Belarus & Moldova +(Transdniestr) - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

chelseafc05 · 11-29-2005, 03:09 PM

Any Tpunks Been to Belarus & Moldova and the self declared republic in moldova that isnt.. Transdniestr? any experiences, stories?

Respect

**ajb3000** · 11-30-2005, 03:38 AM

I'm hoping to go to all three of those places next summer, my current "rough" itiniary will take me from Estonia, to Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.

Only problem is, I can only get a transit visa for Belarus, which only entitles me to 48 hours in the country. To get a tourist visa I need a letter of invitiation for someone living there. I haven't done much research yet though so there may be a way around it.

**Esterina** · 11-30-2005, 06:46 AM

Those destinations are only in my dreams at this point, unfortunately. I was wondering what was the third country you talked about ? Moldova and the republic of Moldova... ?

Ajb3000, usually hotels can provide letter of invitation with a few extra dollars, as in Russia and countries of Central Asia. You have to make a reservation, and ask them if the invitation will prevent you from travelling freely in the country, or if you'll be stuck at that particular hotel. I think you're supposed to provide the ambassy with all hotels reservations in advance, but I've heard this is only in theory. It was the case for Russia.

**worldwidemike** · 11-30-2005, 08:01 AM

One of the guys I met in Syria the other week works for the British state department. He was assigned to Belarus for a few years, and actually has a Belarussian wife. I can possibly forward questions to him, if there was something you needed to know...

Let me know if you'd like me to get ahold of him for you.

What he told me is that there wasn't a whole Hell of a lot of to see and do there, and lots of the buildings are that grim, Soviet "power architecture," meant to impress. There was a lake castle (similar to the one in Lithuania -- Trakei) he said was pretty cool, but I don't remember the name.

worldwidemike

xanthuos · 11-30-2005, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Transnistria (Pridnestrovskaja Moldavskaja Respublika or Trans-Dniester) is currently an unrecognised state; it is internationally recognised as being part of Moldova, but claims independence and maintains some sovereignty with the assistance of Russian forces. The region has been de facto independent since 1991, when it made a unilateral declaration of independence from Moldova and successfully defeated Moldovan forces, with Russian assistance, in the War of Transnistria. While a ceasefire has held ever since, the Council of Europe recognises Transnistria as a "frozen conflict" region.

I read about a little journey into Trans-Dniester in a book I'm reading...and it seems like an interesting (and very corrupt) place. Depending on how adventurous I feel next summer, I may try to hit it up when in Moldova.

chelseafc05 · 11-30-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atchoum+Dec 1 2005, 12:46 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(atchoum @ Dec 1 2005, 12:46 AM)</div>

Quote:

Those destinations are only in my dreams at this point, unfortunately. I was wondering what was the third country you talked about ? Moldova and the republic of Moldova... ?

[snapback]90468[/snapback]
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self declared republic inside moldova i ment Matts answer explains it

Quote:

Originally posted by ajb3000@Nov 30 2005, 09:38 PM

Only problem is, I can only get a transit visa for Belarus, which only entitles me to 48 hours in the country.* To get a tourist visa I need a letter of invitiation for someone living there.* I haven't done much research yet though so there may be a way around it.

[snapback]90450[/snapback]

yeah you could organise a hotel to send you a invitation or you can pay a little extra and get a travel company to oraganise one for you...

<!--QuoteBegin-worldwidemike@Dec 1 2005, 02:01 AM
One of the guys I met in Syria the other week works for the British state department.* He was assigned to Belarus for a few years, and actually has a Belarussian wife.* I can possibly forward questions to him, if there was something you needed to know...

Let me know if you'd like me to get ahold of him for you.

What he told me is that there wasn't a whole Hell of a lot of to see and do there, and lots of the buildings are that grim, Soviet "power architecture," meant to impress.* There was a lake castle (similar to the one in Lithuania -- Trakei) he said was pretty cool, but I don't remember the name.

worldwidemike

[snapback]90479[/snapback]

i got the eastern europe guide book theres only two or three places i wanna have a look at in belarus.. ill be sure to let you know if i have any questions thanks man

Quote:

Originally posted by xanthuos@Dec 1 2005, 04:40 AM
I read about a little journey into Trans-Dniester in a book I'm reading...and it seems like an interesting (and very corrupt) place.* Depending on how adventurous I feel next summer, I may try to hit it up when in Moldova.

[snapback]90501[/snapback]

i watched a documentry on the place seem does seem interesting bitt off the beaten track aswell

**tumblezweedz** · 01-10-2006, 08:05 AM

My brief visit to Belarus was back in the USSR days, but as I gather, things haven't changed much there...corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. A friend visited a year or two ago and enjoyed everything except the visit from the Belarus Security Police to his hotel. He's an American professor of journalism at a uni in Estonia, so naturally they deduced that he is CIA. Transit visas for our family cost more than our travel budget last time we checked, so we opted out.