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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
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  #1  
Old 11 Sep 2013
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rough camping in eastern Europe can be quite dangerous. I would do it only in emergencies. I would definitely agree that learning the Cyrillic alphabet and the respective phonetics is very very useful!! made this mistake on my first trip to Russia and got very very lost, most of the place names are unrecognisable from their Roman equivalent unless you are familiar with the alphabet.
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Old 11 Sep 2013
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Originally Posted by moggy 1968 View Post
I would definitely agree that learning the Cyrillic alphabet and the respective phonetics is very very useful!! made this mistake on my first trip to Russia and got very very lost, most of the place names are unrecognisable from their Roman equivalent unless you are familiar with the alphabet.
I only used maps and first made the mistake of buying a map in English so when i was lost or asking for directions the locals could not understand the map.

Using a map in Cyrillic is very easy just stop at the road signs and match up the Cyrillic letters on the map to the sign and you are away

I don't think you need to be able to fully understand the Cyrillic alphabet as it is pretty straight forward however i would learn some Russian words and you really only need to know about 50 words to get by, when i enter a new country i usually stop just pass the border as people there selling insurance/changing money mostly speak English so i stop there and ask them words/phrases and write them in my note book how i hear/understand them and never have any issues.

Locals really like it when you try (even a few words) speak there language and i think it makes for a better trip.
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Old 11 Sep 2013
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Originally Posted by moggy 1968 View Post
rough camping in eastern Europe can be quite dangerous. I would do it only in emergencies.
I totally disagree.
What is dangerous about it?
Did it on the last two trips, no problems at all.
Even the cops came to say hi, as we were in plain sight (no other option).
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Old 12 Feb 2014
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Originally Posted by Oo-SEB-oO View Post
I totally disagree.
What is dangerous about it?
Did it on the last two trips, no problems at all.
Even the cops came to say hi, as we were in plain sight (no other option).
Probably since that Japanese rider was murdered Camping by the side of the road in Russia.

I think there is a recent ride report where the travellers were advised by local Russian bike clubs not to camp rough. Too.

The problem is, unless you can camp rough you can't enjoy some of the more famous routes like the BAM road and Road of Bones.

By many accounts the Trans-siberian highway has been described as dull and boring, but is the fastest way east.
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Old 14 Sep 2013
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Originally Posted by moggy 1968 View Post
rough camping in eastern Europe can be quite dangerous. I would do it only in emergencies. I would definitely agree that learning the Cyrillic alphabet and the respective phonetics is very very useful!! made this mistake on my first trip to Russia and got very very lost, most of the place names are unrecognisable from their Roman equivalent unless you are familiar with the alphabet.
I have to admit that I'd never done it, but know lots of people doing it without any issues. Only one rule is that one needs to have a bit of situation awareness, and if it does not feel right don't camp there.

I've been traveling in Eastern Europe for the last 3 years and have never had any issues (except for mad drivers), and found that you're less likely to lose things there than anywhere in Western Europe. There are exceptions....


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