Way to Russia Talk Lounge

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

Hi all,

I am Ken from Hong Kong and I will be in Moscow for 2-3 days around 15 Nov.

I would like to have some guideline/directions about Moscow.

Please add me through ICQ (3160630) if you are living in Moscow and are willing to help. Thanks in advance.

Ken

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

I guess my request is a bit rude.

Anyway, hope someone could point me some directions here.

is it easy to travel around Moscow by Metro ? I want to take a look on those big shopping malls or big stores, with electrical appliances being sold, such as TV, hifi, dvd players.....etc. Any recommended places that could be easily accessed by Metro?

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 620 Location: Moscow

The Metro is very easy to navigate, read this. Most of Moscow is accessible by Metro. http://www.waytorussia.net/TalkLounge/viewtopic.php?t=7426

Moscow is a dreadful place to browse electronics. Many makes and models are sold here that are older than you would find in other countries; cameras and stuff that's all last year or the year before model. And twice what you'd pay for it in America.

Next question?

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

Thank you for the info. I will first read the link you provided first (tmr, as here is 2am), it sure will show me something I wanna know. Then I sure want to seek advices from you and/or any buddies here. Thanks.

bagel · Frequent Guest Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 29

Hello Ken,

Don't bother with buying electronics here as they are older and not competitively priced. For example, a Motorola v3i Razr Cell phone is about USD 284 here at a shop called ION. In India, last month I paid USD 200 for the same Motorola Razr cell model.

Same goes for widescreen LCDs or Plasma tvs. They are much cheaper in HK. I know because we moved from HK to Moscow this past year.

Everything is more expensive (perfumes, deodarants), and we don't find value for money. Another example is that a Chanel perfume that costs 40 euro in HK at SASA in HK is priced at about 90 euro at Arbat Prestige. This is supposed to be a discount shop.

Without knowing how to read Cyrillic, it can be tough initially to navigate the metro in Moscow. It is not as convenient as the HK metro, which I LOVE! Since there is no taxi culture here, you would have to take the metro.

Are you visiting for work or pleasure?

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Buy a phrasebook and study it before you arrive--that could come in handy sometimes. Print a metro map and you are ready to go.

Forget about shopping. If you are from Hong Kong you will be sorely disappointed.

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

overseas_expat
Nice link, definitely helps. That free "Passport" magazine would be my first priority. And the gloves point, it is life-saving !

bagel
My trip would be 70% work 30% pleasure. Browsing electronics, with the no-buy tip, will now be 100% work stuff left for me. Thanks, as I have no idea things there are so over-priced.

mediashark
I am afraid I barely have time to do some studying, this scares me as if I was one leg into the hell already. Sure I believe I need to print some map, as I don't know Cyrillic at all. I even not sure what Cyrillic is, I guess it is "Russian letter" from how you guys use it, just guessing.

As it is a must for me to take a wake in shops/malls/stores/whatever full of electronics, could anyone please help telling me which stations (3-4) would be good choices.
I will live in Hotel Ukraina, any metro nearby? what is the station name if yes?

You ppl already give me a nice idea regarding transportation by Metro, let me say thanks again first.

overseas_expat · VIP Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 620 Location: Moscow

For electronice overload, the best place in Moscow, bar none, is Gorbushka. It's a defunct soviet electronics factory that now houses 100 million kiosks selling all things electronic.

Light blue Metro line out to the station Bagrationovskaya. It's 4 stops out from the brown circle line. To find it, when you exit the train, follow the people. Everybody who gets off at that stop is going to Gorbushka. It's about 2 blocks away.

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

printed metro map, marked your suggestion. Thanks a lot.

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

How should I travel from SVO2 to DMD airport? I take quite a lot of things and maybe not possible to take bus-metro-bus way. How should I get a safe taxi and how much will that be?

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

I better post on the transport section Razz

MrYaag · Frequent Guest Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 34

I know this is off topic so sorry in advance!!!
Ken do you know any good places for a couple to spend new years in Hong Kong?

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17

Here don't has events which are special enough to be the key reason visiting HK in New year. People do celebrate, but not in the way like Chinese new year with firework, Year-end market, Chinese New Year Parade.....etc where you could taste the Chinese culture.

However, if HK by itself is worth visiting to you, having a trip in new year time does add some bonus, as everyone is relaxing and the atmosphere is more tempting. Of course the trip has to include the count-down (same case worldwide I guess).

ken144 · Frequent Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 17