AK47 Madness

When we told people we were going to visit the Ukraine most gave a confused look and asked why.
"Isn't it dangerous and a little bit run down" they all said? "Isn't it way to far to go for a weekend"

Well 3 hours is a little bit of a mission but for some reason the Ukraine had a certain appeal. I think it might have been the unknown. Something a little different and off the beaten track. Oh and the fact it offered AK47 shooting, crazy Russian orthodox churches, vodka and is one of the cheapest places in Europe!!!!

Five of us set off from Luton Airport On Friday arriving in the capital Kiev. We had all talked about the fact that we always get ripped off by taxis trying to get into the centre of the city from airports all over the world. We knew Kiev was going to be bad so were determined to pay no more than the guide booked told us.400 Hryvnia (UAH) was dropped to 350, 300, 250 then finally 200. Once agreed it doesn't stop there. When we got dropped off and went to pay, the driver started loudly protesting that we had it wrong. We stayed strong and walked off. Tourists 1 Kiev 0.

We missioned out for a meal were we had our first experience of the cheap prices and world renowned stunning woman. James who wewere travelling with was instantly besotted with the waitress. Five large meals and five pints of local larger only £20 or $50 total.Tourists 2 Kiev 0.

We tried to find a pub to go to but they all seemed closed so we did what the locals do and decided to buy some street beer and drink outsideand back at the hostel. Beer is sold in tent bars and hole in the wall bars everywhere and the locals drink it all day everyday. It is cheaper than water. 9am everybody has a 500 ml bottle on the way to work. We bought 11 large bottles that happened to be 7% and it came to less than £5or $13.

There's nothing better than the smell of gun powder in the morning so we headed straight for the range. Our transport was a little small so On the way there I had to curl up in the boot. Our driver was from Norway and owned the hostel we were staying inand without saying to much was a complete arrogant w%ank*r. After curling up tightly and being covered by a smelly blanket he then reminded me that if we got pulled over it would be my fault not his.

Quick facts: The AK47 is the worlds most used assualt rifle. It is very probable that the AK47 used by Osama Bin Laden was supplied by the US andmore than 90 million have been made and been used in every conflict since the weapon was mass produced.
I have shot guns before so new how to hold one. This could not be said for Julie. We had targets 100m away and got a clip each which held 30 bullets.I was first and shot mine off pretty quick. On single shot it is pretty accurate but on auto it is all over the place. Julie had a few shots and got a massive bruise on her shoulder so handed the gun over to me finish her clip, which I happily did, like rambo in a fit of rage.

Next on the packed list of sights was Kiev Pechersk Lavra a Russian Orthodox church dating back ages ago and listed on some lists as one of the seven wonders of the world. I have to say though it was pretty wonderful! Not a detail was speared from the gold domed roofs to the elaborate paintings inside. The Ukrainians, especially the woman it seemed, were extremely religious. Thousands crammed into the monastery grounds singing and kissing priests hands.The Monastery had caves underneath which we bought candles and slowly walked through behind what seemed like a million people. They were not afraid to 'pull a Ukrainian' and push you right out of the way to get to the elaborate mummified priests. Orderly English lines are not a common or practised exercise.

We left the monastery and headed for the Kievs statue of the motherhood which is 102m high, 550 tonnes and made of chrome nickel steel. Pretty big really and made even more staunch by the outdoor war museum next door which attempted to showcase the Ukraine's military prowess. Definately makes New Zealands arsenal look pretty small.

We had a massive night sampling the local honey chilly vodka. We ended up in a club where we quickly found that in the Ukraine it was the girls that make the moves. There were just not that many men and the fact I was foreign was even more appealing I think. I know this sounds stupid but I am very happily spoken for so it was a difficult night. I felt like a piece of meat damn it.

Next morning we jumped on the deepest underground metro in the world and headed for the Chenoble museum which to our shock was closed.The hostel owner/w%ank*r had told us was definitely open. Kiev scores a point!!!

Not to worry though there was so many things to do we just checked the map and moved on. We usually buy some sort of tourist treasure from every place we go so we headed to Andriyivskyi Uzviz or Андріївський узвіз or Andrew's Descent. A long cobblestone street lined with trinkets. Julie bought some russian doll christmas decorations. She was stoked!!!!!

The Ukraine was the furthest east we have ever been on our travels and it was awesome!! If only if we had been able to stay longer.