Khabarovsk & Pyongyang
Early to Mid April, 2012
Back in 2010, Eric Lai and I were looking into finding new destinations for skateboarding within Eastern Asia that
could possibly have something interesting to document. I somehow stumbled across this beautiful downhill with a
Russian orthodox church in the background while surfing Google Earth. It felt like love at first sight, I knew we had
to somehow venture up north into the Far East to get that shot. After getting denied a Russian visa in Hong Kong
and rerouting our focus with the Converse China team to Mongolia, we finally were able to set foot into the capital
of the Far East, Khabarovsk. Plus we got to be on Russian TV again...
could possibly have something interesting to document. I somehow stumbled across this beautiful downhill with a
Russian orthodox church in the background while surfing Google Earth. It felt like love at first sight, I knew we had
to somehow venture up north into the Far East to get that shot. After getting denied a Russian visa in Hong Kong
and rerouting our focus with the Converse China team to Mongolia, we finally were able to set foot into the capital
of the Far East, Khabarovsk. Plus we got to be on Russian TV again...
Xu Ying is a vegetarian. Ex-soviet countries tend not to be the best place to fill your stomach with non-meat like
products.
products.
Our hotel was located in the projects in the outskirts of Khabarovsk. I woke up one morning with a man hiding behind
a small hotel vase next to the elevator staring at me with his cold eyes. One of the most bizarre and frightening eye
contacts I have made with another human being. I just can't explain it in words. Come see for yourself.
a small hotel vase next to the elevator staring at me with his cold eyes. One of the most bizarre and frightening eye
contacts I have made with another human being. I just can't explain it in words. Come see for yourself.
World War II army jets right down the street from the hotel.
The beauties of religion.
The local supermarkets are very inviting.
First time for Kirill Korobkov in Far East of the Motherland.
The boss.
Xiao Xing Olling stairs while the others are getting a coffee.
Literally had around ten minutes of sleep and it was time to fly back to Beijing to get ready for a birthday party...
It was not Lui Chen's birthday.
It was North Korea's eternal president, Kim Il-sung's 100th birthday party.
A visit to the hermit kingdom always starts or ends with a karaoke session.
The first shot is sometimes the best shot, not for the hammer and paint brush in this case.
A herd of North Koreans... Such a shame that tourists can't really just walk around the city freely. It kind of feels
like being on a safari ride when sitting in the back of the bus taking photos of the people.
like being on a safari ride when sitting in the back of the bus taking photos of the people.
We got into a traffic jam on arrival...
Prestige perfection can be witnessed within the DPRK.
Possibly but most definitely the first Russian to push down the streets of Pyongyang in overalls (dungarees)...
North Korea unveiled a statue of Kim Jong Il on his father's 100th birthday. Also the head of Kim Il-sung has been
replaced from a serious to smiley. Better photos from North Korea next week.
replaced from a serious to smiley. Better photos from North Korea next week.