Was looking at gyms and stumbled across this...Anyone lift there?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...-iron.html

Quote:Quote:

Ukraine's answer to Muscle Beach! Kiev weightlifters at the world's only scrapyard gym show how to really pump iron
The Kachalka gym is a 6.2 square mile outdoor fitness centre on the island of Tuhen in the Ukranian capital
It was the brainchild of a Polish gymnast Kasmir Jagelsky and maths professor Yuri Kuk and opened in the 1970s
Most of the gym equipment is made from scrap metal, vehicle parts and chains taken from machinery
Despite its lack of luxury the gym does have one obvious advantage - it's free to work out there

^^^
During my August in Kiev, I lifted there. I'd be there at around 10 in the morning on weekdays, and it definitely wasn't as crowded as pictured. It wasn't empty either, but I never had to wait.

The weights are fixed at almost all the benches. So there's a ton of duplicates of each bench for each weight. So it'd have to be quite busy to look as busy as pictured above. There's quite a variety of benches too.

It is free, though you'll see the guy who maintains it walking around calling for donations occasionally. I figured he was legit when I actually saw him doing some welding on one of the machines.

After I'd lift, I'd walk to the beach, which is next to this area, and I'd cool off in the river. Then I'd hit the open-air showers (cold water only, bring your own soap and towels) before changing in the booths. All free.

Not sure what happens to the place outside of summer though. NomadofEU may know, if he still lifts there.

Quote: (11-12-2015 02:49 AM)262 Wrote:  

^^^
During my August in Kiev, I lifted there. I'd be there at around 10 in the morning on weekdays, and it definitely wasn't as crowded as pictured. It wasn't empty either, but I never had to wait.

The weights are fixed at almost all the benches. So there's a ton of duplicates of each bench for each weight. So it'd have to be quite busy to look as busy as pictured above. There's quite a variety of benches too.

It is free, though you'll see the guy who maintains it walking around calling for donations occasionally. I figured he was legit when I actually saw him doing some welding on one of the machines.

After I'd lift, I'd walk to the beach, which is next to this area, and I'd cool off in the river. Then I'd hit the open-air showers (cold water only, bring your own soap and towels) before changing in the booths. All free.

Not sure what happens to the place outside of summer though. NomadofEU may know, if he still lifts there.

This place is my sanctuary.
The colder it gets the more I love working out here, I probably need to get a pair of gloves for when winter hits. Being from so-cal I've never experienced the joy of working out in the freezing cold

262, heavy iron and a swim. Thats where its at bro.

Hit the Jackpot today. Just when I was going to give up on the Kiev PUA scene, I met a couple of awesome wingmen. Their level of game was impressive.

By Kiev PUAs, I mean Ukrainian born and raised.
These guys know the language, the culture, and all the best spots.

This city is rough, but its also full of opportunities.

What the competition like at that gym? I see one decent built guy in the red shorts.

Quote: (11-12-2015 05:17 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  

What the competition like at that gym? I see one decent built guy in the red shorts.

They probably have that third world strength hidden under that vodka paunch. The one doing the wide flyes looks quite carved though or is that due to the fact that his muscles are under tension?

It's the usual lifting crowd of dudes (not the usual fat-people-gym crowd of guys and girls). Call it 50% newbs, 33% decent, and the rest jacked.

Not that it matters when you hit Kreshchatyk, since there are plenty of attractive women to go around. And most of these guys meet girls through social circles only.

2 days ago Ukraine voted down a gay rights bill.

A few hours ago it passed.

Ukraine moves closer to visa-free EU travel as gay rights bill passes

Quote:Quote:

Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill that bans discrimination against gay people at work – key legislation intended to help pave the way for visa-free travel between the country and the European Union.

The 450-seat parliament on Thursday approved the bill with 234 votes. The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, hailed parliament’s action as a “historic” move that brought the nation close to its longtime goal of winning the visa-free regime.

Ukrainian authorities have sought to forge closer ties with the EU amid a conflict with Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and has supported pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

The bill banning discrimination against gay people in the workplace had been rejected on four previous attempts, reflecting a strong opposition from those in parliament who saw the document as a challenge to the country’s Orthodox Christian traditions.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/no...ill-passes

Quote: (11-13-2015 12:06 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

2 days ago Ukraine voted down a gay rights bill.

A few hours ago it passed.

Ukraine moves closer to visa-free EU travel as gay rights bill passes

Quote:Quote:

Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill that bans discrimination against gay people at work – key legislation intended to help pave the way for visa-free travel between the country and the European Union.

The 450-seat parliament on Thursday approved the bill with 234 votes. The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, hailed parliament’s action as a “historic” move that brought the nation close to its longtime goal of winning the visa-free regime.

Ukrainian authorities have sought to forge closer ties with the EU amid a conflict with Russia, which annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula and has supported pro-Russia insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

The bill banning discrimination against gay people in the workplace had been rejected on four previous attempts, reflecting a strong opposition from those in parliament who saw the document as a challenge to the country’s Orthodox Christian traditions.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/no...ill-passes

I really would not be to worried to much as they probably would require the new biometric passports which hardly anybody has currently.

Poland is example of this. For instance here in Canada Polish passport holders can the country visa free with new these passports but hardly anybody has them.

Anybody wanting out of UA can usually can already find a way.

rishboy77, you are probably right. But I do recall having dinner with a couple of Ukrainian ladies (I was invited by another guy) and they asked me if I knew the US Ambassador, it was sort of joking sort of not. They made it seem very difficult to get out.

I guess I am tracking this stuff a bit, only because I have a bit more certainty about what I want to do and heading back to Ukraine and seeing Russia are high on the list. At some point get married, but I probably won't come back to the states.

Quote: (11-13-2015 12:46 PM)samsamsam Wrote:  

rishboy77, you are probably right. But I do recall having dinner with a couple of Ukrainian ladies (I was invited by another guy) and they asked me if I knew the US Ambassador, it was sort of joking sort of not. They made it seem very difficult to get out.

I guess I am tracking this stuff a bit, only because I have a bit more certainty about what I want to do and heading back to Ukraine and seeing Russia are high on the list. At some point get married, but I probably won't come back to the states.

SS - I know many Ukrainian and Russian girls with US visa's, which by the way seem to easier to get then Canadian, UK, etc visas. Most of them have a educational, work, cultural reasons to go plus have proper work and income documents.

Problem is you got so many people working under the table with little or no official income in these countries. I actually knew a girl that was banging a guy working at the US Embassy there so she had no problem getting a visa.

However staying illegally or getting married is the only option for these girls unless they qualify to immigrate for other reasons.

For about 6k they can get asylum

Any US passport holders been in Kharkiv lately? Any difficulties?

Nice to see all of your information posts about Ukrain. I have never tried the place but that seems quite a good place to experice. I'm sure that this will be great for me if i;ll find the chance to explore the country and will have fun i'm sure.

L'Kafa Café in Maidan closed just a few weeks after opening.
There was a rally in front of the place 2 days ago with members from the parliament, including Semen Semchenko (the guy who was wounded in Illovaisk battle and now is a parliamentary...), the motive was that it was an illegal establishment in the house of trade unions.
Turned out everything is legal, and all documentation was presented at the place by the chain lawyers. Not enough. The opening of this karaoke/restaurant in this area was upsetting some people, and there where shouts of betrayal to Euromaidan and the "heavenly hundred".
Due to this pressure and the incoming elections for Kiev mayor, Klitshcko ordered the closing of the space, all this in just a couple of hours, doors closed and letters removed. Seems L'Kafa had also attracted previously the wrong publicity by forbiding ATO personnel to frequent the place in uniform. Also it is speculated in the linked article that the owner (a Syrian) has the majority of his businesses in Moscow.
Maybe this is the reason Vodka Bar closed.

A business can close quite fast in Ukraine...

http://www.novayagazeta.ru/politics/70731.html

'Love Me,' an interesting, but at times heart-breaking, documentary on mail order brides from Ukraine:

http://www.lovemethedocumentary.com/index.html

I watched it on Netflix. I would recommend it especially for people who are thinking about traveling to Ukraine/FSU for the first time.

Anyone ever been to krivoy rog? And can advise on the best way to get there and if its relatively safe

...

lol @ kidnap game

If anyone here is into club game, I got an early 20s Ukrainian buddy who'd gladly meet new wings.

I don't do night game, so I'm out, but best of luck for those who do. Send me a PM.

Quote: (11-15-2015 11:29 AM)Kissinger2014 Wrote:  

'Love Me,' an interesting, but at times heart-breaking, documentary on mail order brides from Ukraine:

http://www.lovemethedocumentary.com/index.html

I watched it on Netflix. I would recommend it especially for people who are thinking about traveling to Ukraine/FSU for the first time.

I dropped a quickly analysis on this thread. I thought it was an interesting watch if you want to see the good and bad.

thread-50002...pid1151248

The big question for me is will Uzbekistan beat Ukraine. Though you have to go in there with decent Russian.

Odessa's Georgian Leader: The Governor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elGKrw57k60

Quest for Success
---------------

So, you've been going out daygaming a few times a week. Not getting too many leads but picking up skill as you go along.

Finally, you get a nice girl out on a date. It goes well and end up kissing.

You send couple of texts, asking how her days going in prelude for asking her out again, knowing she works on the weekends.

No reply the 2nd text.

You think "What the hell, date 1 went so well?" Should I have gone for a first date bang? But I thought Ukraine was different and date 2 would be fine. Should I have kept strictly logistical texts? But a single sentence couldn't have ruined everything.

Then you remember... You broke one of the only rules of the game: ABA- Always Be Approaching.

If you did another 20 approaches you would have a genuine don't give a damn mentality. You might have another number, or at least you'd remember how many options there are.

"If you make a steady effort to progress, you will find that nothing is too difficult. This is because steady effort is like running water; it can even cut through stones. Contrariwise, if you frequently abandon your effort to progress, you will go nowhere. You will be like someone who tries to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together but stops before the wood gets hot. You may desire to start a fire, but you will never succeed."