Interesting day out in Belarus. Diesel prices snakes and Chinese tourists

[billym]

We are in Poland and availed ourselves of the visa free access to Belarus ( on bikes ) through the primeval forest.
Our first concern was the Polish border guard happily wishing us good luck as we went over to the other side. The Belarus guy was just as miserable as we expected.

After 25 km of cycling on tarmac roads through the forest we came to a small town( as far as we were allowed to go) It was a dour drab place with a shop and small car boot sale.

We turned round and went to a cafe at the entrance to the forest. No internet. No google translate. Only Russian spoken No idea what to order and ended up with a nice meal for 2 pounds each.

Diesel was 50 p a litre. No wonder the Germans enjoy motorhoming in Belarus.

While at the cafe, which to us was as remote as you may want to get, two minibusses turned up with......Chinese tourists. Cameras out. Selfies. More pictures.

From there we went to meet Father Frost at a rather nice place ( for kids ) in the middle of the forest. Anyway he was very nice and gave us a present. The only bad thing about this fairy tale land was the real life snakes slithering around.

All a bit biizarre but I have two questions.

How do you drive in a country when you have absolutely no idea what ANY signs say?

Is there ANY place on earth safe from selfie taking Chinese tourists?

 

[pappajohn]

Is there ANY place on earth safe from selfie taking Chinese tourists?

China...... Those who can afford cameras and foreign holidays are abroad taking selfies so China is devoid of camera wielding Chinese selfie takers.

 

[Figaro]

Is there ANY place on earth safe from selfie taking Chinese tourists?

It seems not !

Same goes for the Japanese

 

[billym]

Chinese Japanese or any other nationals I have no problem with.....it's the selfie phenomena that winds me up.

 

[DBK]

Chinese Japanese or any other nationals I have no problem with.....it's the selfie phenomena that winds me up.

So, no photos of your adventurous jaunt then?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Can't understand why a selfie is always taken at an angle of around 45 degrees
Is it to make the viewer think you have very tall friends.

And why do young women suck their cheeks in so they look like Auschwitz survivers.

 

[Lenny HB]

Chinese Japanese or any other nationals I have no problem with.....it's the selfie phenomena that winds me up.

The Chinese that really bug me, you are just framing a photo of a nice view and they stand right in front of you to get there selfi grrrr.

 

[busby]

The Chinese that really bug me, you are just framing a photo of a nice view and they stand right in front of you to get there selfi grrrr.

I like The Chinese that run restaurants,,,,BUSBY

 

[Just smiffy]

When at Plitvice lakes I punched a Chinese tour guide in the guts when he rested himself on the back of my wheelchair tipping me over....

All over Croatia they were like ants.....

 

[busby]

Chinese Japanese or any other nationals I have no problem with.....it's the selfie phenomena that winds me up.

Its the I LOVE MYSELF SYNDROME,,,,BUSBY.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[P Jones]

We are in Poland and availed ourselves of the visa free access to Belarus ( on bikes ) through the primeval forest.
Our first concern was the Polish border guard happily wishing us good luck as we went over to the other side. The Belarus guy was just as miserable as we expected.

After 25 km of cycling on tarmac roads through the forest we came to a small town( as far as we were allowed to go) It was a dour drab place with a shop and small car boot sale.

We turned round and went to a cafe at the entrance to the forest. No internet. No google translate. Only Russian spoken No idea what to order and ended up with a nice meal for 2 pounds each.

Diesel was 50 p a litre. No wonder the Germans enjoy motorhoming in Belarus.

While at the cafe, which to us was as remote as you may want to get, two minibusses turned up with......Chinese tourists. Cameras out. Selfies. More pictures.

From there we went to meet Father Frost at a rather nice place ( for kids ) in the middle of the forest. Anyway he was very nice and gave us a present. The only bad thing about this fairy tale land was the real life snakes slithering around.

All a bit biizarre but I have two questions.

How do you drive in a country when you have absolutely no idea what ANY signs say?

Is there ANY place on earth safe from selfie taking Chinese tourists?

yes try CADER IDRIS. =CORRIS UCHAF for a start.barr ing in mind. the sheep dont mind ps.
take your wellys, ok pj

 

[Reallyretired]

Completely stupid people taking pictures of themselves. Don't they know what they look like. The only selfie I have taken is for my passport.
I recall one spot with a beautiful view, and a fat tourist was taking a picture of it totally obscured by his ugly mug and those of his grossly obese wife and daughter. I really can't see the point.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

The Chinese that really bug me, you are just framing a photo of a nice view and they stand right in front of you to get there selfi grrrr.

Happens all the time. No manners whatsoever and no sense of personal space. They simply push you out of the way to get their shot.

 

[jockaneezer]

I recall one spot with a beautiful view, and a fat tourist was taking a picture of it totally obscured by his ugly mug and those of his grossly obese wife and daughter.

Oi, that picture hangs proudly over our mantle piece I'll have you know !

 

[Lenny HB]

A selfi no doubt. ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[golly]

Oi, that picture hangs proudly over our mantle piece I'll have you know !

Yes, you use it to keep the kids away from the fire!

 

[Scrumpy]

I was in the services on the m5 in a the ladies when the door to cubicle opened and 3 Chinese ladies took selfies with one of them perched on the throne, unbelievable ?
Have absolutely no time for them, they have zero interest in anybody other than themselves.

 

[billym]

So, no photos of your adventurous jaunt then?

Bit late. We have lost a lot of pictures but here are a few.

 

[pappajohn]

Wouldn't have thought a stick that big would be needed for the stubborn ones.

 

[jongood]

Happens all the time. No manners whatsoever and no sense of personal space. They simply push you out of the way to get their shot.

Tbf they probably only have 10 minutes to see the whole city before they are on the coach to the next box to be ticked. Their tours seem particularly manic.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Tbf they probably only have 10 minutes to see the whole city before they are on the coach to the next box to be ticked. Their tours seem particularly manic.

Doesn’t excuse bad manners though

 

[TerryL]

Tbf they probably only have 10 minutes to see the whole city before they are on the coach to the next box to be ticked. Their tours seem particularly manic.

I once did a "tour of Scotland" with a coach party of Chinese. I picked them up in Glasgow 10.30 am on Saturday, overnighted at Inverness and dropped them at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday in Edinburgh! The tour guide had to keep waking them up to see the sights as we flashed past them!