Stanley: I recently (September 2004) visited my friends in
Veliky Novgorod, Russia and stayed in their flat for about
a week. There is a requirement to submit a entrance
document as well as an exit document upon departure.
The exit document must be stamped on the back to be valid.
My host in Novgorod took me to the local Russian
Government office to take care of the necessary exit stamp
and we were told that we must register at a local hotel
where they will affix the necessary stamp on the back of
my exit permit. The one night at a local hotel cost me 310
roubles for a room I did not need or use just to get the
required exit stamp.

I discussed this procedure with my host who just shrugged
and I understood that it does not make any sense but this
is Russia! It’s best to be forewarned for
tourists travelling to Russia. I had a Russian accompany
me on two trips to the local government office to
translate for me otherwise I would not have understood the
procedure to acquire the necessary stamp on my exit
permit. E-mail: Smsagara2@aol.com

Mac: Retired Military 81 year old Stanley Matachi Sagara
has passed on to me these military tips and experiences.
He has visited 66 countries. “I like to take capped
ball point pens when I travel. It protects ink from
accidentally soiling my shirt pocket (it ruined several
shirts before I switched). Someone is always lacking
a pen when its time to fill out arrival cards. I loan them
my ball point pen but retain the cap so that I have some
assurance of getting my pen returned. If not the borrower
will have an ink stain in HIS shirt pocket.

Carrying buttoned and folded clothes to eliminate wrinkles
in clear plastic zip lock bags makes it easy to locate an
item of clothing and makes it easy to pack and repack when
necessary. The air in these plastic bags kept his suitcase
afloat when his suitcase onetime fell in ocean but did not
sink. (In asking what travellers carry I find that zip
lock bags is one item that is mentioned again and again)
Sagara carries a suitcase with roller blade wheels with
nylon bearings the one type that is dependable for easy
movement over rough services.

He gave me a nylon bath body cloth that he likes. It is 14
inches wide and about '30 inches (l meter) long. It
removes dead skin and is invigorating, comes in hard,
medium and soft. He says it is long enough to scrub the
back completely without having to shower with a friend. In
Japan about US$6.00. In Taiwan and China for about half
that price. Since it is made of nylon it can be packed
damp in another one of those zip lock bags and it will not
mildew.

I did not get this from Sagara but read elsewhere that
some of the French policemen along Boulevard St Germain in
Paris are now on rollerblades (roller skates) and that all
trashcans in Paris are now plastic (zip lock?) bags.

Happy Travelling. Mac