Russia & Dubai : Day 1 & 2 (28 - 29 Apr 06)

Russia is a new tour location for Singapore as Singapore Airline only establish the route on 1 Mar 2006. It is very costly, with Visa cost, War Risk, Fuel Surcharge, service charges etc, also due to the fact I will be staying by myself (SG$500 extra for that). Well, I seldom take holiday, might as well as enjoy the best of it.

To my surprise, this is a very big tour group, normal tourists is around 62, excluding around 15 doctors on incentive tour.

On Day 1, 28 Apr 06 (Friday), I flow from Singapore to Moscow via Dubai by SQ376, starting on 10pm and reach Moscow on the next day around 7.45am, the flight is around 14 hrs in total, excluding the transit wait at Dubai, the time difference is 4 hrs slower than Singapore. As usual, the travel agency uses flight at late night to consider one day.

On Day 2, 29 Apr 06 (Saturday), I arrived in Moscow, Russia. The airport is Domodedovo International Airport. The Russia custom is EXTREMELY slow, they can use 15 minute on a person. With such as big group, time is wasted. Schedule of the tour was delay by at least 2 hours. So, instead of going for the tour immediately, we set off for lunch first.


Moscow, being a in-between for Eastern Europe and Asia, have food more like western food but with much more vegetable. In my view, more healthy, why not?


After Lunch, we visit the Kremlin. Kremlin (Кремль) is the Russian word for "fortress", "citadel", or "castle" and refers to any major fortified central complex found in historical Russian cities. Refer to here for more info. We enter from the flower tower (the low white tower on the left), The majestic tower in red on the right is Trinity Tower. There are 22 towers in Kremlin, but not all are named. There are 5 entrances, and this is the main entrance for tourists, also the only 1 tower that is not inside the fortress.


Within Kremlin, there are a lot of buildings from different era, due to damage and rebuilt. The photo shows 2 interesting sight in Kremlin. One being the biggest cannon that never fired and the biggest bell that never ring.

within Kremlin, and it is a common place for wedding photos.



The most famous church there being the assumption church. The Kremlin is a big place. After visit the major attractions, we left.






Outside the entrance, is the hugh National Library of Moscow.





Next, we visit the highest point in Moscow, the University of Moscow. This building is one of the seven skyscrapers in Moscow, and it sure look Majestic.



After dinner, we checkin at the famous Ukraine Hotel. If may be famous, but in my opinion, the room quality is only so-so.

P.S: I am no expert on History of Russia or Christianity, so pardon me to add links for the correct history as I do not want misled you.