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with anna
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A.nna
 anna // singaporean. my dream is to some day live in a countryside and have a lot of dogs. reach me on
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Sunday, January 1, 2017
Winter in Russia 9th day into my Russia trip and here I am, waiting for the clock to strike 12. This is the first time I spent Christmas through New Year overseas. Not sure what went into my mind when I decided it'll be Russia but I did it and I'm so glad I did. While I can't speak for many, I've checked Russia out of my bucket list. Yay! Okay honestly I can't remember exactly what I did on which day. The day light in Moscow is limited to 6 hours and in St. Petersburg, we had 5 hours only. I avoided staying out before sunrise and after sunset for safety reasons (but yolo because one of the nights we stayed out till 9pm for Starbucks, #badassalert). The remaining time is spent eating and sleeping. I think I slept more here than what I had in the entire year combined. Not even exaggerating when I say we slept for 15 hours on one of the days? And most of the other days, we slept in for at least 12 to 13 hours before we crawled outta bed and convince ourselves we need to head out to see something. And that excluded naps. I googled, it says that due to the short day light, our brain produces more melatonin thinking it's night time that's why we feel sleepier. But I prefer to call it hibernation. St. Petersburg It was one of the St. Petersburg cathedrals photo that Inez stumbled upon online that got us here. We spent a good 5 days in St. Petersburg and we rented this bed and breakfast. For $30/night, you get the entire huge ass apartment. Getting around was easy as the metro was a 10 minutes walk away? It was quite confusing at first but we used our maps to navigate and after the first night, kinda got used to it. Here are the list of places we visited through our walking tour: 
(Winter Palace & Hermitage)
(St. Isaac's Cathedral)
(Peter the Great Monument)
(Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood)
And also these which I didn't get a good photo out of:
It's almost impossible to get a good shot most of the time because the sky is always gloomy. It looks like 5pm whether the sun just rose or about to set. Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood was one of the prettiest we've been to and it took me close to 30 shots to get one that looks like I could still savage it with photoshop lol!
Chose a really bad day for walking tour because it was snowing and then raining. Halfway it got so windy that it was actually painful to continue with the tour. And I'm normally not one who uses the heat pad because it's so small, it's as good as useless but during the tour I grabbed one of those and placed my life on it hoping it'll warm me up a little. Damn.
Moscow
Ahhh, this I like. I like Moscow more than I do with St. Petersburg mainly because there are more and prettier things to see. Moscow is the capital of Russia, but it was moved to St. Petersburg for a period of time before it was moved back to Moscow. I'd have thought they're on par but nope. The only thing I liked about St. Peterburg more than Moscow would have to be the fact that they've more English signages around. That's it, I said it.
Back to Moscow. There's walking tour as well, which we covered the following:
 
(St. Basil's Cathedral)
(GUM)
(Tomb of the Unknown Soldier)
(Between GUM & Tomb of the Unknown Solider)
(GUM)
And also the following which I can't seem to match to my photos:
Here are some of the other photos taken in Moscow:
   
Drum rolllllll please.. My favourite shot of Moscow has to be this:
It was taken from the back (exiting Red Square). Most tourists were crowding in front of the cathedral trying to get a shot. I kinda gave up because there were too many people and I dislike it when my "tourist shot" is filled with other tourists. Prft. This was the best I could get out of it and I'm happy so yay!
Now the practical part.. Here are some of the tips to get by:
Well, we got through Russia safely. And IMO, it's just as safe (and dangerous) as any other cities. It's not how we see them through the western movies. We've met nice people who offered help, or hold the doors for us, help us get around. Though there was a major communication break down, but we still made it through with hand signals and google translate.
In summary, I don't think Moscow & St. Petersburg made it to the list of places I'd revisit. I don't mind coming back to Russia to visit Kamchatka, or even Kazan, but probably not in winter again. This is one of the few trips whereby I'm home sick. I forgot how warmth feels like - that being said, I'm definitely heading to the pool once I'm back. I feel like I'm getting fairer due to the lack of sun exposure and gosh it took me so long to get to a shade I like and bam, one week, it's gone.
Also, it's 11:15pm here in Moscow, 45 minutes more to 2017 so technically I'm not late for my annual travel compilation. My 3rd year doing so and the hashtag shall be #AnnaualTravelLog. You got the pun? :P
Now, 2016 has been a great year for me, it flew passed before I even realized. Life is filled with ups and downs, so was 2016. I just want to count my blessings and work towards a better tomorrow. I've scrapped the idea of the new year new me and all the cliche resolutions for awhile now. I believe that change should take place whenever we are aware of the need to change and it doesn't need to take place only during the start of a brand new year.
And instead of hoping for a better year, let's work towards a better tomorrow. It really should be an every day thing. To you reading this, let's make a pact. Let's make every day a fulfilling one for 2017 so by the end of 2017, we can sit back, tell our stories and count our blessings before we strive again for the following year. Deal? Deal.
Labels: annateng, moscow, petersburg, russia, singaporean in russia, st petersburg, travel, travelbyanna, travelling, travels, winter Friday, January 2, 2015
6 Different Types of Cold As most would know, I'm currently in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It's the coldest capital in the world. (Source: Telegraph) And today, I've decided to elaborate a bit more on the different level of cold, fully in my own opinion. I've been to a few winter countries, given myself the chance to experience the different types of cold according to the temperature. I'll give them 6 different categories in this post, fully named by yours sincerely. Disclaimer: I feel cold very easily, compared to my dad - I'll tell you why later. 1. Breezy and I-Can-Still-Take-It Cold (Range: 16°C to 20°C)
I've visited Hong Kong twice so far during their winter. On average, it's around 11°C to 18°C. It was breezy, you could feel the cold and it's almost just nice. A cotton long sleeve with coat will do, but with little bit more of a movement, you'll start to want to take out your coat. Between to temperature of 16°C to 20°C, a jacket does fine for me. It's the perfect weather because you don't sweat, even with the sun above you, you feel just alright. You feel the breeze, but no where near a freeze or shiver.
2. Time-To-Throw-On-A-Coat Cold (Range: 10°C to 15°C)
And between the range of 10°C to 15°C, it's when you actually throw on a coat and start to want to keep your hands in the pocket. I visited Sydney during their early winter. When night falls, it could be as low as 8°C. But during the day time, with the afternoon sun, it was between 10°C to 15°C. Probably around 2 layers before a coat, you start to wonder where to get gloves but at the same time you don't really want to put the gloves on because your cigarette might burn a hole on the glove (yes, it happened to me twice).
I personally prefer this temperature. I love the cold, I come from the Sunny Island which we do not have winter at all, and I love this range of temperature as it doesn't freeze you till the extend which you don't want to step out of the apartment. Simply just throwing on a few more layers and a beautiful scarf, you're good to go.
3. Try-Talking-To-See-If-We-Can-See-Our-Breathe Cold (Range: 1°C to 9°C)
This is the part when you start to feel the cold in your soul. Or maybe it's a bit exaggerating, let's keep the first sentence for the next level of cold. But this is the range where you know you can't escape the cold. And this is the part I'm talking about my dad. When we were in Li Jiang (China), during the night it's around 2°C and in the day, it'll be around 8°C. So my dearest dad here, wears a polo tee out to smoke with me at night, in 2°C. When asked if he felt cold at all, he said it was okay. And no, he did not shiver. Not even a little bit.
This range of cold, is kind of the one I dread a bit more. It's the kind where you do not necessary need a down jacket or a ski coat but a cashmere and coat is not enough. You don't want to bathe or wash your face because the water is too cold and you don't want to expose your body to even the enclosed bathroom because somehow the cold is trying to get pass the wall to attack your naked skin right after you strip.
And it's also the kind where you constantly tries to catch if you can see your own breathe. No, not yet - not just yet till the next level.
4. Stay-In-Bed Cold (Range: -10°C to 0°C)
One of the very first few winter I'm in was Iceland. Every day was almost a 0°C or lower. Everything in #3 applies, I did not want to bathe or touch any water. They were demons. I just wanted to stay in bed, next to the heater because this range of cold, you've to put on so many layers!
First, the base of cashmere, follow by a few cotton / fleece, and a ski coat. That is only the top! You've to wear almost the same number of layers for your pants and shoes. Believe it or not, I gave up halfway trying to put on everything so I can step out for a cigarette.
You know this cold don't kill you easily. You just don't really feel like stepping out.
5. Chill-In-Your-Bones Cold (Range: -20°C to -11°C)
Shangri-La is not just a hotel chain, but a real city in China. During their summer, it's around 23°C. So, the good news is, I've experience their winter! The coldest recorded was -23°C. It's generally one of the coldest city in China. The villagers living in Shangri-La claimed most of them bathed once or most twice a year only.
When I was there, we went hiking (thanks to my brilliant uncle). It was approximately -20°C during mid-noon when we were on top of the mountain. I must state beforehand, I didn't went prepared so my opinions could be overstated. It was literally the chill in your bones kind of cold. As I was walking, I remembered very clearly this ran passed my mind, "If I jump, my feet is going to shatter." It freezes every part of you up. I was fully covered from head to toe, 6 layers (out of 6 layers, 2 were ski coats!). I don't think words can articulate my thoughts. Here you go..
All you could see was my eyes, and a block with too many clothing on. As you can see, the sky was really up-close. It was almost 4000ft above sea level, so the air got really thin too. (I think this is why people hallucinate when they're too cold.)
6. The Stupid Cold (Range: -40°C to -21°C)
I don't think anyone who hasn't experience this range of cold, gets any right to tell me it's going to be okay. It's the stupidest kind of cold. Half the people told me it's going to be okay, just get this and this and that and... Okay, keep your mouth shut. Nothing is ever enough in this temperature. This morning it was -28°C. It's the coldest month of winter in Mongolia and the coldest recorded was -55°C.
The citizens here are born for it. Their skin are made for the cold, their soul could have already been taken away by the cold and their bones are probably immune to the cold. Cold is not even a word to describe this temperature. It's stupid kind of cold. (Don't get me wrong, I did not regret my decision and I came here partially to experience this cold).
I came all prepared and I am. I'm not dying yet but I feel like a robot because all these clothing and coats are so thick and it makes me bulky. Okay to look bulky to others, but coming from a rather petite size, feeling and being bulky makes me can't move comfortably.
According to my host and guide, (at -17°C) they told me the weather is perfect. Excuse me, we definitely have different understanding of the word perfect. My guide told me the coldest winter he has experienced is -50°C and the snow was piling up to 25cm tall! You basically can soak your feet in the snow. We were walking around the National Park, it was around -20°C or more, he wasn't wearing any ear muffs and gloves. Now, who told me that the cold is going to freeze my ears and hands till I have to amputate it? *angry*
Anyways, I did thoroughly enjoyed myself. Even though my mucus froze, my teeth was cold and after entering a warmer area, my nose bled a little, Mongolia has been great. It's safer and more beautiful than I thought.
I think I could do with Jon Snow joining me right now. Labels: blog, cold, solo traveling, travel, travel blog, travels, types of cold, types of winter, winter |
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xx
© 2017 A. travels |
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