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Chita, Siberia Jcarter's photos around Chita, Russia (chita siberia russia)

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Entry from: Chita, Russia
Entry Title: Chita, Siberia

Entry:

The first full day in Chita started very late as i didn't get to bed until 3am due to a 12 hour delay at the airport in moscow. When we first checked in for our 9pm flight, we were advised that it was delayed until 2am. we then upgraded to business class to get access to the first class lounge to pass the 7 or so hours until our flight. By 9pm, the flight was delayed until 7am. We were told to go a hotel counter to get a hotel room that had been arranged for us. Once there, the hotel didn't know anything about it and after an hour, we came to the conclusion that it was never going to happen. A group of us made our way back to the lounge, but security had been told not to let us back in. Not sure why. After about 2 hours of bugging airport administration, and doing a sit in, in front of the first class check in, they finally let us back inside. Anyway, long story, but after 15 hours, we finally got off the ground. I met someone from the army who couldn't speak a word of english, nor me russian. vodka was the universal language and he told me he was on his way to vladivostok where they have a top secret base. we shared photos taken in St. Pete's and he was off a few hours later. I stayed until the next day. finally landing at the airport around midnight their time. walked into a dark terminal and waited for the bags. There we met Misha's parents Misha and Svetlana. Great people. Off home we went and stayed up and chatted til 3.30am. I got up late at noon, and Misha, and his parents were up much earlier. Had a walk around town, then back for a meal. Between noon and 7 I ate 3 meals and then, i was told we were going out. After a little tour we saw the area where Misha's parents were building a cottage, then a drive further out into the night on a bumpy little highway we stopped for a Buriyati feast. the Buriyati are the areas indiginous people. They are are similiar to a mongolian people in my opinion. So out came the food. Keeping in mind that i had already eaten more than i usually would, i sampled all the food that i saw. First salad and then soup. no problem. Then out came this plate of something that can be best described as a meat donut. There is an opening at the top and you lips to the opening and try to drink out the broth through the hole, and then eat the meat inside. no problem. Then out came real ribs. not the grocery store variety. no problem. Then the meat platter containing the most unusual meats i had ever seen. Anyway they were cut up and put on my plate. I think one was like haggis, something stuffed with mince meat or something. no problem. then something that was a rubbery tube, i think was an intestine, but not sure. i put it in my mouth. problem. the gag reflex kicked in and i spit it out before loosing my cookies. the last delicacy, well, it looked like an animal appendage i won't mention before it got cut up. I played with the piece on my plate, using a fork. it was far too rubbery to even try, so i chickened out. On the way home, i got a tour of the city and even tho, some parts are run down and not up to western standards, the area is undergoing alot of expansion with new buildings going up everywhere. Apparently Moscow has given the region alot of money to upgrade the roads. Chita, sits in a valley surrounded by big hills on all sides, similar to monogolian steps, but not big enough to be mountains. The city roads are in terrible condition and the buildings vary in degrees of maintenance. On 1 block you can see a hundred year old wooden house, with a new glass multi storey building beside it. We went to Misha school and met some of his friends and he said hello to some of his teachers. I got to wander through the school a bit. The school ...
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Photos from this trip:
1. View from the misha's room
2. A village shot
3. At the lake
4. Buryati fast food joint
5. Buryati good luck tree
6. Buryati haggis and other asst organs
7. Camper
8. Contemplating diner
9. Driving a camas
10. Driving the sport car
11. Eating pelmeni 1
12. Heading out of town
13. I have to eat that?
14. Ivan & Stephan putting on Muskoka Bear Wear
15. Just like muskoka
16. Me & misha sr.
17. Military checkpoint
18. New buryati friends
19. On the tank course
20. Pelmeni 3
21. Pelmini 2
22. Ribs buryati style
23. Suburbs bus stop
24. The gang

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