Red Corner: Guide to Russian Bribery

by Neil Woodburn on

It is an unfortunate reality of traveling that occasionally you must reach deep into your pocket, pull out a wad of rupees, crowns, or rubles and buy your way out of a bad situation.

In Russia, the art of bribery is practically an institution. Last year an estimated $319 billion was spent on bribery, baksheesh, greasing palms, or otherwise getting things done the way you want them done.

Planning a trip to Russia in the future but uncertain of the going bribe rates? The folks over at The Exile have put together a handy article detailing going rates and what to expect. Although many topics covered are more pertinent to local residents ($5000 to avoid military duty) and businessmen ($30,000 to unfreeze your assets), there are a few that might come in handy for us travelers-such as how much to bribe Aeroflot for your extra baggage, and what to pay the police if they catching you urinating in Red Square.

I guess I’ve been fortunate to never pay a bribe in Russia, but then again, I’ve never tried to pee in Red Square either.

Red Corner: Walking to Russia

by Neil Woodburn on

Despite the theory that the first Americans walked to the continent across the frozen Bering Strait, nearly no one else has managed to do so since. Yesterday, however, it was reported that an ex-British paratrooper had just completed the opposite, traveling from Alaska to Russia entirely on foot. If this is true, he is one of only four people to have accomplished this in modern times.

The feat, however, is just one small piece of Karl Bushby’s grand adventure in which he is attempting to walk around the world. Currently, he is seven years and 16,000 miles into this 36,000 mile journey. Bushby started at the tip of South America and hopes to make it home to England within the next five years, all on foot. Check out his great website which tracks his progress and regularly posts updates and photos.

Gadling will also keep you informed as Bushby continues his trek through his next biggest challenge, Kamchatka and Siberia.

Red Corner: Rich Russians Skiing in France

by Neil Woodburn on

There was once a time when Russians were some of the poorest mopes on this planet. Now, thanks to an oil-fueled economy, an upper class of uber-rich has emerged and in January they come to France to ski.

Courchevel is a high-end ski resort in the French Alps. But for two weeks every year, it becomes a Little Moscow as 20,000 Russians make it their temporary winter home. And man do they have money.

How much do they have and what are they doing with it while in France? Carole Cadwalladr from The Observer traveled incognito to gatecrash parties and find out herself. What she discovered was a world difficult to penetrate, but one dripping in lavish wealth, €10,000 bottles of Rémy Martin, armored Humvees, Mitchell Brothers Suits and prostitutes flown over in First Class.

Holy Moly! Years of Western propaganda thumbing our noses at Moscow bread lines is finally come back to bite us on the ass.

Red Corner: Anti-Tourism in Russia

by Neil Woodburn on

From the same author who brought us the term anti-tourism (discussed in yesterday’s post) comes an article in which the writer puts his words into action. The Bizarre Guide to Russia, by Daniel Kalder, is a 3,000 word essay summing up, as the title suggests, some of the more oddball places in Russia so far off the beaten track you’ll need a GPS to find your way back to civilization and normalcy. And, a couple of shots to calm your nerves. And perhaps even some psychiatric counseling.

With plenty of wit and an overzealous dosage of dark humor, Kalder guides us through Russia’s gangster cemeteries, a pickled baby museum, religious cults, mass graves, animal sacrifices, prisons and more.

Carnival Cruise lines it ain’t.

Anti-Tourism

by Neil Woodburn on

If the difference between a traveler and a tourist is that “a traveler doesn’t know where he’s going, and a tourist doesn’t know where he is,” than what is the difference between a tourist and an anti-tourist?

Anti-tourism is a phrase that has been coined by author Daniel Kalder, whose book Lost Cosmonaut will be out in the States this August.  Anti-tourists, according to Kalder, embrace a different type of travel altogether.  They shirk from guided tours, concierges, Parisian cafes, room service, and chocolates on their pillows.  Anti-tourists embrace the down-and-dirty of travel, sucking life’s grittiest experiences from the marrow of this planet’s “urban blackspots” where “ordinary people choose to avoid.”  They mock the Pyramids of Egypt and other pseudo-adventurous tourist destinations that have become “as banal and familiar” as a box of cornflakes. 

Kalder has posted a series of anti-tourist resolutions on his website that are both masochistic and admirable at the same time.  These governing bylaws dictate the travel mantra of the anti-tourist.  Some of them I wholeheartedly agree with (The anti-tourist believes beauty is in the street) while others I don’t (The anti-tourist embraces hunger and hallucinations).

Kalder’s new book, which I hope to review in the near future, is a testament to such philosophy as it chronicles his travel adventures through some of the more fascinating, but nastier armpits of Russia.