RUSSIA - UKRAINE TRAVEL

Russia and Ukraine are member of CIS countries or Commonwealth of Independent States which is consist of Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgiztan, Tadzikistan, Turkmenia, and Azerbaijan. Russia has the biggest area in ehe world stretches from Baltic sea to Bering strait in Pacific ocean, from around 30^o to 200^o East altitude, which is almost half of the 60^o north circle of the globe. Despite the vast area of Russia itself, yet the concentration of the population is around Moscow and the CIS members and along the trans Siberian up to Vladivostok the city near North Korea and Japan. In tourism, Russia and Ukraine are known by Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Kiev the capital city of Ukraine, while other CIS members states are not known or at least they are not as popular as those cities.

Moscow and Leningrad or Petrograd or Saint Petersburg are two cities well known, especially Moscow after long time closed city, now open for any visitors. While Leningrad more popular as Saint Petersburg has a very interesting place such as water palace or water architecture reminds of the city of Venice in Italy or Amsterdam in Holland. It is said that Saint Petersburg was built in 1703 by Peter the Great, starting with a town with pink granite quays dotted with Italian palaces, water fountains and beautiful water ways ( Neva ). The majestic neva and palaces are constructed by Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

Peter the Great is sculptured in bronze on a horse by his daughter Elizabeth in 1574 which is still can be seen today and inspired the poem of Bronze Horseman by Pushkin in 1737. The impressive Saint Isaac cathedral built between 1819 and 1858 by Auguste de Montferrand showing the orthodox ritual of the country, yet ascending up to its colonnade facilitate the view of city's breathtaking scenery.

It is said that Saint Petersbourg is only European city in Russia until 1917, and as written by Dostoyevskiy, that Petersburg is the most abstract and most premeditated town in the world. While other CIS members do not have special interest so far promoted to world tourism except in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, and Bukhara remainds us about the glory of Mongol wolrd empire under Chengiz Khan which was stretching from current east shore of Korea to the west up to Moscow. Current countries such as Afganistan and Uzbekistan were the main stronghold of the Mongol to extend their emporium to Europe and the Arab countries in 1212 AD. The colony of the Mongol last for almost 200 years until the fall of Karakorum in home country of Mongolia.

1. All hotels in Bukhara - Find a cheap hotel in Bukhara for your travel. www.uzhotels.net/resources/Hotels_in_Central_Jakarta_Indonesia