
I'm very sorry if someone in Russia is offended by the fact that I don't love Russia and dared to say so.
The thred starter asked about opinions about Russia and I thought I was allowed to do so, my mistake.
I never said all the horror stories are true, don't go.
All I posted were MY experiences in so far 3 weeks of Russia.
So, please accept my apology for saying out loud what I feel, I will not do it again.
Russia is great and one MUST love it here,it's the law.
sushi

__________________
My RTW:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrXt660ztenere

Despite thinkinig you are doing Russia wrong that is funny.


Anyway back on topic (sort of).

I went to a Russian Resturant yesterday the people who ran it were from Belarus and their daughter inlaw from Vladisvostok all recent immigrants to the US. Naturally got talking to them about Russia. The daughter inlaw asked if I had in trouble in Siberia (because it is dangerous) the son wanted to know how mnay problem I had with the police (none in Russia).

My point when you are in Russia treat the danger messages appropriately with the amount of experience the person has with the area.

****NEWS FLASH*****
--Russia is not like other countries
--the Russian populace is not known for its tendency to smile and engage in typical civilities
--the level of Russian infrastructure/facilities--including plumbing facilities--in many cased falls below that of other countries.
--many Russian craftsmen, such as mechanics, have low quality standards and poor tools.
****END NEWS FLASH*****

As you point out, the OP asked for opinions about Russia to soothe his nerves. So while you are certainly entitled to express your views, I am also entitled to express my view that I believe your opinions are ill-founded and indeed rather juvenile.

I would alert the media to the facts set out above, but in fact they are already widely--indeed probably universally--known. But it looks like you came to Russia without realizing these basic things, or realizing them but unable to accept them. Furthermore, while many of us travel precisely to experience other cultures, you seem to want to force Russia to change to meet your personal standards, to the extent of forcing hapless shop attendants to smile and say "bashalsta" (?) and almost getting in a fight with someone that invited you to a party. And you even call these petty issues "horror stories", give me a break. In short, yes, I think it is your fault that you don't like Russia.

I have lived here for more than ten years and traveled here extensively. And believe me, I can very well understand how some people would not like it here. What I can't understand is how you seem to have noticed (and gotten rather excited about) a bunch of petty negative issues (poor plumbing, oh noes) and none of the many positive characteristics of the country (of which you don't seem to have noticed any).

So Cysne, you may have gotten more than you bargained for in this thread, but you have certainly gotten some divergent and strongly-held opinions about the place. I hope that you'll come back here during or after your journey to provide your own impressions.

The same for me, I am excited to ride this country and I will wait to see how it is.

I can't change it anyway, so I let it come as it comes, and then also reply to this tread.....

I'm off to Russia in August, by myself having never been before. Can't speak a word of Russian but I'll learn how to say please and thank you before I arrive. Navigating might be an issue as will getting food & accommodation. I'll be a complete stranger in a strange (for me) world. Nothing I read will put me off going, you only ever get to hear about negative incidents so I just ignore them. I'd never leave home if I didn't!!!

__________________
A big boy did it and ran away.

Things are definitely much easier if you speak at least a few words of Russian, and can read the roadsigns, signs for cafes, etc.

And you should not ignore the negative incidents, but use them to learn what to expect and if possible, how to avoid them yourself.