While many Western men spend their days daygaming Kiev on Khreshchatyk
Street and Shevchenko Park, bottles or jump into some of the city's more
the end clubs & # 8212; there is a whole separate part of the city that
many foreigners never see. And if you venture further out of the city
itself, it's even more eye-opening and unique things to experience.
One of these things is Chernobyl.
Now many are familiar with Chernobyl absolutely epic Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare levels. Many of those who play the game aren probably not even
aware that is a real town with a real story to tell tell. Throughout my
travels, Chernobyl still stands as one of the most revealing and surreal
experiences.
That being said, I & # 8217, to highly recommend doing if you are in
Ukraine and have the chance. Here are some random tips, experiences and
reflections Chernobyl during my visit (in May 2016).
It's September 11 equivalent, but & # 8230;
abandoned amusement park.
There is a big difference between the two events. You see, September 11 was
terrible, but finally the country & # 8221 on were moving, one way. While
certainly the family and friends of those who have passed will never leave
them, physically and surface, things have changed.
The 9/11 Memorial in New York is located on the ancient ruins of the two
towers. It superb (I & # 8217, to recommend you visit if you are lucky).
Obviously, the new World Trade Center was built and is also superb.
The point is, the ancient ruins that America devastated were reconstructed
in memorials. He at least had some closure on the tragedy, and they have
been honored appropriately. However, that is not the case of Chernobyl.
Chernobyl devastation is pushed directly into your face. You can not look
away. And you know it will never be improved. There will be no clearing
debris and building a beautiful monument. There will not be a phoenix
rising from the ashes.
It is what it is, and probably will be for a very long time to come.
Chernobyl children and Ukrainians
The sign welcoming you to Pripyat, a city that is close to the reactor
itself.
In fact, I took my daughter with me to Ukrainian Chernobyl (you can listen
to it here on my podcast). To say she was nervous, shocked and terrified of
his mind would be an understatement.
To compare to 9/11 again, remember exactly where you were when you heard
the news? I do. I was in fifth grade. The teacher sat the whole class down,
explained that something very bad had happened in New York, and that
parents would pick us very soon.
I don t understand the magnitude of it at the time, but the memory of
sitting in this classroom is permanently burned into my brain.
While my girlfriend was born years after the Chernobyl events, Ukrainian
culture, it burns in their brain at a young age and # 8212; Chernobyl is
bad, scary, and avoid at all costs. His friends speechless on the floor in
shock when she told them. She won t even tell her parents (although it's
probably only a matter of time before I pour the beans).
I have no doubt that his parents know exactly where they were that day he
arrived. This memory is probably burned in their heads, as well. And it's
transmitted to younger generations, who all think he is crazy that people
actually go to Chernobyl as a form of tourism.
The long-term effects
The Chernobyl radar on part of the tour.
I & # 8217, to need much more than this article to summarize the economic
and political impacts of Chernobyl took on Ukraine and Belarus. The Soviet
Union was essentially to fail to try to contain and decontaminate the area.
Of course it disbanded five years later in 1991.
Spending on the issue continues today. A new shelter has been installed
that should prevent any radioactive leak for a hundred years. It is
absolutely huge, and crazy to testify in person.
The reactor and old sarcophagus.
Of course, Ukraine is just an economic disaster right now. If you have
access to a currency, but the local, your money will go very far.
Although, in my humble opinion, it would be wise to place the blame on the
current crisis on Chernobyl, no doubt there is still some effects. It seems
to be a place that can just do not seem quite break out of the economic
crisis and really thrive.
Thoughts closure and tips
If you're in Kiev, it is really worth to go to Chernobyl. It's a long day,
a bit depressing and opened my eyes. Here are some tips that I & # 8217, to
recommend.
Book a shorter visit.
The company I booked with was an all day event. We left the bus station in
Kiev to 7:15 ET didn t will return almost to 21:00. It takes nearly two
hours each way by bus. In addition, the tour stopped every ten minutes in
Outskirt cities. We walk around and to see ghost towns. There were just too
many of them. After the first two, they all started to look the same.
We did not want t arrive in Pripyat reactor and into the afternoon. In
light of hindsight, I would rather take a shorter visits who promised to
get us home at 18:00. They would probably have been less Outskirt of visits
and had an easier path to larger items.
The linguistic situation, prices, etc.
The guides all seem to speak excellent English. If money matters and you
speak Russian, you can tour for 30-40% of the cost they charge for the
English tour. If you make a local or student along it further reductions.
For the record, my cost was $ 119 as a non-student, non-citizen, English.
Be prepared.
Make sure you're well stocked with water and snacks. Our bus stopped at a
convenience store on the way, but no guarantee that they all do. The food
they serve in the cafeteria Chernobyl is pretty sluggish, so come prepared.
Oh, and do forget your passport & # 8212; security and Chernobyl process is
much more extreme than any airport.
To learn how to build a profitable business that allows you to see the
world, check disruptive solutions. For more information on Ukraine, visit
my blog at Ukraine Living.
Learn more: 6 things you should know if you want to visit Ukraine
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