Dunno why you're being such a dick about this, you know you're going to a country where you need to be careful, people are just warning you. Do it, but don't dismiss advice from people who are seemingly trying to give you advice.
Road to Rotary: Japan to France in an RX7
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Soldato
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Based on watching Bald & Bankrupt on YouTube, I'd say a lot of the Russian Traffic Police in the remote areas are quite corrupt, and will try to get money off you. Bald & Bankrupt used to film them whenever he got stopped to stop them trying to extort him.
Based on YouTube again, the standard of driving in Russia seems a lot worse than the UK. The roads can also be in poorer condition with potholes.
When travel guy Simon Reeve visited Russia he was detained by the secret police for a whole day, even though he had papers/permission. I can't remember if he paid a fine to get out, it was on one of his travel programmes. So this is what you'd be up against.
Based on YouTube again, the standard of driving in Russia seems a lot worse than the UK. The roads can also be in poorer condition with potholes.
When travel guy Simon Reeve visited Russia he was detained by the secret police for a whole day, even though he had papers/permission. I can't remember if he paid a fine to get out, it was on one of his travel programmes. So this is what you'd be up against.
Soldato
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Not if he can't post any ...
Soldato
I was about to say the same. There are so many people on Youtube nowadays doing "normal" stuff and doing it quite well that the only chance you have of getting lots of views / subscribers if you're starting from 0 is doing something that other people aren't willing to do either because of cost or danger. The best thing that @randomshenans could wish for would be something going wrong but not so wrong that he ends up getting hurt / losing vast amounts of money etc.
He's obviously willing to take the risk and I assume he'll have a pretty good idea of the potential issues before he leaves, he won't be going in blind.
Well that is the thing - at least as far as their posts convey they don't appear to accept there is any real complications - hand waving at it all being the media/propaganda when someone says something they don't want to see, and they don't seem prepared to accept anything beyond other people have/are doing it without a problem so everything will be fine.
Especially since the Kursk incursion things have deteriorated quite badly diplomatically, the situation is not good to be driving long distance through Russia, unable to leave quickly and easily, without an express purpose i.e. visiting family or a tourist attraction, while filming (even accidentally filming something of military importance at the moment will likely land you in a world of hassle at the very least with a chance of a much more serious outcome). Maybe things will settle a bit by June 2025 but the way things are going I'd lean towards things deteriorating further unfortunately.
What advice are they actually giving? Other than saying it's stupid? Or don't do it?
I have clearly stated the things I have to do to actually do this, it's not like I am blind or not looked into this, probably a damn lot more than anyone in this thread, so I'm not being a dick. Chill your boobies. You might want to look up what "advice" is
Everyone needs to chill out a bit really and stop living in a world of fear. I'll be fine.
It's not like I've spent the last 6 months looking into how to actually do this and everything it entails. It's not like I haven't seen the government website. It's not like I haven't spoken to people who have done this exact route. It's not like I've not spoken to Russian friends and been given advice for along the way. It's not like I am taking all the steps to make sure my paperwork is without issue, to reduce any potential jobsworth...
I haven't seen ANY "advice" coming from any person who is simply calling me an idiot. It's opinions and posting the same stories, fear and links, which isn't advice.
I learned long ago that you only take advice from people living a life like your own, or one that you want, because I will never persuade anyone to see my perspective and nor is it worth my time in doing so. You have your views, I have mine. I respect the fact that people in this thread would not do this, or probably most of the things I would do, that's fine. I don't live that life.
You can all have your opinions and what you'd do. It simply is no doubt not the same as mine. I will respect your views, I'm not sure you'll ever be able to respect mine but I don't need you to validate me, I was purely sharing as it's an awesome adventure and some people enjoy that.
Man of Honour
Wait...you didn't just scribble this whole thing on the back of a fag packet after 3 bottles of wine down the local Vineyard last night?What advice are they actually giving? Other than saying it's stupid? Or don't do it?
I have clearly stated the things I have to do to actually do this, it's not like I am blind or not looked into this, probably a damn lot more than anyone in this thread, so I'm not being a dick. Chill your boobies. You might want to look up what "advice" is
Everyone needs to chill out a bit really and stop living in a world of fear. I'll be fine.
It's not like I've spent the last 6 months looking into how to actually do this and everything it entails. It's not like I haven't seen the government website. It's not like I haven't spoken to people who have done this exact route. It's not like I've not spoken to Russian friends and been given advice for along the way. It's not like I am taking all the steps to make sure my paperwork is without issue, to reduce any potential jobsworth...
I haven't seen ANY "advice" coming from any person who is simply calling me an idiot. It's opinions and posting the same stories, fear and links, which isn't advice.
I learned long ago that you only take advice from people living a life like your own, or one that you want, because I will never persuade anyone to see my perspective and nor is it worth my time in doing so. You have your views, I have mine. I respect the fact that people in this thread would not do this, or probably most of the things I would do, that's fine. I don't live that life.
You can all have your opinions and what you'd do. It simply is no doubt not the same as mine. I will respect your views, I'm not sure you'll ever be able to respect mine but I don't need you to validate me, I was purely sharing as it's an awesome adventure and some people enjoy that.
I can fully understand why it's annoying just getting a "don't do it" from someone who spent 30 seconds on Goggle and ignoring the fact you're not a total idiot and have put a not unsubstantial amount of work into planning it which is obviously going to have included looking at whether you're going to become Big Vlad's next tv puppet (because no ones daft enough to ignore that and big companies aren't going to put money/kit anywhere near it if they think that's the way it's going to go).
I got back from Russia yesterday.
You cannot enter Russia by road as a non-Russian citizen. Immigration is a pain in the ass now at the airport too, they check everything and often take you passport off you for an hour.
Have you even got a visa? or even looked into this properly?
After my trip in March I ended up having an hour interview with UK for the travel advice. they do those online things based on feedback of people travelling there. They dont send people to create the advice.
You cannot enter Russia by road as a non-Russian citizen. Immigration is a pain in the ass now at the airport too, they check everything and often take you passport off you for an hour.
Have you even got a visa? or even looked into this properly?
After my trip in March I ended up having an hour interview with UK for the travel advice. they do those online things based on feedback of people travelling there. They dont send people to create the advice.
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Soldato
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Why don't you just think of another exciting adventure that doesn't involve Russia, do that first, and then wait to do this one until the security situation improves? It sounds like you're not going to be able to get into Russia anyway.
Haha another Nasher classic. What risk is there just being English in Russia?
The border between Georgia and Russia is open. Long, slow, but open.
I don't have it yet, but I have looked into this and spoken to them about it.
I'm not going to tell you what to do with your life.
The Russian government is very anti-westerner right now, to the point of being dangerous. It's quite likely they just don't let you in or issue a VISA though.
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No, he's been in Russia... you know, the actual experience. Doing it. Not lapping up the **** everyone seems to love to.
But he is a nobody. If you go in there filming, attracting attention, have connections back to the UK government etc, you are taking a big risk.
I know people who grew up there, they have a much better idea of how things work and they wouldn't go back.
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