MOSCOW ( 2-5 February 08 )

As promised long ago :P, here's a long overdued post on my Moscow trip before CNY.

It's been almost a year since my last Moscow trip back in March 2007. Wanted to stay in the hotel during my 2.5 days there initially but the great company and weather made me revisit the attractions again. No doubt nothing have changed but I really enjoyed this trip...thanks to the great company I had.

View outside my hotel room...White Moscow...the 2 buildings in the background were the Olympic Stadium and the Olympic Aquatic Center.

Since Roy & I did not manage to go to the Weekend Flea Market with the rest of our colleagues due to insufficient seats on the free shuttle van provided by the hotel, we met up with Melissa and had a helluva time taking pics and playing with the snow outside our hotel. The snow was really nice, thick and cool but the fact that we were not wearing the appropriate footwear made our movement kinda of difficult... Our feet were wet after stepping onto the thick white snow and we gotta be extra careful with every step we took while walking on the streets as it were damn slippery. I nearly fell a few times during the less than 400 metres walk. Not a joke if you really fall.

That's how cold Moscow was during my stay...look at the way the water from the drainage pipe froze.

Walked past this local open makeshift wet market while on our way to the metro station. Decided to explore a little before proceeding to our destination. Kinda crowded and freezing cold. Really salute to those stall holders who have to endure the cold in the open for hours ! Earning Money isn't easy eh.

Frozen Ducks...thanks to the weather.

Cured/smoked fish and meat plus fish roe

A very unique & different stall selling vegetables and fruits. Love the expression on her face.

Very nice hats made out of rabbit, arctic fox fur etc. It's really warm when you don on them.

Melissa trying her 1st bite on a curry puff lookalike snack she bought...it's very nice though.

Metro Station

Heard that metro underground stations were all beautiful and unique with different architectural designs.

The names of the stations in Russian. It can be frustrating trying to figure out where we were for we got to compare symbol by symbol in each word.

Guess the metros were very deep underground. The escalators were all so long and it can easily take a few minutes to get from the top to the bottom. Plus the escalators were those old school types with the steps made out of wood. Interesting.

Where shall we head ? Time to ask around again.

It's so happen that we hopped onto this train that was so old. Look at the interior...it's like those in the 1970s.

Souvenir shops lining 'Apbatskaya' (not sure of its spelling, furthermore its in Russian).

Meet the very famous man who appeared on TV and magazines for his beautiful handmade Russian Dolls. Many said he looks like Santa Claus and so he made a Russian Doll that resemble him (the one he was holding). In order to take pictures with him, you got to make a purchase first.

RED SQUARE

A makeshift Ice Skating rink that were set up in

The World famous St Basil Cathedral...Beautiful with some snow at its 'onions' shaped dome.

The back view of the Cathedral with the morning sun shining directly on it.

Look the snow in this park located next to Red Square

KREMLIN

One thing about travelling in Moscow, everywhere is in Russian and the local speak little or nil English and so it can be quite a challenge to navigate around. Be honest, maybe we do not know how to appreciate Russian food, it's McDonald all the way during our stay there...haha. All in all, I quite like Moscow and wouldn't mind going there again.