"The world is your oyster."
William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor

Been and back from a strange land, with strange words and very beautiful people. SJ and I jumped at the opportunity to stretch our tiny newlywed budgets to this Soviet state on his pass to the IAP Conference 2013. Our hosts were very very hospitable - from diplomatic clearance through arrival gates, being chauffeured to and fro the airport to the hotel to the Kremlin to the party at the Summer Palace. Not forgetting the gifts after gifts after gifts, and booze...lots and lots of booze. (I certainly am not thanking them for introducing the hubs to whisky, vodka and the likes >( Meh.) Pretty sights, beautiful women, cool autumn winds. It was also where we came into close proximity with Da Vincis, Monets and Raphaels in the incredible Hermitage. (Not that I really appreciated them, but still!)

St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

The Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia

Booze.

That said, Russia is not quite the place I'd recommend for the tourist, at least for now.

1. It is expensive. Very expensive. A standard meal in Burger King will cost you at least 12€ . Ketchup costs another 1€.
2. Они не говорят на английском языке, at least most of them don't. 
3. Singaporeans will need to apply for a tourist visa to enter. While you are there, you will also need to be registered in every Russian city that you enter, translating to more costs and red tape. 
4. You almost definitely need to hire a guide (usually for the entire day) to bypass the long queues at the attractions and explain all the historical sights and monuments along the way because there are no English signs or explanations. This means no randomly stopped for a rest or a coffee whenever you feel like. 
5. The country has a rich history and culture, but otherwise nothing else much to do...or eat.

Met a couple of funny people on this trip - fascination with owls and bears, interesting conversations over Beluga, breakfast sabos (a very blatant one at that), stuffy egos and overtipping. A reminder that small talk tires the introvert in me out thoroughly.

Back to work tomorrow!

2013 Travels
Singapore ✈ Phuket ✈ Singapore
Singapore ✈ Melbourne ✈ Singapore
Singapore ✈ Kuala Lumpur ✈ Singapore
Singapore ✈ Frankfurt ✈ Prague ✈ Frankfurt ✈ Singapore
Singapore ✈ Bangkok ✈ Moscow ✈ St. Petersburg ✈ Moscow ✈ Bangkok ✈ Singapore