... in response to Bueno - on your Barnaul thoughts,  Mr. O..., posted by BURKE89 on Apr 9, 2003

The highest peak in the Altay Mountains is about 14770 feet (Mt. Belukha).  There are numerous peaks above 13000 feet.  I went skiing in the Altay's south east of Barnaul in January/February 2002.  It is a beautiful area and has been desigated a "World Heritage Site".  The Lonely Planet Guide to Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus has a decent section on the Altay Mountains

... in response to Re: Bueno - on your Barnaul thoughts,  M..., posted by Philb on Apr 10, 2003

Do tell more of Barnaul or the surrounding region, if you would be so kind.

It's fascinating; if only, to pull a couple of 'tricks' & historical 'truths' out, prior to arrival.

Vaughn

... in response to Bueno - on your Barnaul thoughts,  Mr. O..., posted by BURKE89 on Apr 9, 2003

Burke - you definitely have a well educated sense of humor - I am not sure I am smart enough to pull out all of the jokes from your post - but I'll try to answer the questions...

The Altai mountains are much more similar to the Appalacians - so the guys out in Colorado would just laugh at them - then again, they do get alot of snow in the winter.  The only humans I saw when I was there was our team ie. no bandits, nobody if you have a problem as well - unless you have a radio and know who to call.  Think about it: -25 to -35, and that is in early March - who in their right mind is going to be playing around out there?  OK, short term projects are an exception - as well as the ski resort areas - which were not in the location I was working on this trip.  They do have high quality sanitarium's plus ski resorts in the Altai region - but like I mentioned above, different part.  

You definitely hit it on the head ie. definitely not sterotypical Aspen / Moscow mentality - pure goodness, as far as I am concerned ie. people who work, children brought up learning the difference between right and wrong, women taught how to be ladies, women taught how to cook etc., people who look out for each other with traditional (here is the slant - Russian) values.  I submit to you that the traditional Russian values are much more similar to traditional American values than the typical American Women you see operating today.  You have a remote chance to find women like that in small town America - forget about the American city girls (there could be an exception to my rules, but I am talking generalities). In fact, women from that region are almost idealic - like I said, if you can find one who loves you from that region - you can not go wrong.  Why the heck do I go all over the place looking for women in Russia? - A.  Stupidity; B. I am a sucker for the pretty girl on the internet; C. I like to go to different regions to see for myself; D.  I like to go to places with friends (Right now my best Russian non-working friends are in Sochi - so I may visit them during my next trip - though Sochi women in general can not hold the coffee cups when it comes to values, in general of the South Siberian region girls) - from my experience, no girls I have met in Russia have as good values as the South Siberian women.

I hate to make this analogy, but when people visit America - where do you tell them to go to see typical Americans?  You do not tell them to go to San Francisco, New York or Miami - that is for sure.  Think of the same thing in Russia.  Don't you think you would be better off directing foreigners to the smaller cities in the midwest / west / south like your Columbus, Ohio's Lincoln, Nebraskas etc.  than Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia?  I know I am getting a bit simplistic and overgeneralizing, but I think you get the picture I am trying to convey.

Biisk is far from Kazan.  However, the best fishing in the region is in Kazan - and these guys like to fish and hunt, so when they really want to get big fish, who give you a nice bit of a fight - they go to Kazan.  

I have nothing bad to say about Phoebe Cates (nor am I sure who she even is?).  The Hawks have a chance, the Rangers are doomed.    

Politics are a mistake for me to start talking about.  However, the people in the Siberian region are much more agreeable to policies that make sense than ones that do not.  Make no mistake about it, they are Russian patriots.  However, they are smart enough to realize that people can not control the government, but respect strength, honesty and clarity in politics.  I submit to you that they would be excellent Americans if given the opportunity.

... in response to Sense of Humor, posted by Bobby Orr on Apr 10, 2003

[This message has been edited by Cold Warrior]

sounds like the family values we are looking for. What are the girls like, I had the impression that Southern Siberia had more Asian...Chinese like features.Not that I mind, one of my best girlfriends was Japanese.