Your Gateway To Real Ukraine
Seafood lovers have in the past had to suffer in the nation’s capital. Despite the fact that Ukraine borders two seas and can boast hundreds upon hundreds of kilometers of rivers, the people of the Steppe remain true to their traditional fare of meat and potatoes augmented with beets and mayonnaise.
Continue reading ‘Check out seafood dining options in the capital’
There are thousands of things Ukrainians should be proud of, though let me list just a couple…
The Bilbao Grand Slam of chess began September 1, 2008, and features world champion Viswanathan Anand facing off with number four seeded Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk in the first round. This match will be a test for the world champion Anand as the World Championship match next month will be against Vladimir Kramnik of Russia some time in October.
Ivanchuk is at the top of his game as he recently won the Tal memorial tournament, beating Kramnik. According to the live unofficial chess rankings, Ivanchuk is actually second in points behind Anand who has 2798 points to Ivanchuk’s 2787. Ivanchuk went on to also win a blitz tournament that was observed and enjoyed by guests that included well known celebrities.
Ivanchuk is tied with Magnus Carlesen of Norway, both men standing with 2787 points in the live rankings. Both men are looking to overthrow Anand and take the number position before the grand slam event is over with. Chess aficionados are expecting the Bilbao Grand Slam to be filled with interesting matched with these three men involved. Ivanchuk is considered a Grandmaster of the game, but has yet to win the World Chess Championship, the premier match of the chess playing world.
A short, swarthy man hits the dance floor at Arena, an upscale night club in the centre of Kyiv, on a summer night. He moves to the rhythm of the music and smiles encouragingly as he watches female hips gyrate a hand’s breadth away.
Continue reading ‘Ukraine is Thriving as a Sex Tourists’ Destination’
Record label Seasons of Mist, who tend to sign up and coming bands in Europe, has just announced that they have picked up Slavonic heathen metal band Drudkh. The band is best known for incorporating content about nature mysticism, philosophy, season, Ukrainian mythology, legends, and history into their lyrics. They are a folk-influenced and cinematic sounding band and some of their song lyrics are actually derived from the work of 19th and 20th century poets from Ukraine.
The band usually does not allow interviews or use the Internet as a promotional platform. The label has graciously accepted the bands policy of ‘no photos, no interviews, no website, no gigs’ policy and the only reason the information about Season of Mist picking up the band on its label was to silence false rumors going around that the band members have extreme political views. Anyone who has heard the band’s music is aware that these rumors are completely off base and do not represent the band, or their unique music. The band praises people’s individualism, self-improvement and estrangement from modern values but their political views are far from extreme.
Drudkh’s new album is due to be release early 2009. The title has not yet been decided. You can catch more about Drudkh’s at blackmetalowesyou.blogspot.com
If you are planning on spending some time in Ukraine, you may want to consider forgoing the use of a car and hiring a bicycle instead. Cycling has become a major recreational activity in the country, especially in the rural areas, and now mountain biking has taken off as a fun and enjoyable pastime. Additionally, fancy performance bicycles have popped up in the cities as more and more people are veering away from public transportation and owning their own vehicle. In Ukraine, you will find and can purchase for yourself bicycles from Giant, Specialized, Scott, Kona, and even Univega.
Be forewarned that if you are going to cycle in the city, there is little to no equipments or biking lanes designed for you. Some cities are beginning to accommodate cyclists more, but it is a slow moving effort so biking in the big cities and dealing with heavy traffic, car exhausts and just somewhat rude conditions, should be done at your own risk.
There are many parks and wild areas in Kiev that is bicycle friendly is you are looking for a way to get out and exercise and the rural areas of the country are perfect for a day trip with your bikes. Most bicycle rental firms will rent out bicycles for multiple days at a time.
You can find more information on cycling in Ukraine and other great activities at TryUkraine.com
If you only travel to one place in Ukraine, travel to Kiev, and take a look through the multitudes of different buildings and architectural marvels there. One of the simply most breathtaking places is Saint Sophia Cathedral, which, for nothing else, simply hums with spirituality and beauty. Regardless of how your religious beliefs lie, this place is a truly amazing – if a little pricy – architectural marvel.
Much of the original artwork is still exposed and available for the public to view, and what isn’t is being carefully restored and preserved by different restorers. At the risk of making some of these areas seem a little spotty, the ability to see truly original pieces is incredibly moving. You need to make sure that you hire an English guide beforehand, but the actual trip is incredibly moving, making this a must-see spot in Kiev, as well as the rest of Ukraine.
Well, I thought there are lots of scientists willing to get into my list… Though they all seem to be hiding from the Internet 
So I had to pick the greatest of my professors and push all my friends and surf the depths of the depths. So, there they are.
The Pidkamin ethno festival is happening this coming weekend July 25-27 in the Pidkamin village in the Lviv region. This great festival is just another weekend that will bring about a fun filled dose of Ukrainian fun. You will see live folk music set into the breath taking hills of the Lviv region.
The organizers of this festival are also behind several other festivals that have happened or will happen this summer. These organizers promise that the Pidkamin ethno festival will not only offer the beautiful Ukrainian music but will also hold true to the Ukrainian spirit which will be felt emanating from the stage.
Don’t have a babysitter to watch the children while you attend the festival? No problem! Bring the little 
ones with you and drop them off at the OpenBabyGarden which will provide child care along with offering the children music and fairy tales that will be told by the well known Ukrainian story teller, Sashko Limyk.
This is a festival you wont want to miss. For more information you can call (8067) 265-7630
Last summer I met a girl with lovely eyes and I got her phone number. Our first meeting was in a park, and I thought that was rather nice and that maybe next time she’d like to go to a bar or a restaurant. Continue reading ‘City’s best seat’
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