My most memorable trip was a professional visit to Minnesota, USA to meet my colleagues and friends.Twice I flew across twelve time zones to hear Minnesotans speak with pride and love for their state. Some of my Americans friends, whom I met on various international American-Russian projects, couldn’t see why I was drawn to the northern state of Minnesota. It is very similar to my native Altay region on the South-west of Siberia. The contrast between these regions is hardly detectable and there is nothing really new that one can encounter.This is exactly why I keep coming back to Minnesota. Everything is so familiar and welcome to a Siberian: the rows of sky-high pines, dazzling white smiles of birch groves, fresh air, good warm baked potatoes, immense depth of sky and waters.Some of the culture shocks that my Biysk friends Oksana Sulimenkina and Viktoria Kochkina, who travelled with me, have experienced on their trip to America were the generous portions of food served, an endless ocean of smiles around us and hardened health of Minnesotans. While we were running around St Cloud State campus with many layers on, but still shivering of chilly wind, Minnesota residents wore light summer outfits seemingly ignoring the vicissitudes of the weather. Uh-ti ! (Rus.)- Wow! Are Minnesotans tough!
I have amazing photos of the Hotel. I will definitely send in your new group. I really want to share my joy with you. If you are interested, I will send them to you and I can explain interesting details about each photo...
If you like, let me know and I will do it immediately.
This was the most memorable but yet the most horendous journey of my life, although I have sailed round the world twice single handed, one trip east to west then the other trip west to east and have nearly died and also nearly drowned on both journeys and I have also been shot twice in active service as a Royal Marine Comando fighting in the service of Her Majesty the Queen, 1st in 1969 in Vietnam in the River Mekong delta and 2nd time in Belieze. In 1984 I was with my father when we were in a air plane crash off the East coast of Africe and we both survived that. All these experiences do not compare to the journey that follows because of the sheer misery and constant cold that has been instilled in my memory and will die with me.
In 1956 I went with my father and older sister on the trans siberian train to Birobidzian (I was then 7 years old) in eastern Siberia to see a friend of my fathers who had been in a Gulag there for over 20 years and had then been released. Then we came back to the UK via Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikystan, Afghanistan, Iran, Georgia, Turkey by buses and then by train from Instanbul to Paris and then we flew back to Edinburgh in Scotland. I wore short trousers as all little boys did in thoes days and this is why I was so cold all the time.
My most memorable trip was a trip to city called Yazd in Iran. Everything in this city is unique. The most interesting things that attracts me was the architecture and some interesting temples and places. I stayed in a hotel which was built in about 300 years ago.
All the best,
Nafis
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Have a good day and thanks again for the shory. Impressive.
I have amazing photos of the Hotel. I will definitely send in your new group. I really want to share my joy with you. If you are interested, I will send them to you and I can explain interesting details about each photo...
If you like, let me know and I will do it immediately.
Warm regards,
Nafis
In 1956 I went with my father and older sister on the trans siberian train to Birobidzian (I was then 7 years old) in eastern Siberia to see a friend of my fathers who had been in a Gulag there for over 20 years and had then been released. Then we came back to the UK via Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikystan, Afghanistan, Iran, Georgia, Turkey by buses and then by train from Instanbul to Paris and then we flew back to Edinburgh in Scotland. I wore short trousers as all little boys did in thoes days and this is why I was so cold all the time.
Do you have pictures from that trip by any chance?
My most memorable trip was a trip to city called Yazd in Iran. Everything in this city is unique. The most interesting things that attracts me was the architecture and some interesting temples and places. I stayed in a hotel which was built in about 300 years ago.
All the best,
Nafis