Russia's Strongest Man
Date- September 7, 2018
Written by George Balarezo, Intrepid Global Citizen
My bike was packed and ready to go. My cardboard box weighed in under the 23 kilogram weight limit for Aeroflot Airlines. Packing my bike for a plane ride is always an essential part of a cycle tour and I considered myself a veteran tour cyclist. I was confident everything would go smoothly and nothing would ever get in my way. Much to my surprise, Mother Nature and the Russian airport were about to throw a wrench into my plans.
My first stop in Russia would be Khabarovsk, a few hundred kilometers north of Vladivostok on the Trans Siberian railway. From there I would transfer to another plane and land in Irkutsk, a Siberian town near the famed Lake Baikal. I expected the whole process to be extremely simple and uneventful. However, my adventure was about to start much earlier than I ever expected.
Upon landing in Khabarovsk, I was surprised to see a climate very similar to South Korea. It was so humid I could feel the water enter my lungs with each breath. Green, luscious landscapes surrounded the airport and it had quite a tropical feel to it. I was light years away from the bitter cold Russia that we often imagine in our minds. No one was waiting for me with large Soviet hats and furry winter coats like I always see in the media. A much different Russia was waiting for me and I was ready to experience the world’s largest country with open arms.
The plane dropped us off at the international terminal and my big, awkward, 23 kilogram box was waiting for me right by the baggage claim. All I needed to do now was haul the box to the domestic terminal for my flight to Irkutsk. I assumed this would be a fairly simple job. I was dead wrong.
There had to be a cart around somewhere I could use. I scoured every nook and cranny of the international airport terminal for a cart like a starving mouse on a mission to find the world’s last piece of cheese. There was nothing to be found. I motioned to an airport worker using body language that I needed to move the gigantic cardboard box that protected my bike. “Irkutsk,” I stated over and over. She just pointed outside and let me know the terminal was one kilometer away. Suddenly she began to march in place like a cadet in a Soviet military parade. “What? Walking is the only option? How am I supposed to move this big awkward thing?” my internal dialogue went on a rampage. There were no buses or trains connecting the two terminals located one kilometer apart from each other. I was expected to haul the big, heavy piece of dead weight like superman over my head. I had a good workout coming up and accepted the reality that I would have to lug the thing around and sweat it out before getting on my next plane.
The pattering noise became louder and louder. Now it was pounding. Huge raindrops smacked against the international terminal rooftop one by one. Within seconds the pattering noise transformed into a deafening booming sound that pierced through my eardrums like a needle. Now I would have to carry the huge cardboard box outside in the rain. Getting myself wet was no issue. However, cardboard weakens when it comes into contact with water. What if the cardboard box breaks on the walk to the domestic terminal and all of my bicycle parts become scattered on the streets of Khabarovsk? This had the potential to be a huge disaster.
I had no other choice but to hit the street in the rain with my big cardboard box. Before stepping outside ,I stopped for one minute and looked up at the vast Russian sky. “Dear Mother Nature, please do not ruin my Russian trip. I promise I will do my best to treat you better,” I silently prayed to the dark grey sky. I used my winter coat to cover the upper exposed area of cardboard as much as possible. Sweat poured down my face as the rain instantly cooled my body from the intense heat. This was just like one of my Crossfit workouts I had done for several months leading up to the trip and I was thankful that I trained so hard. Now I felt like I was competing in a Russia’s strongest man contest and all of my prior workouts were merely practice for the today’s big event. The rain came down harder and harder and my box was soaked instantly. My forearms felt like they were on fire from carrying the box several hundred meters. Then all of a sudden, an unexpected surprise came and took hold of me. Out of nowhere a man appeared and grabbed my box. I had been warned about violent crime in Russia by several friends, however this man had no intention of mugging me for my box. He was already soaked to the bone and did not mind getting a little bit more wet to help a guy like me who was struggling to maneuver through the streets of Khabarovsk. Using my index finger and extremely limited Russian language skills, I told him exactly where I was headed. Together we hauled the box in the rain to the terminal and now it seemed light as a twig. The man led me all the way to the front door in the rain as sweat and rain drenched us to the core.
Humanity showed itself to me in the form of a man that helped me exactly when I needed it most. Perhaps Mother Nature heard me begging for mercy. If not for the man, I could have missed my connecting flight to Irkutsk or my bicycle box could have caved in leaving all of my bicycle parts scattered in the street. Luckily, I avoided an absolute disaster. By helping a fellow global citizen like me, the man gave me an extremely positive first impression of Russia. I am often inspired by small acts of kindness such as this man’s helping hand. This was only day one of a six week journey. Would the Russians keep up their hospitality? Stay tuned to find out more.
Tough beginning but you got blessed by the awesome humanity again. Thank for sharing your great story, and I cannot wait to read the next episode.
Gracias por tus palabras vato!
As a student who’s really interested in Russian culture, this article was very interesting for me to read! Hope i would go Russia sometimes ..
Russia is a great place! I hope you can go there one day!
Wow, you had a really hard time! I’m glad you avoid the worst. I think whole story of journey would be interesting, too!
I’t must have been too hard to pull a heavy bicycle box in the rain😢 But I’m glad that someone helped you and the situation you worried didn’t happen😀 I wonder if your first good impression of Russia continued.
Yes! Russia is a great place to visit with many friendly people!
I haven’t been to Russia yet. However, after reading this article, I feel vivid as if I went to Russia. I was really happy to see a Russian young man help you. Next time I will travel to Russia.
I hope you get to travel to Russia one day!
Before you came back, I hope you had kept up their hospitality. Thank you for the good article, professor!
You are welcome!
Wow! It’s amazing. If I got same experience, I am frustrated, give up to go to international airport terminal, and sit everywhere to cry and hate god. Thank for learning a lesson.
Wow! It’s amazing story. If i got same experience, I am frustrated, give up to go to internation terminal, and sit everywhere to cry and hate god. Thank for learning a lesson that ‘ Be patience and think positive. ‘
Never give up! There is always a solution!
You were very lucky that day!
The expression that competing in a Russia’s strongest man contest was fun and made me think you were a positive person.
Yes! I was lucky to have help that day!
It would be a tragedy if there was no kindness that helped you to carry your cardboard box. I was very excited while reading your diary as I’ve never been abroad and I thought Russia is very cold country as you thought before. I hope I could visit Russia whenever in my life, too.(but I think I would not carry my bicycle on my trip!)
Yes! Russia is a nice place to visit! I hope you can go there soon!
I really admire your hard work and challenge. It would not have been easy to go abroad alone with only a bag and bicycle. If I were in the same situation as you, I wonder if it was possible.Combining your story with mine, So far, it’s a good world to live in. After looking at your travel story, I would like to challenge only myself for a trip. Thank you for good article!
Thanks for your kind words banjangneem!
I think it’s very hard for you to suffer things like that. But I want to go Russia someday like you. And I want to know more about your travel story.
Despite the widespread warning of the Russian robber, I found it to be part of the rumors. I felt that there were many people with warm hearts in the world. It must have been a happy trip. 🙂
Yes! I had a wonderful time in Russia!
I love your descriptions. Thank you for the chance that I read this article through Communication in English Lecture.
Thank you sir!
Wow, Russia is one of the most I wanna visit country. I don’t know temperature of Russia is similar to Koreans. I will go Russia in winter.
You experience many situations so you can learn many things through travel. That’s why hard trip is special. Also, you overcame such situatuations. I respect you that you can trvel alone. Maybe I’m afraid of traveling alone. I will try to go trip alone in the future.
It’s so interesting story! I didn’t know that there is area which is similar climate with korea before. After reading your article, i really want to travel Russia!
Wow you had a really hard trip! I think it must have been a memorable trip as hard as it was. I would like to challenge bicycle trip like you
I was very afraid of traveling to Russia, but I was excited by this article.I read it because of class, but it is an honor to read such a good travel journal.
Read your article nice story!! I was moved by the man’s hospitality. Want to visit Russia also.
I enjoyed reading it very much. I think the weather is the most important thing for traveling. I would like to make a wonderful trip so that I can pick up a bike later
I’m so surprised by the fact that your trip to Russia was filled with hardships. I think I couldn’t have done that. I wonder where is your next destination.
I am still thinking about my next destination. Maybe Nepal. haha
I had a similar experience while traveling…I was also helped by a stranger in a difficult situation.
we are blessed!!! If I have a chance, I want to go to Russia.!!!~~~
It seems like you had a great trip in Russia! I have never been to Russia but I thought I was in Russia when I was reading this article. I also got your positive energy by reading this. : D
Thank you. I get your positive energy every time I see you in class. Keep up the good work!
Wow, there’s been a lot of embarrassment!! But I think there are always good people in the world. As the title says, I think you’re a strongest man!!
Haha! I am trying to be stronger everyday.
It was really moving story and after reading this, I could also get a good impression of Russia. I could understand the feeling you might have felt when you were in trouble during a trip. There’s the time that everything happens so unluckily, but thanks to one kind Russian, that trip which could have been gloomy turned into a not so bad trip. I think that Russian’s somewhat trivial help made you feel better and that really made me happy too. I hope the following trip also made you know a good side of Russia.
Yes. Russia is a nice place and I hope you can go there one day.
It was a really moving story and after reading this, I could also get a good impression of Russia. I could understand the feeling you might have felt when you were in trouble during a trip. There’s the time that everything happens so unluckily, but thanks to one kind Russian, that trip which could have been gloomy turned into a not so bad trip. I think that Russian’s somewhat trivial help made you feel better and that really made me happy too. I hope the following trip also made you know a good side of Russia.
Hello Ms. Heo! Thanks for your comments and I hope you can meet a lot of Russian friends in the future!
It’s very interesting article!! I’m planning to go to Russia this summer with my friends. Before I read your article, I was worried about my trip. But after I read it, I feel confident. I hope I can meet a good person like you in my trip!
It would be terrible to think of all the parts of the bicycle as the cardboard box gets wet and scattered. There are still many good people in the world. As I read your article, I thought again that I shouldn’t be biased.
Actually I have never been to Russia and I had many difficult to know about how Russia looks like. But this article gave me a chance to know about not only Russia but also 조춘삼!
Actually I have never been to Russia and I had many difficult to know about how Russia looks like. But this article gave me a chance to know about not only Russia but also 조춘삼! I wish if I could go bike traveling to Russia with our class memebers^^
I hope you can go there also one day! Thanks Mr. Jin.
I could understand the embarrassment of experiencing unexpected things in a unfamiliar environment. Reading your article, i was able to recall the memories of having difficulties and getting help from a local woman during my last trip. I think such memories are the reason for visiting the country again.
There is no doubt that this experience would be one of the hardest starting in trip:) But it was lucky there was a man who helped you. This article makes me recall the travel in Russia. Because I can’t speak Russian at all, I couldn’t thank the the man who notified me the baggage claim. But it there were a chance, I would appreciate the man by using a trasnlator:D
There is no doubt that this experience would be one of the hardest starting in trip:) But it was lucky there was a man who helped you. This article makes me recall the travel in Russia. Because I can’t speak Russian at all, I couldn’t thank the the man who notified me the baggage claim. But it there were a chance, I would appreciate the man by using a trasnlator:D
This, especially the pictures, reminds me of the time when I visited Russia. A cool country with cool air but with even cooler people! Perhaps only the physical strength was not what he had. 🙂
I read your artical, what a lucky guy you are. If i have a chance i want to go to russia too.
Every first step at beginning isn’t easy but is a beginning of hope.
When I was high school student, I have been the Russia. But, I look at your post, and I travel Russia again. and your challenge always encourage me to challenge