Soviet era apartment block

I’ve always had a fascination with how things worked in the Soviet Union. The massive attempts of economies of scale attempted by the Soviet Union are something rarely seen in the western world. I recently had the privilege of seeing inside an old school stereotypical Soviet era apartment block in Cluj-Napoca. There wasn’t much to see beyond a drab interior stairwell and an equally uninteresting building front. It did made me feel a little like being inside the old Soviet buildings in the Pripyat sections of “Call of Duty 4” though.

Unlike their western counterparts, the Soviets had less need to impress with their architectural skills and so this style of housing made a lot of sense. Cheap, well built accommodation which will last. Of course, the interior can be as nice as you want to make it,

Soviet era apartment block

Soviet era apartment stairwell

Soviet era apartment stairwell

Bush Flying Basics

I am now famous in the area of “plane landing in dodgy places photography”. The following snapshots are from a DVD called “Bush Flying Basics“, an instructional video for teaching pilots how to land in places where they probably shouldn’t be trying. They used a photo from here on my blog of Poolburn reservoir as an example of smooth ice you can land on. If you happen to have the DVD, you can see it at the 28 mins and 50 second mark 🙂

Bush Flying Basics

Bush Flying Basics

Bush Flying Basics - Poolburn

Bush Flying Basics

Axe throwing

I tried my hand at axe throwing whilst at the Râșnov Citadel. Apparently I can neither aim, nor throw very well. I did manage to at least partially lodge the axe into the wood on my second attempt, but my first one hit the ground in a rather pitiful manner.

Axe throwing at Râșnov Citadel

Me (Ryan Hellyer) throwing an axe at Râșnov Citadel

Axe throwing at Râșnov Citadel

Axe throwing at Râșnov Citadel

Trip to Kikustua

Some photos from a recent cycling trip to Kikustua with Nora and Karl.

Bjørnsjøen with Karl, Nora and Andreas

Bjørnsjøen

Brasov walking tour

If you are ever in Brasov, Transylvania, I highly recommend taking the free walking tour. Half the people on the tour were Kiwis and the other half were Australians or American.

Stephy, a lovely American girl from the hostel I stayed at.

The Brasov walking tour group photo