2004 Moscow Reports

[Doctor_Skank]

Punter SA:

Actually this subject has been covered at length in this forum on more than one occasion, but to make a long story short:

* many Russians hate people from the Caucasus because of the Chechen terrorist attacks, the high-profile success of some Armenians and Georgians in the Russian economy (big cars + blonde girl) and the notion that all foreigners come to Russia to steal their women and/or take their jobs. Basic socio-economic strife. So dark-skinned folk may very well encounter racism on the street, from the police or when trying to get into certain clubs.

* if you stay in the city center (and the city center is huge with dozens of the best clubs etc.) the overt racism is greatly reduced. There is very little physical danger for people of any color in the city center. Basic city street smarts will get you by just fine. If you can get by in Jo-burg you'll have no problems in Moscow's center. And you won't be the only dark-skinned person. In the city center you will see every race and color. It isn't London or New York, but Moscow is still a major international city and (unfortunately) no longer a "secret" destination.

* there are a lot of Indians in Moscow, thousands of them. They go out to the "expat-friendly" clubs. Particularly the following clubs are frequented by Indians: Voodoo Lounge, Chesterfields (Doug and Marty's Boar House), Karma Bar... among others. I obviously haven't been to all clubs in the city, but I have seen many Indians in those three at least.

* lots of Indian mongers have been to Moscow before you and have been successful (based on their reports). Some of them have done extremely well. Some girls prefer dark-skinned guys and with Russia's nouveau riche flocking to Goa, India carries a positive image with much of the younger party-going crowd.

* pros don't care what your skin color is as long as you pay. Reportedly some tochka girls have rejected darker-skinned guys, but they have their reasons (beatings etc.). Club girls at CF or NF have fucked every color of the rainbow as long as the price was right.

So in conclusion, you may very well encounter some racism and hassle in Moscow... it does exist... but it isn't physically dangerous unless you go looking for trouble outside of the center etc. As far as girls go, you are on your own (as we all are) but the pro option is available and with a little savvy, you'll be successful with amateurs as well. In any case, your curiousity won't be satisfied until you try.

[Punter SA]

Hi,

I need some help from all you Moscow experts. I am a South African of Indian descent. I spent an unbelievable night with a russian girl in Johannesburg about 2 years ago. None of my conquests since then have even come close to that memorable night. Unfortunately, she went back to Russia a few months later.

Now the question i have is what are the attitudes like of women in Moscow to Indian men. I`m a fairly good-looking and successful guy. I`ve always wanted to visit Moscow and sample the wares there, but i need to make sure that i won`t be handicapped in my pursuits because im not pale enough.

I plan to travel to Russia towards the end of September, so any advice you can give me will be highly appreciated.

Cheers

[Opus Dog]

John Q,

Are my odds any better if I'm wearing a condom while seeing a doctor?

[Toscana]

BodyRockerForU

If you're going to all the trouble of arranging VIP arrival service at the airport, why not have your first couple of dyevs waiting in the back of the car for you? Get your travel agent to operate the digital, and post it all in the photo section, OK?

[Roger Mellie]

A further note on what happens if you dont stop for Moscow traffic police:

MOSCOW, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Moscow police fired a hail of bullets at a man after he refused to show his identity papers and fled in his car, police said on Thursday.

Police chased the man and even blocked traffic on Moscow's main ring road, but he refused to stop and drove straight at a policeman. He was caught only after the volley of shots brought his car to a halt.

"A total of 13 shots were fired at him," a police statement said. The man was wounded. Police did not identify him.

Russian traffic police routinely carry automatic weapons.

[BodyRockerForU]

C A Traveler / Sexplorer,

I am sure you guys are right as you know much more about Moscow then myself as I have only been there twice before.

Sexplorer, I agree with you about the problems which can begin right from the airport, however I normally use the VIP arrival service at the Airport ( booked in advance) where they charge you extra and you don't have to go through a long wait at Immigration / Customs. They escort you to the lounge and take your passport for immigration, once that is done you walk out and find porter already waiting with you bags so no hassle of customs. No need to fill any forms or currency declaration etc. I have used this service twice.

I also make sure English speaking guide from my travel agent is waiting with a Car at the Airport.

Having said that still I feel you guys have a valid point and I must try in future apartment service.

Thanks a lot for your inputs.

[Moscow Brit]

John

a. The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000.
b. The number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) is 1,500.
c. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.000188.

I guess you believe that the movies Troy & Braveheart were true as well :-)

Even the maths is wrong in the example above, c. should be 0.00001875

From 'Centers For Disease Control National Center for Injury Prevention & Control' website the number of Firearm deaths in the US in 2001 was 29,573, which makes the real figure for c. 0.0003696625.

[John Quakman]

Michael Moore in his film "Bowling For Columbine" makes the point that Americans react to fear in violent ways. His premise, rational or not, curiously parallels American reaction to events such as the recent 2 plane crashes. What are the odds? High at a least but igven the rational that we should restrict our participation in riding Russian Airlines because the risks are so high it follows that we should restrict everything else that is statistically more dangerous.

A case in point regarding relativitity of risk:


Physicians:

a. The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.
b. Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000.
c. Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171. (Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept. of HHS)

Guns:

a. The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000.
b. The number of accidental gun deaths per year (all age groups) is 1,500.
c. The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.000188.

"Statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.

Remember, "Guns don't kill people, doctors do."


FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.


Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand.

(out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld the statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.)

[Just Do It]

BR4U,

I have to second all that has been said. I was a first time traveler in Moscow and used Ca Travelers service and it was WONDERFUL!
It is much eaiser, safer, and user friendly than any Moscow hotel. The service is first class and they are always available to help you.
Just my 2 cents worth or is that 5 kopecks?

What ever you choose is up to you but Moscow is wonderful!

[CA Traveler]

sexp... 1. Good thing you're not on my payroll... I could never afford you.
2. I have just the babushka.... er... dyvushka for you... she works near the Belarusski station. 100 rubles. Great GFE! You can even go bareback with her! Her specialty is her BBBJ. Without her teeth, it is very special!

br4u... Apartments are not for everyone and I understand your concern. I will tell you that I have more scams attempted on me near the tourst areas than in the residential areas of Moscow. I have walked around at ALL hours of the night and early morning and have never even felt threatened in Moscow.

However, if you go back in the history of the Moscow/Spb postings you will find that it is virtually agreed to by everyone that an apartment is the way to go.

However, that said, in the end you must do what you feel most comfortable with.

[Knuckhead]

BR4U:

You mentioned:

I am not in the apartment scene, so I am apprehensive

Really, especially in an environemnt like Moscow, IMHO there is much more to be aprehensive about staying in a hotel. I promise, I'm not on Ca Traveler's payroll , but consider the following:

1-Hotel: You arrive at the airport and have just come out of customs. You are approached by a ton of hustlers for a ride into town. You need to negotiate your own rate and most of them do not speak English. If you are the "apprehensive" type, once the ride begins you can not help but be a little on the edge when you are in an absolutely strange town and an unknown person who does not speak your language is driving you somewhere you have never been. In the hotel you have to have your guards up such as to avoid unnecessarry extra charges, some of which (taxes and the conversion charge) are sadly unavoidable. There are also a lot of situations that can add to your bill, an example being the chicas raiding the mini-bar. Also, wouldn't you feel apprehensive walking with an obviously out of place tochka (or CF or NF) girl in tow in front of hotel security no matter how "girl friendly" the hotel is?


2-Ca Traveler's setup: You arrive at the airport and are met by his personal driver who speaks English. There is nothing to negotiate since the price of the ride is either included (for longer stays) or already clearly identified and paid directly to Ca Traveler. Heck, the driver even tells you about the tochkas as he drives you into town, since he probably will be your hired driver for a tochka tour either the same night or the next! He then takes you to an apartment in an excellent location where you are met by Ca Traveler. If you need groceries they are either already waiting for you or he simply directs you to the nearby market. There is no mini-bar and hence no mini-bar bill. He tells you the in's and out's of mongering, and gives you his personal telephone# to reach him with questions. He tells you how much the taxi ride costs, where to pick up girls, how to avoid the militia, etc.

So, in summary, ESPECIALLY if you are "apprehensive", you are far better off with the second scenario. Clearly, this is not a "black or white" situation, as there are no doubt many good hotels and many businessmen DO stay at them and still come back alive . From the point of a traveling monger, however, I think there is absolutely no comparison between a hotel and an apartment.

Ca Traveler, you may send my check to the address on file . I accept payment in Dollars, Euros, Rubles, but my preferred denomination is Devushki.

On an unrelated "aside", Just a few days ago I had one of the best sessions of this year with a Russian Dyev in Buenos Aires, of all places! Talk about the best of both worlds , imagine having a proper haute cousine lunch for $20 including wine, strolling through the wide boulevards, going to a Tango show, and coming home to a Russian Dyev for an unforgettable session for less than $70!

Still, I'm looking forward to my next trip to Moscow in a few months.

[BodyRockerForU]

C A Traveler / Doc SKank / Beansed,

Thanks a lot friends for your valuable input. The rates of Sheraton were quoted by their reservation dept on email to me. I will personally call them and see if there is a chance to get a better deal.

CA Traveler, I saw your site, I must say it's impressive(specially Apt No.6). I am not in the apartment scene so I am apprehensive.
May be one time I shall give it a shot

Thanks again.

BR

[Nauskas]

When I first went to Russia, I rented an Apartment from a friend who showed me around a bit. Since then I stayed in many hotels and apartments.

It just depends. If I was to do it again, a possible path might be different in unfamiliar territory.

a) Rent an apartment and meet at the airport to avoid problems. (CA Traveler seems to have the better solution in Moscow, well thought out. I have only seen a cloth dryer in a store in Eastern Europe)

b) Take a hotel for one or two days and then transistion to an apartment.

c) Go with an apartment for a few days and either extend it when comfortable or get a hotel.

d) Meet a friend at the airport. have them help you settle in.

You may need a stamp for your visa, making a hotel more desirable for the first few days. If less than 72 hours, not including weekends, a stamp is not required. (better to have one, as they will pick on it if stopped) This stuff is subject to change too.

Upon Arrival -
I guess the first thing I do is ensure my Mobile is working and recharge it if needed.

My first order of business is always to find a store or market to buy water and basic items. then its find potential restuarants to eat at, then where the metro station is. Then the lingering item is deciding how to get cloths washed if its a long trip.

With any plan, you probably already have an idea of where the girls are.

In any case, meeting someone the first time to show you some of the ropes is always desirable for me.

I have travelled my share around the world, so I have found learning from those who know (like this list) can save a lot of money and headaches. Everyone has their own needs, and I am sure lots of you have good info to offer up as always.

Be Safe, be Smart and have fun !

[Pastoralist]

I will continue my chronicle of dosug.nu salons with the Salon on Sykharevskaya. This gem is located two blocks from the metro station. I did not call prior to my arrival at the metro station and had trouble locating the salon. A girl had to come out to lead me up. I spoke only Russian, which is further proof you don’t need good Russian to visit salons.

The apartment is really nice, and the bedrooms have amazing views. On my first visit, three girls were working. I recognized two of them from the site: Anna and Marina, although they gave different names at the apartment. They worked very hard to ensure I felt comfortable and at home – I was never rushed to choose a girl of do anything.

Anna was drop dead gorgeous, but Marina was also very good looking and happened to be the girl that led me up. I decided to choose Marina this time. After a shower Marina gave me a very long and fantastic massage. Beyond being a great massage it was erotic, and after thirty-five minutes it ended with sweet kisses that built up to LFK, CBJ, and tons of sex. She was magnificent.

Marina wanted me to not forget her or the apartment, and I had no intention of doing so. This visit was at 6:00 p.m. on a weekday. The cost was $100/hr ($100 total).

A few days ago a window of opportunity opened up for me at 11:00 p.m. on a weekday. I called ahead to have Anna and Marina waiting for me for a one-and-a-half hour twosome. I was told to arrive at midnight.

At midnight I was greeted at the apartment by a cute non-working girl who got me a drink and told me that Anna and Marina were on their way. A half-hour later she informed me that I would need to wait yet another hour before the girls would arrive. That would put them there at 1:30 a.m. and even if I cut the session to an hour I wouldn’t have enough time.

I inquired on the availability of my cute hostess, which is when I discovered she was non-working. I left very disappointed. The hostess really wanted me to return soon and said I should try calling earlier in the future to reschedule Anna and Marina.

[Moscow Brit]

CA Traveller.

I have stayed at the Cosmos in the past, while not the best hotel in the world, I have certainly stayed at worse in both the US & Europe.

Also I am paying for the Moscow stay out of my own pocket & $300 a night is a bit steep.

I may be the explorer in me, but I prefer to go 'native'. If I want to stay in an American hotel, I will go to America, it's less hassle.

Do you know of any English speaking 'afternoon brothels/apartments ?

Regards