Monthly Archives: June 2007

Now I’ve been here a while…

Posted on June 30, 2007 by Tim Newman

12 ways to tell you live in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk: 1)  You call an 8-minute drive to work a commute. 2)  Everyone you know works for one of six companies.  Everyone’s salary is ultimately paid by one of two. 3)  You find yourself describing … Continue reading →

Posted in Sakhalin | 15 Comments

Another Training Course

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Tim Newman

Today I went on another training course, the subject of which was Fire Safety, or Firefighting, or something like that.  Again, it was a Russian Federation requirement that I attend. Those who work in an ordinary office environment are not required … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Sakhalin | 13 Comments

A Day of Surprises

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Tim Newman

That went well.  Getting my visa took a mere 30 minutes, 20 minutes of which was queueing and the rest waiting for it to be processed.  Everything is possible in Russia provided you pay, in this case the charge being … Continue reading →

Posted in Korea, Travel | 3 Comments

Back in Seoul

Posted on June 20, 2007 by Tim Newman

I’m writing this from a hotel room in Seoul, where I’ve found myself for a couple of days for a visa run. I flew out of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk this morning on that well-known international airline, SAT Airways.  Our aircraft was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Korea, Travel | 2 Comments

Thank Goodness for Supermarkets

Posted on June 15, 2007 by Tim Newman

I’ve been meaning to write a post on this subject for a while now, but I was prompted to do so today after I read some of the other blogs named by The Times on their 50 Best Business Blogs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Sakhalin, UK | 8 Comments

Fame At Last

Posted on June 14, 2007 by Tim Newman

This is rather pleasing.  My blog has been named in the Natural Resources category of the Times’ 50 Best Business Blogs. I guess they were scrabbling for entries, but I’m chuffed nonetheless.

Posted in Blogging | 9 Comments

A Deafening Silence on Sakhalin Island

Posted on June 7, 2007 by Tim Newman

When Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko made this comment on 31st May, I wonder if he realised the truth of his words would be put to the test within a week: Russian Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko went on the defensive today, saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Oil & Gas, Sakhalin | 4 Comments

Summer Showers in Sakhalin

Posted on June 7, 2007 by Tim Newman

We are enjoying a fine spell of weather here in the south of Sakhalin Island, with temperatures getting up to 23-24 degrees Celcius during the day and the sun shining most of the time. As such, the city administration yesterday decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Sakhalin | 6 Comments

Minds Not Made Up

Posted on June 3, 2007 by Tim Newman

Sometime Russia appears destined never to change from the bureaucratic chaos of the Soviet times. Towards the end of 2006, we learned this: The Sakhalin Unit of the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that new border zone regulations will be implemented … Continue reading →

Posted in Sakhalin | 3 Comments