From: bwood@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (William Wood)
Subject: Re: Touring Russia and Thailand
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 20:20:00 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.134507.9780@research.nj.nec.com>, shm@syl.nj.nec.com writes...
>My brother is planning to go from JFK to Bombay and would like to stop by
>Moscow while going and Thailand while comming back. He is a student and
>does not care about comforts or if the schedule gets messed when flights
>get delayed (alas! what a luxury!!). 
> 
>Can someone suggest a cheaper alternative such as Standby or Cargo tkts?
>Also would appreciate any tips about sight seeing and touring in the former
>Soviet Union and Thailand.
> 
>Thanks in advance!
>Shailendra Majmundar (shm@syl.nj.nec.com)



<*>  As far as Moscow goes:

    1).  try to get your rubles on the street and not in the regular
         exchange circles (i.e. banks, hotels, etc).  When I got an
         exchange at (below mentioned) the Hotel/bank, the exchange 
         rate was 70 rubles to the dollar (this was last March).
         I got 90 rubles to the dollar, when I exchanged them in
         the 'black market'  (on the street).

    2).  Don't attempt to cash those Amex travel checks on days other
         than Wednesday.  Don't ask me why the jerks at Amex have this
         set-up this way.  It's just what I had to stumble on when I
         was there and needed cash.  I finally went to some Hotel 
         (where a lot of journalist stay.  I forgot it's name) and
         they cashed my traveler checks.

     3). Take plenty of used bluejeans and slightly used tennis
         shoes.  You'll find many locals that will give you the
         world for them in and around red square.  One nice (as they
         go) place to stay near red square is called The Minsk Hotel.
         It's about six blocks from red square.  

     4). Be sure not to photograph someone (if they see you) unless
         they say it's alright.  They're funny about this.

     5). Try to find an excuse to say thank you..often!  It is 
         pronounced: Spa see ba  (Spa, just like the fitness place)
         They really get-off on knowing you have manners that show
         you care.

      6). Don't be surprised if they request your coat every place
          you enter (i.e. restaurant, museum, hotel lounge, bank).
          this is quite normal for them.  You may even show how
          well groomed you are by offering it to them first.

       7). You'll find many places and things of interest right in
           the neighborhood of red square.  The Bolshoi ballet is
           right around the corner from red square.

       8). Try to steer clear of the Moscow Train station.  It's 
           filled with (what's referred to as) gypsy's.  I went
           through this rain station on my way to St Petersburg.
           I witnessed a lot of pick pocketing, and harassment of
           passerbys for 'spare change'.  And you never knew if 'you'
           were going to be their next 'object of enticement'.

        9) I was also impressed with their Metro (subway).  Here
           again, be careful to keep your belongings close to you.
           In spite of my instructions to a fellow college student
           to wear a long (I SAID LONG) winter coat, and keep things
           like camera, back pockets, purse concealed, she elluded my
           advice, and had her camera stolen """3""" times.  The 2nd
           time it happened she cried.  The first time it happened
           we took up a collection for her to purchase another camera.
           The third time it happened..I laughed at her.  It gets to
           a point folks, where stupidity becomes intolerable, even
           amoungst people you care about!

     Good luck, and if you feel so compelled, e-mail me with the
outcome of your excursion.  Best regards.  Bill