Moscow

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  Moscow, Central Russia, Russian Federation
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

sooo....Russia...Moscow..wow

After an epic train journey from Kosice via Ukraine and direct to Moscow (about 2 days) with Paz going a little mad from being trapped in the sleeping carriage (not a single window could be opened) we arrived :)

Once again standard operating precedure took place, find any alternative people and question about squats/antifa/hippy/etc

After walking towards red square, down arbat street, we met a few punk types who told us that these kind of places dont exist in Russia, being that Russia does not have real democracy (although its quesntionable if any country does)  We continued undetered and soon met a kind man who took us in the metro to where he had seen "hippy type" people.  We arrived at the said station and within 2 mins bumped into a rainbow sister on her way to "empty hills" festival.  It seemed as if all the alternative people in Moscow were leaving the city for the four day (free) festival about 50km out of the city.

making a snap decision we decided to join her and took the Metro to the end of the line where the bus shuttling people to the festival was leaving from.  As we arrived, Paz bumped into the man organising the buses, who after a small chat with Paz decided that we could travel for free (saving us 500 rubles each). After a wait for the last bus we left for what was to be an amazing festival.

Situated within the Russia countryside, with a river running through, it contained 4 stages (each one an element name) and many people, the music was amazing and being the only guys not from Russia there Paz and I became mini legends and experienced Russian hospitality to max with Vodka (of course) and others passed and shared between many people :)

high points include meeting Masha, Alexander, the Blues stage crew and drinking with them, the blues stage (my main haunt) not to mention speeding for about 2 days around the fest ^_^ meeting so many diffrent people :)

we spent four days camped out in the woods, the only slight problem was the insects and we left with quite a few bites.

After a day spent traveling back to Moscow which includes a free train ride back while a group of about 20 of us made a party on the train, drums, trumpet, guitar and the all important pivo (Beer)

We were invited back to a house in Moscow where we stayed with Nafaina and garry (DJ Sativa) for a few days.  We went on busking missions to arbat street (Moscows most popular street we were told) where we played together and met many more people from the festival.  Everyday in Moscow there is a gathering of people in the park just east of the Kremlin (cant remember the name of park) where they gather every everning for fire shows, poi and company of others.  So we busked for cash then moved to the park everynight to enjoy the company of Moscows alt scene and drink together ^_^

Here we met with lilia and Senya who invited us back to her flat to stay for a few days, although a few days turned into nearly a week (im typing this from her brothers computer now).  Russian hospitality is amazing, perhaps it is because we are non-russian, but I advise anyone who can, to travel to Russia and experiance this for themselves!

After a brief excusion into Moscows northen forest for a psy-trance party (it was DJ Sativa's birthday) and after much dancing and partying we started the long trek back to the house.  It was that same day (after sleeping till the afternoon) that we left for another festival outside of Moscow, once again within the beutiful Russian countryside.  And spent the next four days camped out in the woods drinking, smoking and sitting around many diffrent camp fires.

It was here that I tryed Salvia while sitting with the group up on fairy hill, and I must say, twas a intresting experience, having reality pause for a time, as if everything leading to that point was a false experience and I caught a small sight of what perhaps death or some form of alternative reality was like (in a positive way)

Another highlight was drinking Russian tea (black tea, condensed milk and vodka) around the fire on the last night.

We took the train back to Moscow in time to meet with Lilia's brother Ruslan who's birthday it was the day before and so we took the night out on the town, taking the Metro to Moscows (and Russia's) top university, situated on a hill overlooking Moscow.  Lilia and her friends come here to work, her work being a fire show for people at night  ^_^

We spent the night watching the show, playing drums, drinking and having fun :)  and after a successful night at work (or rather play) we danced and played our way home along the Metro.

Now im sitting here in the flat typing this all up, I think there is a plan to travel to ðÿçàíü a small town southeast of Moscow, where I expect even more Russian hospitality and great people :)

With regard to the original plan, that is getting to Japan in time for the G8, I think we are going to have to resort to plan B, Plan B which is to travel to Serbia for the European rainbow gathering in August and then from there plan our next destination.

We entered Russia later than planned (although I dont regret in anyway traveling to Budapest) and then realised that the trans-siberian (and ferry to Japan) was more than we had expected (and a plane is out of the question). To auto-stop (hitchike) across Russia we would need the full month.

Still, its not as if this journey is uneventful for anyone ^_^

the idea which is floating about now is to travel to Saint Petersberg, then into Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Poland and link up with the Derkacz crew for part 2

Anyway, things are as always going well and when I next get to a computer I shall try to update again (I expect pics to follow but not sure when...having lost the mini-usb to usb cable for my camera I have to use other peoples)

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