Misi kembara duniaku bersambung lagi bagi tahun 2017. Meski pun sebenarnya aku sedang menanti jawapan  “rayuan” untuk misi kembara yang lebih besar dan bermakna. Namun, perjalanan ku merentasi dua benua (Asia dan Eropah) pada kali ini juga amat bermakna bagiku. Kegembiraan yang sukar diungkap dengan kata-kata kerana ianya hanya boleh dirasai oleh hati.

Mengapa?

Kremlin Russia

Russia adalah salah satu negara yang tercatat dalam buku kembaraku yang hampir “wajib” dilawati selagi hayat dikandung badan. Negara ini begitu luarbiasa sejarahnya dan aku mahu menginjakkan kaki ke tanah bertuah ini. Pastilah ada sebab2 tersendiri lagi tapi biarlah aku simpan untuk diri ku sendiri.

Persediaan

• Maklumat

Oleh kerana urusan memasuki Russia agak rumit juga (Visa dan Invitation Letter) dan kekangan bahasa, ditambah pula dengan masa yang terhad serta memikirkan faktor2 keselamatan, kali ini saya memilih untuk menyertai group yang dikendalikan oleh Poto Travel. Saya memang sudah merancang untuk travel sekurang-kurangnya tiga (3) negara yang belum pernah saya jejakkan kaki pada tahun ini. Antara yang sudah dirancang :-

1. Norway  ( ⁄ )
2. Russia – bakal terlaksana Inshaallah
3. Finland – bakal terlaksana Inshaallah

Berikut adalah garapan ringkas daripada ITINEARY yang disediakan oleh pihak POTO yang mana saya tambah sedikit info-info POI (Point Of Interests) yang bakal dilawati. Sudah menjadi kebiasaan saya untuk mencari sebanyak mungkin maklumat berkenaan mana-mana tempat yang saya bakal lawati supaya nantinya mudah bagi saya mengapresiasi dan memahami sejarah, sosio-budaya mahupun politik tempat tersebut. Rugi rasanya menghabiskan ribuan ringgit untuk ke suatu tempat tapi nantinya balik dengan tangan kosong ~ maksud – tanpa memahami apa2.

RUSSIA N HELSINKI 2017

• Kewangan

Bagi transportation dan accommodation semuanya sudah termasuk dalam harga pakej kecuali jika ada charges tambahan service dan perkhidmatan lain yang  diminta secara individu.

Menukarkan mata wang MYR ke Euro (pasti ciput jerr). Bila sampai di Moscow baru beli Ruble. Berapa nak tukar? Ikut bajet masing2. Wajib bawa untuk beli makanan kerana pakej ini hanya halfboard.

Exchange Rate Hari ini. Bertabahlah yerr

Sedikit info untuk cuba merancang perbelanjaan basic semasa di Russia nanti. Biar lebih jangan terkurang ya.

Harga Terkini Ya

Harga Makanan Boleh Tahan

Mahal nya pakaian

Sedikit Info Tambahan Dari Carian di Internet Dan Rakan Couchsurfing di Moscow:

Panduan Apa Perlu Buat

Panduan Apa Tidak Boleh Buat

Sedikit Info Tambahan Dari Carian di Internet Dan Rakan Couchsurfing di Moscow:

• Izmailovskaya adalah tempat paling murah beli souvenirs. Tapi pakaian tiada dijual di sini. Yuran masuk RUB10 akan dikenakan pada setiap hari Ahad (sahaja).
• Tiada istilah “Street Foods”. Itu bukan budaya mereka. Paling hampir dengan istlah ini ialah “Kebabs”.
• Tourist Info Hotline ~ 8 (495) 663 1393
• Calling ambulance/police for emergency (only) ~ Toll Free Line ⇒ 112 ⇐
• Peminat HRC? ada di Moscow → 44 Arbat Street.

Moscow HRC

• Souvenirs biasa di beli? Faberge Eggs, Nesting Dolls – boneka Matrioska, boneka kayu yang digambar gadis cantik dengan ukuran kecil hingga besar. Ada yang berisi 5, 7, bahkan 12,  Pavlov-Posad shaw dan lain-lain.
• Kalau nak tengok mayat Lenin yang diawetkan pigi Mouseloum Lenin.
• USD and EUR are now widely accepted at exchange offices around Moscow. Other currencies will undoubtedly cause more hassle than they are worth. Whatever currency you bring make sure it is in pristine condition. Banks and exchanges do not accept old, dirty bills with rips or tears. For US dollars make certain that they were issued after 1990. A passport has to be shown when changing money.  On completing a currency transaction, an exchange receipt is given. All receipts should be kept as they must be attached to the customs declaration filled in on the arrival in Russia and presented at customs on leaving the country.
• The White Nights of St Petersburg have inspired countless poets, writers and other artists – and visiting in July gives you the chance to see why.

Foods and Dining Out (cheap from €5-20 )

Moo Moo Eatery

This popular self-service eatery has a rich choice of traditional food. The prices are inexpensive (expect to pay 5-8 EUR). The interior follows a Russian village theme.
Addresses:
1. Metro : Tverskaya, 9 Maliy Gnezdnikovskiy Per.
2. Metro Smolenskaya, Arbat, 45/24 Arbat St.
3. Metro Frunzenskaya – in front of the metro exit.

Grabli (Russian and European food)

It’s a chain of self-service restaurants scattered around Moscow. Grabli offers an excellent choice of tasty food and the prices are very reasonable (a meal costs roughly 7- 8 EUR).
Addresses:
1. Metro: Novokuznetskaya, 27 Pyatnitskaya St.
2. Metro: Kievskaya, 2 Kievsky train station square. (inside Evropesky shopping mall)
3. Metro: Alekseevskaya, 99 Prospekt Mira St.

Jangan lupa mencuba makanan tradisi Russia. Anda belum ke Russia jika belum mencicipi makanan local ya.

Shchi is one of the staples of Russian cuisine known since the 9th century.

There are numerous varieties of this soup in Russia. There is sour shchi made of sauerkraut  or green shchi with sorrel, spinach or nettle. Schi has been known in Russian since 9th century and cabbage was first broght to Russia from Byzantium. Due to its simplicity, it has become quite common meal prepared by different strata of society. There is another factor which added to its popularity. It might be cooked with or without meat which makes it compatible with different religions in Russia.  So a popular Russian saying sprang from this “Shchi da kasha- pischa nasha” which can be translated as “Shchi and kasha (oatmeal or buckwheat) are our staples”.

Ingredients

•    3 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
•    1 large chopped onion
•    1 large head cabbage cut into shreds
•    1 large peeled and grated carrot
•    1 bay leaf
•    Black peppercorns to taste
•    8 cups water or vegetable stock or beaf stock
•    2 large peeled and chopped  potatoes
•    2 large peeled, seeded and chopped tomatoes or 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
•    Salt and pepper to taste
•    Fresh dill or parsley for garnish
•    Sour cream for garnish

Directions
1.    Prepare beef stock or bring to a boil water with peppercorns and bay leaves. Boil potatoes till they are tender.
2.    Add cabbage, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
3.    Meanwhile in a frying pan sauté onion in butter or vegetable oil until translucent add carrot and  sauté about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
4.    Add  a mix of carrots and onions as well as tomatoes to the saucepan  and simmer fo about 5-7 min. Adjust seasonings.
5.    Serve soup in bowls with chopped dill/parley and sour cream as garnish. Accompany with rye bread, if desired.

Bliny

Russian type of pancakes or crepes. They are usually thin and big, they may be served with sour cream, jam, honey, or caviar or smokes salmon. We often eat blinis folded or rolled with all sorts of filling such as mushrooms, cottage cheese, ground meat, cabbage and many others.

Macam lempeng jerr…

Mors

Mors is a popular Russian drink made of sweetened berry juice mixed with water. Most traditional mors is prepared on the basis of cranberries, but you can also taste mors made of blackcurrant, raspberry, sea-buckthorn, cowberry and other berries of the season.

Bahasa Russia

Akhir sekali. Meskipun kita travel berkumpulan dan ada leader(guide), tidak salah ambil tahu sedikit tentang bahasa Russia.

Let me copy-paste.

Aduhaiii….. apakerbendeeerrr….

Lols.

Hello! (formal) / Здравствуйте [Zd`rastvuyte] (formal) ~ drastresher (sound like)

Hi (informal) / Привет [Pri`viet ]

How are you? / Как дела? [Kak ze`la]

What is your name? / Как Вас зовут? [`Kak `Vas za`vut]

I’m grateful for your help. / Я благодарен Вам за помощь. [Ya blaga`daren Vam za `pomashch]

Good-bye (formal) / До свидания [Da svi`daniya]

See you tomorrow. / До завтра. [Da `zavtra]

Thank you very much for the information. / Большое спасибо за информацию. [Bal`shoe spa`siba za infar`matsiu]

Thank you. / Спасибо. [Spa`siba]

You are welcome. / Пожалуйста. [Pa`zhalsta]

Just a moment. / Минутку. [Mi`noutku]

OK / Хорошо [Hara`sho]

I don’t understand. / Я не понимаю. [`Ya ne pani`mayu]

Yes. / Да. [Da]