A journey to Russia is one of my dream in life, not many
Indonesian put Russia on their travel destination list, though this country is
well known among Indonesian society but the issue of communism which connecting
the history of the country with Russia has a terrible experience in the past.
In the eyes of most Indonesian people Russia is cold and mysterious country, in
other hand this fact makes me curious. Discover and figure out how Russia
nowadays it was so tempted. Finally at the end of 2010 on 21nd of December the
time has come, i fly to Moscow the capital city of Russia, seems like the dream
is nearly come true. Geographically Russia is unique, has a similarity with
Turkey, Located in the border between Asia and Europe which directly inherit
both culture and values. Qatar airways
that fly me landed safely and sound in Domodedovo airport 21th December around
7.30 local time, it was snowy and little bit windy at that time, I
am amazed by the view for this is my first winter's
experience, to see the snow in real it just wonderful. The experience at
immigration gate nearly makes me feels what people says about Russia it might
true, there is no smile, nor welcome
greets, barely no words comes out from the officer's mouth except “ok next”.
But the feeling is not last for long, the smile from my girlfriend family's
driver named Vladimir who pick me up at the airport with my name written in the
paper board on his hand sweep away all the negative atmosphere. Vladimir drive
me to Moscow State University where my girlfriend's family lives, her father is
a professor and lecturer in Geographic faculty at Moscow State University. MSU
is a largest and oldest university in Russia. It was made in 1755 by Ivan
Shuvalov and Mikail Lomonosov. The building itself that we can see now was
built in 1949 in the Stalin period of time. It was the tallest building in
Europe until 1988. The central tower is 240m high, it has 36 stories. It is
flanked by four huge wings of student and faculty accommodations. Approx.
contain a total of 33 kilometers of corridors and 5,000 rooms. There are seven
more similar building around Moscow city built during Stalin period of time,
but MSU building is the biggest and the most beautiful one among others. I am
lucky stayed at one of the historical building in Russia. A journey to Russia
that time was so enjoyable, there are few big day during my trip to celebrate
in Moscow. Christmas and New year are the major celebration and especially
about Christmas day, Russia is not like many others countries who celebrate
Christmas on 25th of December, they Celebrate Christmas at 7th of January which
is the same date with my birthday, which makes the day become more special to
me.
For a birthday present Sergey, my girlfriend brother give us
itinerary to explore Moscow in such a way to discover Moscow and get to know the history of Russia from
a different point of view. There are so many fabulous places beside the great
kremlin which full with history. Izmailovsky park one of the places that it’s
on the list. Have been occupied by Chinese people for many years but now no
more the rumors said that they got a problem with Putin. There is art market where you can buy painting
and most of Russian souvenirs from hand painted matryoshka nesting dolls,
Lomonosov porcelain to a piece of jewelry shawls. If you manage to walk around you can see the
miniature of St. Basil with butterflies which some people found it as strange
unification.
Take a short walk from the Luzhniki Sports Stadium, in a
tranquil southern suburb of Moscow, inside a bend in the Moscow River the red
and white walls with golden domes of Novodevichy
is standing strong. This one of the most attractive monasteries in Moscow many
famous Russian are buried here. On the corner there is one beautiful tower
called Sophia tower where people make usually make a wish there or even write
down their prayers on the wall. On the Luzhkov bridge in the down town known as a "bridge of love" its a place where most the newlyweds come locking a padlock and throwing away the key to symbolize their eternal love. The Tretjakov Gallery is just five minutes walks from the bridge where you can see few famous Russian painting, "three bears" is one of them.
Opening lyric of the song called "wind of
change" by Scorpion say "i follow the Moskva down to Gorky park"
this exactly the song that i played on and on in my mind while I walked through
the Krymsky bridge on the way to Gorky park, the famous amusement park where
most of the Moscow's youngster gathered. In winter time most of the activities
here are connected to the snow, most of people do ice skating.
In the other night with my girlfriend we decided to visit
one last private house in the down town of Moscow near the red square. We got
this information from her brother, but he has no idea who lives there, nobody
knows. It’s almost 8.30 pm when walked that dark narrow alley, there are few
old broken car parked it looks like an abandon area. The house is looks quite
old made by concrete and woods surrounded by some broken furniture, I can say
the scenery just like in a horror
movie. At front the house we're
discussed whether we should press the bell
or just leave. My girlfriend suggested us to leave, she said in Russian
culture is not common to go to someone's house if you don't know the owner but
I insist. I am just curious who is the owner, and have a talk if it’s possible.
Fifteen minutes later after three times pressed the bell finally there are
three person comes out from the house and two more came from the backyard one
of them bring an axe on his hand, that was pretty scary to be honest, I just thoughts that I was made a wrong
decision. Soon after my girlfriend talk with them the situation is not as bad
as I thoughts. The owner is a teacher, he inherits the house from his
grandparents and the house itself has a unique history. To have the ownership
of the house they have been fights in the international court, now the
government no longer harassing the presence of the house, and about the guy
with an axe he just finish his work and came to join the discussion. This part
is one of the excite experience for me.
As we know Moscow is one the expensive city in the world,
and its concerning the place for living and the location as well. Government have a policy about the ownership
of private property, beside the price is extremely high. So having a private
house in Moscow is almost impossible, most people lives in the flat or
apartment even they are wealthy and rich family, it just totally different than
Jakarta the capital city of Indonesia where you can have a private house in
downtown as big as u want as long as you can afford it.
In the other night, after walking around Moscow downtown i
have chance to watch the classical music performance from Austria at Novaya
Opera Theatre of Moscow, it's another gift from my Russian friends whom I ever
host in during their trip to Indonesia. If Austria is famous with their
classical music composers, Russia is outstanding with their literature. From
early 1830's Russian literature underwent an astounding golden age, beginning
with the poet Alexander Pushkin and culminating in two of the greatest
novelists in world literature Leo Tolstoy Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The second
generation that shine after that, led by Prosaists Anton chekov and Maxim Gorky
and in the 20th century the leading figures and world class poets increase even
more.
The rest of journey
in Russia I have a chance to visit Vladimir the ancient city in Russia,
about 100 years older than Moscow, tried the traditional sauna called “banya”, jump into the snow naked when the temperature
is – 27 it was extraordinary. The more I look closer and live with Russian, the
more I felt the warm heart and generosity behind their cold appearance I would
like to conclude all in what Alexander Pushkin write about the winter:
Through the cool and wavy hazes
Cuts the moon her slow way;
On the glades of sadness, endless,
Her distressing light she spays.
The exhausting winter road
Leads the troika, full of strength;
The light bell with one tone loaded,
Weary rings through all time’s length.
One can hear something native
In the coachman’s long songs –
Or a revel, superlative,
Or a soul’s sadness, strong.
Nor a light nor a dark house –
Wild and snow… On my way,
Just the striped versts arouse
And, this moment, run away
