• June 10, 2013

Moscow calling

Moscow calling

150 150 Dr Sriya Chakravarti

Russland or Russia has always been a point of interest for me. I was given my pet name Misha after the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games mascot. Boneym’s song ‘Ra Ra Rasputin’ was my favorite dancing number while growing up, and being a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, I always wanted to do the “MJ step” of Black or White at the Red Square when I got a chance….and then fast forward a few years, the chance got to me.

At the end of the academic work semester, I decided to tour out Russia. Since, it was just opening up to the world after one of the harshest winters. I flew through Doha onto Moscow’s Domodedovo airport via Qatar air. Two cities of Russia have always fascinated me the most, among many, Moscow being one of them. I shall write about the other (St. Petersburg) soon.

Moscow is also known as Moscova or Mockba. I stepped on the Mockba soil around 1330 hours. The temperature in Moscow was around 16 degrees Celsius, it was windy but the air was fresh and crisp. The city is based on rings and is situated on the banks of the Moskva River, which flows for just over 500 km through the East European Plain in central Russia. Christianity is the predominant religion in the city, of which the Russian Orthodox Church is the most popular. Other religions practiced in Moscow include Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Folks living in Moscow are called Moscovites and one such Moscovite has agreed to show me the city until I stay.

As I boarded the coach towards the hotel, the big bold city of Moscow started speaking its story. The city today is going through its growing up pains. It has turned from its socialist nature and is trying very hard to become capitalistic. One can see huge blocks of 8 million homes given by the state during the Soviet times, which remind of the Soviet era and appearance. However, in the same spirit, one can spot the bright, colorful and modern buildings of recent times. Moscow is the only city in Russia where one can truly experience all moods of Russian history.

The architecture here is world-renowned. Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral, The Kremlin, Seven Sisters, the New Arab Street, Vorobievy hills (highest point of Moscow) and elegant onion domes are signature site-seeing locations for tourists like me. You get a feeling of deja vu as you remember all that happened during Soviet times at the Red Square. Walking through the Kremlin makes you feel so special as you are a stone’s throw away distance from the President’s working office. Another important attraction in Moscow is the traditional circus. Although, the show is in Russian, it was easy to understand. The acts put up by the joker; dance fusions of the east and the west, and acrobatics are exemplary.
Nothing in Moscow is understated. It is not a modest capital and is certainly an expensive city to live in. A pot of coffee and a plate of sandwiches can cost you 600 rouble. It is not too harsh if you compare it from a US dollar standpoint but it still pinches when you are an Indian earning in USD. Water here is costly too. It is unsafe to drink tap water. A small bottle can cost you roughly 42 rouble. However, the force of water in the shower is so powerful that you can easily trade a body massage for a water massage, and use all the money saved towards bottled drinking water. The new Moscow city is very popular among expats. The basic rent in that area starts around USD 1000. There are hardly any Indians, but I spotted a few Indian restaurants, Taj Mahal being one of them with good ambience and food.
People in general seem a bit aloof but I did encounter a few friendly faces. I was once stopped on the streets and asked if I was Brazilian, and if I knew Pele. To their dismay I said no, but I told them that I share the same birthday as him and I come from the land of Bollywood, to which they quickly retorted, “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy, aja aja aja.” I guess, Mithun Chakravarty is still popular here.
Moscow seems so mysterious to me and I feel so foreign here. There is no way in hell that I can blend in. On top of it, I do not understand the language nor can I read or decipher a damn sign. Reading a newspaper or even asking for one in English is such a hassle. Hence, a lesson learned – when in Russia, be prepared to speak Russian.
Still, the city grows on you, as you understand it better and reside in it longer. I guess this is true of most places but this secretive city is sort of special for many reasons.
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