Yuzhno - Week 2 - Snowing..

Japanese museum on Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.


Snowfall picture taken from my hotel room.. with flash, that explains why the background is dimmed.

Another shot taken without flash 30 minutes later.


Taken from the car while going out for lunch.


View from Sakhalin-centre office window.


The first picture is taken, to show how a bridal car looks like in Yuzhno, the second shows how one looks like after 30 minutes of snowfall.

Yuzhno - Week 2

The flowers of autumn days
Are sweeter than the firsts of plains.
For they awaken an impression,
That’s strong, although it may be sad,
Just as the pain of separation
Is stronger than the sweet of date.
(The flower of autumn days)


Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin, the greatest Russian poet and founder of modern Russian literature. Also known as the Shakespeare of Russia.



This is the shakespeare of.... no, this is me.








This is part of the path back to the hotel.







1 metre high snow?









Cinema, art gallery, and cafe.










This is the busy part of Lenin street.

Yuzhno - Week 1 - Food for thought

Decided to try out this Japanese restaurant at Gagarin hotel..
octopus...








My favourite scallops..










King crab fried rice.











Some veil soup at the Marquis











This is my first grapefruit juice after Beijing. Not sure how does grapefruits looked like in Beijing, but the juice sure taste and looked different.









Rainbow trout with king crab.

Yuzhno - Week 1 - Victory Square

Took a good 45 minute walk to this place.









Russian Orthodox church










A cafe by the lake









Bought this green tea(with Ginseng and honey) on the way back.

Yuzhno - Week 1 - The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Zoo

The only wolf in the zoo.









The poor three-legged wolf hopping around.











The zoo.








Feeding the animals is allowed.








Looked like a camel?









Curious snake coming towards me.









More snakes.








Baby caimans








Poisonous frog








Up close and personal with the python.








The Sakhalin bear

Yuzhno - Week 1 - Sunday #1

Its a nice sunny sunday morning, so decided to visit the Gagarin park nearby the hotel. Found this at one of the entrance of the park.










View of a small lake just outside the hotel, by the park.

Around the park..








Somewhere in the park, looks like a small cafe.








Saw this place the day before while passing by the in car, got so excited that I can even remember how to get here walking. Unfortunately, its closed during winter.

Ferries wheel from the nearby theme park... on a sunny day.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Week 1 - Dinner with PI team

Sergey suggested we go for the nicest Jap restaurant in Yuzhno, so we took a 10 minutes walk in the cold weather.. to this restaurant nearby Lenin st. Started with this Plum red wine.

First serving..

Some Salmon..

Eel

The PMs from SEIC.

My dessert... yes, its pudding.

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Week 1 - Friday 13th

Asiana Business class costs more but definitely have some significant difference. This is the in-flight starter and appetizer, the Asiana business lounge is better than the Korean Air lounge too.







15 minutes from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk airport.








Frozen sea below. Arrive on the Russian soil on a Friday 13th, hope that doesn't mean much.









Glad the hotel is quite normal with a place to do some work.