Pictures from Chernobyl

[Royk]

Was it just me or did her english start deteriorating as she went on?

Funny thing, as I read it today, I was thinking her English and spelling were better than 50% of the people who post at TDR and most other sites I visit. But today is the first time I've seen it. As someone said she may be proofreading it.



I found the kindergarten section a bit disturbing. Knowing the Soviet government, they probably told everybody things were fine. Life (including kindergarten) probably continued there for some time before people realized the danger, which by then was probably too late for many of them.



Roy

 

[loncray]

Holy smokes, that was disturbing. Alright, it's websites like that which make the Internet such a wonderful place to learn stuff you might never otherwise think about. She is an attractive young lady - and the checkpoint guys obviously agree! If we're lucky, someday she'll update that site with more photos.

 

[rrausch]

Spooky! Remarkable! She is a brave gal allright.

Thank you for posting this. It is one of the most enlightening things I have seen or read about Chernobyl.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I enjoyed the page so much...

I sent her a thank you letter on Monday. I told her the members of the TDR thank you. And feel free to add more pics.



Letter to Kiev, Ukraine . 80 Cents.



If she emails me or writes back I will post it.

 

[lpearson]

I too, want to thank you for posting this.



I was in the Republic of Georgia at Tbilisi in 1994. The buildings in the photos look exactly like the buildings in all of the former USSR. Grey crumbling concrete apartments/stores and old box type houses that looked like they were built in the 1910's.

As I viewed the scenes it brought back many memories.



She must be one of the newer rich. Most people don't own any vehicles, let alone a "hotrod bike". Many live day to day in the bread lines. (What I saw was just like the old man with the donkey cart). Howbeit, there are some areas that life is better, but for the most part it's not.



Average life expectancy is 54 for most city dwellers. There are very little amounts of medicines, my wife and I got food poisoning the first week there and all they had at the hospitle was sugar water.



Food is high$ and a daily task as very few had refrigerators and if they did they only had power for maybe an hour or two a day, sometimes we went 3-4 days without electricity, water was polluted/filthy and needed to be boiled to drink----- sometimes water wouldn't flow for days at a time, we stored what we could. Fuel is very $$$, crime is the norm. Every night outside our window we heard auto gun fire and explosions.



Many people around us died during the 4 months we were there. Most men drank every night until they were fall down drunk to forget their poverty and miserable lives. (Wine and strong drink were cheap and many made their own wine in fly invested vats.



80% unemployment, no schools, except for the Russian Moffia children, ---very little commerce is what my experience was. Communism was still very much alive and in control. From what I could gather, Russia let the countries go because of lack of funds, but the shadow governments left, are still run by the old order of Communists.



Where I was, many fledgling parties that opposed the "rule of government" were killed. Missionaries that spoke against the KGB or Government to loud were also killed. There are attorneys there but they are government stooges. If they get out of line, they may never be seen again. Most of them are starving also. No-one has any money to sue if they are wronged and even if they did there isn't any money to be won. (Again generally, Moscow and St. Petersburg and the like may be the exceptions)



Overall it was a terrible experience. I and my wife almost died. When we came back to Colorado, it was just like in a dream. We had a home, cars and food. It took several years to adjust and we still have reminders every once in a while -----------------------------------------

Like this post.



We're blessed to live in America.



Lowell

 

[jwdeeming]

Thanks for posting this. We are headed to the Ukraine this summer for two weeks and I've been trying to read as much as I can. This put a whole new perspective on things.



Jim

 

[lpearson]

Originally posted by jwdeeming

Thanks for posting this. We are headed to the Ukraine this summer for two weeks and I've been trying to read as much as I can. This put a whole new perspective on things.



Jim

Jim,

You're experience may be much different than mine. When we went, I too was gathering as much info as I could. The State Department in D. C. said that it was very dangerous and did not recommend that we go. That was in 1993.



There was more order in 1994 and that's when we went. I don't know about the Ukraine but I did get to know about Georgia. Communism is a horrible system of government for the masses. I believe you'll see like I did, greats amount of poverty and society quite different than ours.



It would be almost unthinkable for any of them to even dream of owning a Dodge Cummins. Most vechiles over there are Lada's, it's like a 1963 Fiat. They also copied the 1951 Chevy Belair. If you see one you'll know what I mean.



If you are going to a bigger city, transportation is mainly by Metro's (subways), and diesel buses. Most people don't know what barter is, but it is possible to get rides and negoitate the fee. Be careful of the water, only drink bottled liquids. Be careful of eating raw pork in foods that they prepair. We almost died from that. Bring your own medicines.



Depending where you are, shopping is an experience, there are no malls, supermarkets, grocery store etc. Most are big open markets like you may see in Mexico. Deceit is common place, if they can cheat you, they will, and society thinks that is admirable. Banks have been known to be cheat people out of their money. Stay with subs of larger banks like Citi Bank and other U. S. banks. American dollars run these countries more than the rubals. Exchange rates change radically sometimes overnight. ---------- This is important*******



Go to your Bank and bring only brand new bills, there is so much counterfieting that merchants will only accept new bills with the magnetic strips. One dollar bills are wonderful for tips. Most only see they larger 20$, 50$ and most common 100$ bills. I bought some things and had 5$ and they almost didn't take because they had never seen them before. Other U. S. bills that are not crisp and wrinkled are worthless, in fact it is good to always get the best shape local bills you can. When you enter the country you will have to declare all of your money that you have.



There are (was) no credit card systems, so those won't work, also no checking, however if you get to an American Bank sub, like Citi Bank you can cash a check, travelers check and the like. This is the only place you can and it may take 14 days to have the funds exchanged. Society only runs on "cash". We used money belts.



You will get robbed or murdered if you flash cash around. - it may be even the police who do it. So dress down, leave your jewlery, wedding bands, watches (almost no one has a watch), anything that draws attention to your self.



If you are going with a large group, these things will not be as important, but if just by yourself or a small group, I would recommend caution at all times never let your guard down.



Sorry for rambling but I'm trying to think of all the things I can to help out a fellow TDR member.



Sincerely,

Lowell Pearson

 

[jwdeeming]

Lowell,

Wow - thanks for all the info. We are going on what some people call a "short term missions trip". Basically it's two weeks of project work helping missionaries who specifically work with orphanages there. They've been doing it for a few years so the travel arrangements are pretty set. Hopefully that means we'll avoid some of the travel hassels you described.

Jim

 

[lpearson]

Originally posted by jwdeeming

Lowell,

Wow - thanks for all the info. We are going on what some people call a "short term missions trip". Basically it's two weeks of project work helping missionaries who specifically work with orphanages there. They've been doing it for a few years so the travel arrangements are pretty set. Hopefully that means we'll avoid some of the travel hassels you described.

Jim

God Bless you for helping these people out. The need is so great that it's overwhelming. Birth control over there for the most part is abortion. No pills or ??? I knew women that had had over 30 abortions. The poor children born into the world there that end in orphanages are nothing like our orphanages.



Should be a life changing event for you---for the better. Our prayers will be with you as you are doing something for others that they in no way can every repay. ---- And you are living your faith and beliefs instead of talking it. (James 1:14-17)



Regards,

Lowell

 

[ropinfool2]

I would like to comment that I thought the story was excellent. I, of course, have heard of Chernobyl but really didn't know anything about it. I love History and this was awesome information about a horrible tragedy. I am excited to learn the truth but am very sad as to the results. I found the kindergarten pictures very troubling as I have a daughter in Kindergarten, makes you think! This has changed me, I would also like to contact the young lady and give her my thanks. So I think I will send her a letter also. John

 

[HEMI®Dart]

ropin,



If you are gonna send a letter to Elena, write the address on the envelope like this:



Elena

Post Box 25

Zabolotnogo 20/A

Ukraine 03187 Kiev-187



I had to correct mine at the PO.

 

[CORed]

My family and I read thru the site...



"WOW" and "Incredible" and "Eerie" and "Scary" all wrapped up.



Very good photo-mentary. Must be a very independent and bright girl to do what she did.

 

[ropinfool2]

Thanks HemiDart, That helps a lot. John

 

[michigandon]

She just added another section about her bike. Check this out!



http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/garage1.html

 

[EastCoast2500]

I was late for work because I couldn't stop reading through her site. I have to know more now. Incredible stuff.



I lived in Moscow 1995-1996. Moscow is very different from the rural areas. I got to see St. Petersburg and some outlying areas. There is so much culture in Russia that it would take years to experience it all (if it's possible at all). I would love to go back to visit, but it is not somewhere you want to go without being able to speak the language.

 

[dslmacdown]

Today is the anniversary of the accident. I found this page to check out. Chernobyl Page



Chris

 

[Iwant1]

Originally posted by dslmacdown

Today is the anniversary of the accident. I found this page to check out. Chernobyl Page



Chris

Something we can't imagine and I pray we'll never have to. God bless those people.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

There is some talk the the Chernobyl page is not as it would seem.



http://www.uer.ca/forum_showthread.asp?fid=1&threadid=8951

 

[rrausch]

Who knows. I tend to trust the girl who put up the website more than the "legal Director" of some Soviet Bureaucracy, who would be in more of a position to want to lie about it and brush Chernobyl under the rug.



To me, the pictures tell the story in a direct way, more so than the girl's claims of riding solo through the place, although the idea of riding solo through the dead zone sure gives it a spooky feeling.



I hope she has not been shipped to Siberia! That certainly would have happened in the old days before the USSR crumbled. Or else she would have been forced to become the sex slave of some Soviet Bigwig, or else she just would have gotten a bullet in the head.



She is a brave girl whatever the truth is.

 

[Proram]

I did reread her site after i read the "claim" on the link. one thing i notice is she says "We" more than once, so there was somebody along at least part of the time and the pic's of her we prob. taken by that person also. Prob. just write by somebody a little jelous of her Fame. still a great site/story.



Scott