Dzikan
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Dzikan the Explorer. Or where are we and what happened?
🕑 Added 2022-07-25 14:46:34 +0000 UTCHello my Sweethearts!
I’m finally able to talk with you all.
You were probably wondering, where they are, because we usually make at least one post about our current projects. Aaand it didn’t happened. It’s been almost a month with no news.
Today I’m here to tell about what’s happened to us, and where we are.
Before I start, I want you to know, that we didn’t intended it to be this way. You know me, I really don’t like, when we make you wait. But when many unexpected things happen in short period of time, nothing you can do about it, aside from solving problems/tasks one by one.
Alright, where do I start?
Russian-Ukranian conflict led to massive sanctions to one of the sides. I’ll be talking about this matters with certain level of caution, because day by day it’s getting hard to express yourself freely.
Main part of sanctions, that hit hard on common people, are from banking system (we were cut from SWIFT and free handling of foreign currency). I won’t get too deep on this topic, because my knowledge in this field is low. And I already talked a lot about it in the past. Basically, our visa/mastercard cards don’t work anywhere. On the grey side, almost all foreign companies closed their businesses in Russia. You can’t pay for their goods, or with the help of shady ways.
Other part of sanctions hit people, who were earning their bread on internet: freelancers, patreon/youtube/other platform creators, onlyfans models etc. On the good side, not all platforms ditched their russian “clients’, like patreon for example. Creators on russian part of youtube don’t receive their money from monetization, so as fun fact, we don’t have adds in Russia.
Basically most of these people were forced to move to other country in order to sustain themselves. Or trying desperately to move their funds to other place.
Actually not only these people, but all people overall.
Rich ones moved to other countries, those who (like us) don’t have such money are trying to find the ways to continue working and be able to receive their hard earned money. Or at least save what’s little left.
We were planning to move to one of neighboring countries for short period and try to open working bank accounts there. If possible.
Russian paypal transformed to potato few months ago. Many money transfer platforms like payoneer or paysend lost half of their value as effective place to transfer your funds. Russian banks have troubles sending your money to almost anywhere. People here wait months not knowing where their money stuck.
This is our reality right now. On the other hand we might lose everything right now, because we weren’t able to fulfill our creator’s duties. Hah…
Anyway, one of us took vacation days at work, and we moved out. Yes, we really hoped we could take a proper break.
We decided to go to Kyrgyzstan first. Opening bank account there seemed relatively easy, but with certain “moments”. Banking system is not that developed there (not all banks have mobile banking), and service may be a bit not on the level. It’s too a bit complicated to receive/send money thru them.
Payoneer has almost all functionality, but paypal not developed at all.
Our second stop should be Kazakhstan. More developed banking system, and if our information correct payoneer and paypal work fine. But, it is harder to register/open bank accounts. Because of same people like us, who came from Russia and opened their bank accounts.
As you know from my last post, when we arrived to Bishkek (capital city of Kyrgyzstan) we immediately got ill. As I wrote, none of us was never that ill before. After June’s rewards were sent, we spent next week in hotel, trying to recover. High temperature and pain in throat/lungs were our companions. It was such a shame to lose so much time and not being able to do anything. The moment we started to feel better, we started our bank account opening journey, full of a bit incompetent, but very diligent bank managers. It’s really strange, when workers from the same banking branch have different information.
We had 4 days left until vacation time was over, and to make ourselves a bit better, actually went to Issyk-Kul and tried to relax these 4 days. Issyk-Kul is a salt lake located in Kyrgyzstan, popular tourist area. Pretty much small sea high in the mountain region. And it was a good idea local fresh salty air helped us to fully recover. If you somehow have respiratory problems or some skin related deceases or mental fatigue – I recommend to come hear, if you’ll find yourself in central Asian region. This air and water heal the body, scenery heals the soul and mind. Can’t recommend to go there specifically for this place, because money wise there are better, cheaper and more comfortable places to spend vacation.
After fully healing up, we came back to Bishkek to finish our banking journey and were caught in abnormaly hot weather. The temperature was around 40-42 C degrees, sometimes getting to 44. Usually this kind of temperatures are detected in more southern regions or countries like Uzbekistan. The period of extremely hot weather (around 47C) actually has a name – “Chilla”. I’m not sure if I spelled it right in English. According to Tao, who once experienced this period, people at those places manage to work like its nothing.
After chill Siberia, 42 C seems like being burned alive. You don’t eat, you just drink water. Lots of water. Your sweat becomes your second armor. It’s so hot, your brain doesn’t function properly. Almost impossible to work. On the bright side, air is dry, so you can breath. Fun fact, according to our friends left at home, it’s so chill, they had snow in Siberia (a little bit)!
Since we managed to finish our plans in Kyrgyzstan it was the time to move on to Kazakhstan. But it turned out easier to say, then to fulfill. We needed to get to Astana (or officially Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan), where we have acquaintances who could help us (at least with information). Expensive flight tickets, only one old train that functions every 8 days, no buses. I’ve never felt myself being so locked.
The Solution came from the random taxi driver, who told us to cross border control on foot and go from there where needed. And we did that. With the power of fresh Kyrgyz bank cards we managed to book train tickets to Astana. Crossed the border, took taxi and in a few hours arrive to Almaty city.
Beautiful and very comfortable city, which also was our “transit” point.
Truthfully said, I imagined crossing border to be a nightmare: long line of people, 42 C temperature heat and chaos. In reality, border control had air conditioning, there were almost no people, and everything regulated. Deep down I think it was just luck.
Since we were able to solve our “transport problem”, there was still one problem left. Where to stay in Astana. Since it’s capital, its only natural for the rent to be high. But the hardest part was to find landlord who is willing to rent out housing for short period of time, 1-2 months. Tao spent many days talking and negotiating, and he managed to find one only when we were already in train to Astana. Until yesterday, we didn’t know where we’ll be living! He was doing it long before we even started this trip!
Airbnb apartments were very expensive, and truthfully said not so good for the price. It was our last resort. And until 3 days ago, we didn’t even have working banking card to be able to book anything. Which was also another problem, because all landlords asked for some kind of prepayment. And you can’t do that, because of russian bank cards not working.
When you are negotiating with landlords on other housing platforms, it’s a bit scary to send prepayment, because of fear of scammers. So finding apartment suddenly becomes hard quest.
Right now we are in Astana. Finally at the place, where we can properly work and do what we came here for without pressure. For now, we are planning to stay here at least for 1,5 months.
I’ll be honest with you. All we have now is one photo.
It was really hard to work in Bishkek, because we didn’t have proper work environment and time. We were ill or in rush to solve problems. Also, turned out laptop we borrowed from my mom, has not enough powers to pull photoshop properly, which makes work two times slower.
I want to apologies for this, but we’ll be sending July rewards only at the end of August along with August’s rewards. We’ll try to work on two rewards in parallel, and will use all our strength to make it happen. It’s already breaks my heart to write this, but I can’t come up with any other solution rather than this.
Maybe you can help us with coming up with better solution?
In my next post, I’ll share with first look of our Ningguang. And we’ll come back to our regular posting mode, since we’ll be mor free to work actively.
We’ll do our best to make up for all this wait and rewards shift with our hard work.
I hope, after hearing full story, you’ll find understanding in your heart.
Please be healthy and happy!
P.S.: I hope, this long post will be actually readable. I spent a lot of time writing it, and at one point caught myself on the thought, that even I have hard time keeping up to all what happened with us.
Comments
J.L.
Wishing you guys the best, take care and good luck. Happy that you are out of a bad situation, sorry to hear you guys got sick. Much love!
Dzikan
Whole purpose of this trip is to us being able to continue running our photography regulary. Part of this year already was spent for this sake, and I hope all our efforts won't be in vain.
Korbin Armand
Think many of us that really thought about it knew it was matter of time that staying where you were might become impossible. Either to continue running your photography or just period. Honestly if you need to skip a month I'm fine with it and think many would. Or perhaps do some tourist photos with just you and Tao, that could be nice too.
