Belarus

[GandJim]

SKINHEADS

Snail,

Thanks for posting that article. Interesting reading indeed. Unfortunately, no country can be 100% safe and you can read similar articles every now and then everywhere, even more often in traditionally "safe" countries like Switzerland.

What is also interesting in the article you posted is that there is a clear indication from the authorities that they are taking the situation seriously, are taking action and react quickly. It confirms what a few people told me when I mentioned the safety in Minsk. They say people can blame their president for a lot of things, but there is one thing they must give credit to him, and it's safety.

All I can say is this : I've seen no skinheads, no beggars, no pickpockets, no drunken or drug addicted people hanging around. I've seen local girls going out alone or with another young girl after dark and walking in the parks, so they must feel not too exposed.

But maybe I have just been lucky. I think it would be interesting if other WSG members who actually have been to Minsk recently can give us their impression too.

[GandJim]

Blonde506,

The easiest way to get an invitation letter and a voucher is to book a hotel room or and apartment, they will provide you with these documents. That's how I do it.

If you are thinking about going there without even booking a hotel room or apartment in advance, there are web sites like Go to Russia which apparently will provide you with the invitation letter and voucher only, also for Belarus. However, it's pretty expensive. Maybe there are cheaper sites.

Personally, I would recommend you to book a hotel room or an apartment, and get your invitation letter and voucher from them.

Jim

[Blonde506]

Hello Jim,

Thanks a lots for your great report. I am planning be Belarus around middle of July. However, I still have some little problem with this invitation letter. And also yesterday, I also tried this Belarus air line company in Germany, it turned out to be no one answer the phone(I called them 5 times in the afternoon). So, if it is possible, I would really like to know if there is other kind of travil agency which can take care the VISA issue for me.

Thank you again for your attention.

Greetz Blonde

[GandJim]

MarkABC,

Country is totally safe for foreigners. However, if you can't speak and read Russian, it's difficult to get around. You can't read street names, metro stations, restaurant/shop/hotel names (just try to find an internet cafe and you'll see what I mean), not even a menu in a restaurant. That's why I keep my guide with me almost all the time . Good excuse .

It's easy to get a visa. See my reply to Blonde506 on June 24 below. In principle, you need to register within 3 days after your arrival, if you're not staying at hotels.

My private guide is a personal friend I met in another country before I went to Minsk. In fact, she invited me to Minsk and offered to show me around and help me for free. But I know she needs money so I always give her some, one way or another.

Before I went back on this trip, a couple of WSGForum members from the US and France with whom I'm in contact by PM asked me if she can help them too. She said she has to meet with them first, to see how they are. No problem for "normal" guide services or showing them where the pick-up places are and talking to pros, but more delicate for "special" mongering assistance like approaching non-pros, and even more delicate for introducing her own friends. I now received some more PM about this. I'll talk to her again and answer to everybody by PM only. I'm reluctant in discussing services of a girl I know personally on a public board, as I'm biaised. I always provide objective opinion on this board, and my opinion on my guide is more than subjective.

Jim

[GandJim]

MINSK : MY VISIT JUNE 30-JULY 7

OK, now on to my last visit.

I don't speak (or even read) Russian. :-) So I always use services of a private guide when I want to go to Ukraine, Belarus or Russia.

When I'm in Belarus, I see a girl I know for 1.5 years now. A lovely girl and a very good friend of mine, who acts as my private guide for all my stay. I care for her a lot and enjoy more spending time walking and chatting with her than to have sex with another one. She acted as my private guide on my first visit to Minsk. Initially, she showed me where things like internet cafes are, showed me how to take metro and read the menu in restaurants for me, then where are the places to pick up girls (and go there with me) . Maybe I'm stupid, but I still do not manage to sort things out on my own, so I keep asking her to be my guide on each and every day I'm in Minsk. The truth is that I enjoy her company immensely, even if she doesn't want to have sex with me. She however fully understand that "man needs sex, and there is nothing wrong with that". So she also helps me getting in touch with pros and, more important, some friends of hers who occasionally need some money.

Typically, she comes to my apartment by 10-11am, prepares breakfast or lunch, then we go out for the afternoon, sometimes shopping, sometimes visiting places, sometimes walking in the parks and having a drink on a terrasse, sometimes reading newspapers, making phone calls and visiting ... apartment girls. If I have an escort girl for the night, she wait until the girl arrives to be sure she's the right one (never a bait & switch in Minsk so far, touch wood). If not, we go out for dinner, then to disco and sometimes have a ride to look at street girls.

It will be too long writing about everything. Rather than writing about something you may have read a hundred times for other places, here are some unusual experiences which happened to me on this trip.

On Sunday, we decided to try some newspaper girls, and we start calling ads with 2 girls, age 20-22. First call : no answer, second call : Not interested in foreigners, etc... 6th or 7th call : bingo ! Yes, we can come, although there is only one girl working. Which one, I asked ? The blonde one, 21 yr old, 30 USD an hour, 50 USD for anal. OK, let's go !!! We were so frustrated making so many unsuccessful calls that we didn't check one important thing in the ad, which says "Brune (165/50/20) and Blonde (167/65/21)". 65 kg for 167 cm !!! Apartment was in the outer suburbs, it took us almost half an hour to get there. My guide walked up the stairs first and called me "It's OK, Jim, come up !". I went up .... and saw the girl . Oh dear .... A dog. I told my guide "Don't think I really like this girl, let's go". She said "Can't do that Jim, I already told her it's OK. If you leave, maybe she will call some body builder downstair to wait for you. Hey ! Are you a gentleman ?". So I went for it.... On our way back, my guide just couldn't stop laughing her asses out in the taxi. She said if only I could see my face when I saw the girl, so she decided to not let me go without fucking the girl. Of course, we could have left immediately without any problem !!!! But we waste so much time she thought she must make something out of it for herself . "Oh Jim !!!! When my friends will hear me telling them this!!!!" Shit! she must be still laughing right now.

Back home, we tried calling some high level escort agencies. No answer anywhere (I managed to contact them the next days). So we called newspaper girls again. Found a girl "Valeria, Blonde (22/173/52), (90, 60, 90), very charming face, very tender". She says she can come to my apartment for 9pm. 30 USD an hour, 80 USD overnight. OK !!! ... Waited for half an hour, she didn't show up !!! We called her mobile, it doesn't work. We called her home by 10pm, she said she's awfully sorry, but for some reasons her mum couldn't come to take care of her daughter, and she didn't have our phone number to call us back. Shit !!! We then went for street girls.

A few examples to say that newspaper girls can be fun sometimes, but can be also frustrating at others.

The next day, to beg for my pardon, my guide then brought me a friend of hers, an absolutely cute blonde, 21 yr old. Not stunning, but rather the girl next door look. My preferred type of girl. She never worked before, but is desperate for money and is still hesitating. We went out for dinner all 3 of us, and it was fun. However, back in the apartment, she was so frightened and shy, looking down almost with tears in her eyes. I just couldn't fuck her, so told her to sleep in the salon and to keep the money. I told my guide to keep her on the back burner for me, I'll be back !!! Things need patience sometimes.

These are some "bad" things which can happen in Minsk. The good ones ? Don't worry for me, there are plenty of them, but they look like so many other posts on this site that I'll spare you the pain . I like this place (and maybe my guide) so much that my next trips to Minsk are already planned : maybe in Sept/Oct, certainly in December again for Xmas.

Jim

PS : When I'll manage to resize them, I'll post photos of my guide and her blonde friend. Be patient, I'm nuts with this, and I won't have much time as I'll be travelling a lot again (for business unfortunately, to dead places).

[MarkABC]

GrandJim :

Great report ! I was already thinking to go Minsk but I finally end up in Kiev, Riga, Tallinn etc... instead of the Belarussian capital. Looks like a big mistake... Belarus is maybe the best kept secret...

I was told that the country was not totally safe for foreigners who can't read, speak and understand russian language...

What about the visa ? Is it easy to get it ? Do you still need to register at the police ( OVIR ) on arrival ? Where did you find your private guide ? Local travel agency or on internet ?

Regards.

[GandJim]

Rastaman,

I agree with you for Moscow. And it's not only the militia. You can also be beaten to dead by the skinheads.

I totally disagree with you for Kiev. I know girls there too. I have felt more reluctance, strange look from older people and agressivity from young guys, sometimes disdain from the girls in the US, France or the UK.

And I'm not talking about working girls, but normal girls. When I go to a pub or disco in Western Europe or the US, and approach a girl to start a conversation, most of them don't even have the courtesy to answer and just turn their back to me, shrugging their shoulders. At best, they ignore me. At worse, they would just laugh at me with their friends. This never happened to me in Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, etc... Maybe I have just been lucky ?

Jim

[Snail]

Belarus Skinheads Attack Foreign Students, Foreign Students Retaliate

(March 31, 2004)
An "explosive situation" has developed in Belarus as a result of a sharp increase in skinhead attacks against foreign students, which in one case provoked mass retaliation by foreign students, according to a March 26, 2004 article in the country’s leading independent newspaper Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta.

The estimated 500 skinheads in Minsk are becoming more aggressive towards foreign students, especially targeting Chinese and Arabs, the article asserts. Fortunately, the paper reports, Minsk authorities are taking the situation seriously; several mass skinhead attacks have already been prevented this year thanks to the quick reaction of the police and KGB. Nevertheless, such attacks still happen.

On February 5, 2004 around 70 skinheads attacked three Chinese students in Minsk, severely injuring them. Police intervened before the neo-Nazi mob made it to a foreign student dormitory for a planned mass attack. Fifteen skinheads were arrested and charged with hooliganism, rather than a hate crime. (Belarus has only once in its entire post-Soviet history convicted suspects of a hate crime—in late 2002, four members of the violent neo-Nazi movement RNU were convicted under a hate crimes statute for attacking foreign students in Vitebsk.)

On March 20, 2004 a Chinese student was attacked on Vaneeva St in Minsk; two days later, 15 youths attacked a Jordanian student.

Other skinhead violence took place in Gomyol. On March 21, a Yemeni medical student in that city was seriously injured in a skinhead assault. The next day, around 40 foreign students, some armed with metal pipes, attacked three Slavic youths initially, and two more sometime later. As a result, 18 year old Aleksandr Poplevkin ended up in a comatose state from which he has still not awoken. The newspaper expressed some sympathy for Mr. Poplevkin, and nowhere in the article did it explicitly state whether he is a skinhead or not, or if he was involved in any way with the attack on the Yemeni student. Foreign students so far are refusing to talk to the press about the incident. Local police are investigating the violence and are viewing it not as ethnically motivated, but instead "hooliganism." Nearby residents were quoted in the article saying that they are now afraid of the foreign students. In the wake of the violence in Gomyol, police in Minsk are paying particularly close attention to local skinheads, the paper reports.

[GandJim]

MINSK GIRLS

The first thing that will hit you is the amazing number of young and beautiful girls in the streets. Belarussian girls are certainly amongst the most beautiful girls on earth. Different people have different understanding of beauty, so let me try to explain what I like so much in Belarussian girls.

1. Not much sun there, so they all have delightfully white and soft skin. No bikini marks here. I can kiss them for hours and, when I come back kissing a girl here or in the US, I have the impression of kissing sanding paper or buffalo skin.

2. Clear and light coloured blue or green eyes. Just hynoptise me.

3. Slim, flat belly. McDonald disaster has not struck yet.

4. Narrow hips, tiny asses. A dream come true.

5. Tall and slender body

6. Long and straight legs

7. And if you go into details, light pink tits and (other) lips .

8. Last, but not least, they are gentle, tender, warm, eager to please. They are real sweethearts and I'm seeing some of them just for the pleasure of their company, not for sex.

70% of the girls in the streets are like that. You'll have hard time finding a fat girl. More than half of them have a beautiful face too. 15%-20% are real stunners. Heaven on earth.

And they are all over the places. If you are young (I mean under say 35 yr old) and decent looking (I say decent, not even nice looking or handsome), you won't even have to pay to have sex. You can approach them and start a conversation, they won't lift their nose up and turn their back to you thinking "I'm a Goddess and unapproachable" like they do here.

Unfortunately for me, I'm over 50 and not decent looking. So I have to pay for sex . Just kidding. In fact, I prefer to pay, so there is no misunderstanding when I ask the girl to leave the next morning and not wanting to see her again. If you're like me, here's some help.

In principle, prostitution is illegal in Belarus. Therefore, there are only a few night clubs, where you have strip-tease or lap dancing, but no sex. Escort agencies do not advertise openly on the web; they don't say they are in Belarus and don't give phone number on their site. A few girls advertise on the web, at their own risks. It's mainly a "word-of-mouth" business. In newspaper, there are no photos and girls are just looking for "acquaintances".

So how to get paid sex ? There are in fact many possibilities :

HOTEL GIRLS

If you stay in a hotel and are not accompanied, chances are that you will receive a telephone call asking if you want company. There are also girls staying in the lobby. They speak English. They are however not the most attractive, some look well worn-out, and are expensive. For the sake of research, I asked some girls at hotel Belarus, and they wanted 150 USD overnight, which usually mean until 6-7am. There were 7-8 girls that night, only one doable for me.

DISCO GIRLS

Next to hotel Belarus, there is a disco, WestWorld. It opens as from 8pm, but there in nobody before midnight or even 1am.

Some working girls sitting at the bars there. They speak English. Same price as in the hotel. A real stunner asked me 200 USD overnight, but remember I look like the perfect tourist.

Younger (or more decent looking) guys just have to approach the normal girls there and talk to them. My private guide asked a group of young girls if any of them would be interested in making a few extra bucks with me : 80 to 100 USD overnight, for girls looking twice better than the pros.

In WestWorld, there is a strip club upstairs, called Dolls. To be avoided : small room with lap dancing only. The girls going pole dancing for free in the public area are better than the lap dancing girls in Dolls.

STREET GIRLS

They stay at bus stops, mainly on Masherow Avenue (in particular the stops near hotel Yubileinaya and the Moscow Cinema House) and on Frantsisk Skorina Avenue (in particular the stops in front of the Circus and near Pobedy Square). Usually, there are about 10 girls at these bus stops already by 10pm but, last week, they came out only after midnight and there were only about 5-6 per bus stop. Maybe there is something to do with the 60 year celebration. My guide asked a stunning girl with legs to die for. She asks 40 USD one hour, 100 USD overnight. The other ones must be cheaper. Many of these girls don't speak English.

Another pick up place is the parking space next to Yakub Kolas Square. There you sometimes have one or two mamouchkas. You stop in the parking, she comes to you to tell you the girls she has. if you're interested, she then calls the girl(s) who are hidden somewhere nearby. I went back there last Monday by 11pm, but there were no mamouchkas that night. Don't know if they change places or aren't there yet.

To pick these girls, you just ask a taxi to drive you around and ask the price for you. They all know the places (and certainly places I don't know about).

NEWSPAPER GIRLS

In the local newspaper, you have adds for girls looking for "acquaintances". No photos, and in Russian only. They give some details on them, usually something like "Tatiana, 20/170/58, blonde, bla bla bla, phone number", which means 20 yr old, 170 cm height, 58kg weight. some also add "90/60/90', which are her measurements. By preference, I pick up adds where there are 2 girls.

Indications are usually correct. You have some funny ads like "Olga, 42/164/64". Didn't call her.

They usually do not speak English, so you need to speak Russian fluently (or have somebody calling them for you).

It's hit and miss, as you can't see how they look like. You can hit gold as you can hit shit. My guide called a few for me this time, more in my next report on my trip. Price is 30 USD one hour for most of them.

Some girls will then give you address of her building, but not of her apartment. You need to call her again when you arrive, and she'll give you apartment number and buzz you in, if she hasn't taken another client in the meantime. Remember however that Minsk is well spread out, and it can take you half an hour to get to some outer suburbs.

Some girls can also come to your apartment.

ESCORT GIRLS

There are some escort agencies in Minsk, with high class girls looking like top models and speaking English (or German). Problem is again that it's word-of-mouth and email address, phone number changes. Last Sunday, I was not able to contact any agency (all phones switched off). On Monday, I met with Helena's agency, but too late. She only has 2 girls left. Her price is 250 euros for 5-6 hours. After I'm back, she sent me some photos, and she has real stunners. I also got contact too late with Svetlana's and Eva's agencies, who ask for 200 euros for 6 hours. Girls also speak English. I must organise myself better next time.

They don't want their email/phone on a public forum (see above). Serious members actually going to Minsk can PM me.

STUDENTS, AMATEURS AND SEMI-PROS

As I said, they are all over the places. As far as I am concerned, I tell my private guide in advance when I come, and she asks her friends for me. Again, I hit gold some times, but some times not. I have seen 20 yr old girls who are still unshaved and didn't even have a condom in her bag, I have seen girls who need money but are still hesitating, and renounce at the last minute. But when it works, I know I've been with a girl who has not been fucked by tens, if not hundreds, of other guys. They have no fixed price, but I always pay them the top price asked by the top escort girls. They are not as stunning, but they are more real.


So, in summary, what to go for ? I would usually like to book at least one top level escort girl to be on the safe side for one or 2 nights. Then ? You may try your chances with disco girls some other nights, then maybe street girls, with the risk of going home empty. During the day, you may try an apartment girl in the afternoon, more for the fun of it as I hit shit more than once with this. But the reason for my constant return to Minsk is not the pros, but the students, amateurs and semi-pros. And I give my guide a hard time for this.

[GandJim]

It seems that more and more people get interested in going to Belarus, so I think some reports from my limited experience can be helpful. I initially asked Jackson to reorganise and add some topics to this section, like "General info", "Minsk", "Other areas" and waited for this to happen before posting, but it seems that he has a lot on his plate so here I go.

I'll start with 3 reports, "General info", "Minsk Girls" and my last trip. Please note that this is based on my limited and subjective experience. I don't speak Russian, so my understanding is certainly incomplete and can be totally wrong. But I do get around and have great fun.


MINSK : GENERAL INFO

Minsk is a city almost completely destroyed during WW2. A real shame. It's been rebuilt, has a lot of green spaces (parks), large avenues (main avenue, Frantsisk Skorina, has 8 lanes !!!), and is well spread out. It's very safe. I'm Asian, over 50 yr old and look like the perfect "stupid" tourist, but have no problem hanging out at 2am alone, or going to an apartment in the outer suburbs. Initially, I worried being the only Asian walking in 2km around, holding hands with one (sometimes 2 or 3 ) girls half (or even one-third) my age. Not a bad look from anybody, not a comment. Never.

Last Saturday was a big day with parade and everything (60th commemoration: 1944-2004). You would expect to see security forces everywhere, but there was basically none. No fights, no drunk people. No skinheads, no beggars even they are so poor. I was amazed. As I said, totally safe.

City is also very clean. Streets were full of people but, after they went home, no papers, empty bottles, etc.. in the streets.

There are some nice buildings and monuments to be seen, but nothing to really be thrilled about. Nice area to hang around is the park and river near the hotels (Belarus, Planeta, Yubileinaya). City is well spread out though, and things are not in walking distance. You need a car (or a taxi). Even to walk from one hotel to another in center town, you'll need more time than you may think, looking at the map.

I always stay in apartments, not hotels. Rooms are clean, but basic, with furnitures dating from the '50. Don't expect micro-waves and dishwashers. Most buildings do not have an entrance from the main street, but only from the back and it looks like a service delivery entry with a door smaller than the one of your apartment, all dark and tiny staircase. Prepare yourself for a shock here, the first time you come.

So why coming to Belarus ? Girls, girls, girls, as you will see in the next posts.

[Blonde506]

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for answering my question. Indeed, I am also trying to arrange a Visa buy my own. But I think it is far more too costly. Any way, I still trying.

Beside the information of air plane ticket and the visa details, I would also like to have some information about where I can find those Semi-pro or working girl or even some young students, and what is the rates about their services, such as how much should I pay for one hour or one night(including anal).

Thank you again for your attention.

Greets Blonde

EDITOR's NOTE: Posting of this report was delayed pending revisions to remove the multiple periods throughout the text. To avoid delays in future reports, please consider using a comma to separate the phrases in your sentences and a single period at the end of each sentence. Thanks!

[Sour Honey]

Hey Jim,
not exactly, but you're near.

Belavia is a statal Airline, and can (OK,with some tricks) give you a VISA (max 1 month) DIRECTLY in the check-out. You have to ask CLEARLY to the check-in clerk that you asked the VISA (you have to pay directly to them). He/she gives you the "false" voucher, and you can enter the flight. (remember two pictures!)

The thing that "scares" a bit is that you, until your arrive, have NOT the VISA. The office in Minsk (30 mins...) will see the voucher....and put the visa on your passport.
Uh... remember that they do not speak a word of English! But is not a problem anyway.

But is their interest to give it to you.

I did so the last time I went in BY.

You have to add only $30 to the consulate fee.

Remember that not ALL the tourism offices know this thing. Better to search for Belavia "compliant" :-) offices

About registering to the OVIR.... uh ..many people don't do... but you can register to the OVIR in any place you'll stay, despite the "dummy" voucher.

Remember that is MUCH better if you go to the OVIR with ....you know who.....:-) because is the ONLY horrible place in all Belarus!

And, anyway, be prepared to lose from 4 to 8 hours there. (Uh ...and pick ...yes ...another!! a couple of pics of you!!!)

[GandJim]

Hi SourHoney

Hey, didn't know about this Belavia "dummy" visa stuff. Can you explain more what it's exactly ? I have been to Belavia web site, but found no information there. Do you mean they just send you a visa on a separate piece of paper, and that you don't have to send your passport to Belarus embassy ? And you don't need to register in Belarus ?

Maybe I should reconsider my pre-conceived perception of "safe" airlines....

Jim

[Sour Honey]

Hello GandJim!!!!

Blonde, to go off the GandJim beaten track, you can also book a flight via Belavia (www.belavia.by). Is the Belarus flying Company (not too bad, and "safe").

From Amsterdam and Brussels you have fligths via Wien and Warszaw. And moreover, Belavia prepare "dummy" VISAS (with a Hotel voucher you'll never use). In this way, paying $30 more (and less with the flight) you have the touristic VISA for a max lenght of staying of one month, without go to the Embassy, sending passport, do registration in BY, etc.

More, if you want to book a hotel for that time, Belavia do the same with "your" hotel.

Ciao

[GandJim]

Blonde506,

In principle, you will need an invitation letter to apply for a tourist visa. If you book a hotel room or an apartment in Belarus, they will provide you with this letter, as well as a voucher. I prefer to stay in apartment, so I don't have to pay bride to hotel security to take a girl home.

You will then need to go to the Belarus embassy to fill in a form and apply for visa. Your passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond intended stay. Cost is about 50-60 euros (delay 1 week). If you're in a hurry, you can get an "express" visa for 100-120 euros (delay 24-48hrs).

You can also use the services of a "visa assistance" agency to do all this for you, there are many on the internet and I'm sure there must be some in the Netherlands. They will do all this for you, for a fee.

I'm not living in the Netherlands, so don't know if there are any low cost airlines from there, but it seems unlikely. I prefer flying "safe" airlines like Lufthansa and, if you book your ticket enough in advance, price is affordable. It costs me about 400-500 euro from Nice (south of France), via Frankfurt. Last minute booking can go easily over 1000 euros. If you fly from a main airport, it should be cheaper.

I'll be in Belarus June 30-July 7 and will be seeing both pros and amateurs, through my local contacts there. If you manage to be there at the same time, we can have a beer and go hunting.

Jim