The last time Sveta and I crossed a Western Border was a few years back. That was in Europe and I also count Israel as a Western Border. Crossing into a Western country is like crossing into a container with a zip lock seal. That seal will not open until you jump through a whole bunch of hoops, like a dog at the circus…
I remember the first time that I was asked, “What is your purpose here?” That was at the Zurich International airport. I was asked that after going through a scan machine, a explosive sniffer, dogs checking me out, three metal detectors and passport checked 8 times, starting before we got off the plane. I remember looking at this individual and thinking, “Are you stupid or what?” But I expressed a statement that was toned down. I said, “Actually I am on vacation and I am suppose to be having fun! But so far I have failed on the fun part!” He just tried to ignore me and waved me through at that point. All of the above was just a stop over to the next flight. We almost missed that fight because of their stupidity. Could you imagine if we were trying to step across the border out of the international? It was just plain terrible and started a vacation out wrong…
Zurich was such a wonderful experience crossing a border that Sveta and I will never go there again…
This was several years ago and things have gotten worse. The TSA in America has reduced the American people to nothing more than cattle to follow directions. I do truly believe that I would be arrested if I crossed the USA border now this day. I will not accept anyone frisking me for any reason except if you will arrest me and toss me in jail. If I lived in America right now – I would make one last crossing of the US border and endure that criminal activity, that is being subjected to the people and then I would never go back. (I just crossed an international border in Turkey and was treated with dignity and respect.) The subjection to the government molestation would have a meaning for its ending. I have told you time and time again, I am much freer outside of America than inside of America….
Now lets cross a Eastern border. The last time we crossed an Eastern border was yesterday…
What a breath of fresh air that was compared to the Western world and their idiosyncrasies. It was very simple…
- Before we entered the airport we went through a metal detector. Yes, before we were allowed in to the building…
- No one asked for passport or anything…
- Check in for baggage and tickets was normal and smooth. Passport has to be presented to get tickets…
- While holding passport – walk to the Passport Control. Took about 5 minutes and they thanked me for coming to Turkey. I was asked would I come back and replied Yes. I received a huge smile and a thank you again at that point…
- Once into the terminal (International zone) our passports were not needed again and were put away. All we need at this point is our boarding pass. Sveta and I ate breakfast and watched the thousands of Russians and Germans buying duty free liquor and I took pictures of the airport. People took pictures everywhere and no one acted like we were conceiving plans of destruction. That led Sveta and I to discuss how calm and peaceful this airport was. No stress and pressure from the system treating you like a criminal…
- Flight time! We went through another metal detector at the gate. Simple basic metal detector and no one tried to check our carry on for liquids and actually for anything at all. (I carry liquid spray nitro and no one condemned me for a bottle of liquid!) It was smooth and professional. The security personnel were helpful, smiling and extremely courteous. (People in wheelchairs were helped through by security personnel! {Not made to stand up ever.})
- Home to Russia…
I use Turkey as the example for this article. I could easily use Russia for the same article. But due to everyone thinks that I am partial to Russia and her ways. I will put Turkey in the spot light. If you travel the East you will find a whole different world of travel. Fear does not rule on this side of the world…
No one at anytime thought or implied that they should frisk me and stick there hands down my pants to see if I have weapons of mass destruction in my underwear. No one interrogated me and tried to decipher if I was a middle age, balding, heavy set, white man with evil intentions. No one even looked at Sveta as a evil Russian demon. They just love Russians in Turkey and Sveta just waltzes across the border like it is a vassal of Russia…
I was able to think about the border crossing on the flight home from Turkey to Russia. I realized that if people in the West would just stop flying then they would start treating people with respect again. But alas I realize that people in the West are afraid of their own shadow and actually support the fact that they are treated like criminals in a society that use to be able to proclaim “Rule of Law!”
I have had readers in the past try to cut me down over the lack of the rule of law in Russia and I always wondered what planet they live on? But as always they will still think that rule of law is prevalent in America and non existent in the rest of the world. That just is not true and I really feel sorry for people who have never stepped outside of the Western zip lock bag of protection…
So Sveta and I returned from another vacation unscathed by the evils of humanity. Malaysia is one of our next destinations. I have old friends and connection to Malaysia. It extends from my days in food service with universities in America…
Speaking of friends in other countries. Sveta and I made many new friends in Turkey and one in particular was a wonderful guy. He works hard to support his family and he touched our hearts in a great way. We have his phone number and Facebook plus e-mail. We will stay in touch with him. For you see, we will be back to Turkey and it always helps to have a friend waiting where you are going. We help people that we know if they want to come to Russia…
You should travel the world! It is the cheapest bang for the buck, in fun and excitement…
That is if you can cross your border first without being molested…
Kyle and Sveta
Windows to Russia!
PS: By the way! We landed at Moscow and it was so smooth crossing the border. That is another article, because Russia is changing the way she does things. Now I did not say change for the better but I did say change and you need to know about changes that are happening with Russia border control if you are coming here. So maybe tomorrow we will have an article on new border procedures for Russia… Kyle
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