PUTIN IS FAR AWAY

As the old saying goes-God's in his heaven and the Tsar is far away.Well in this case, Putin and Moscow are about 10,000 Klms distant, according to this plinth.

Sunday 5/9

Walked through the second world war sub credited with 10 kills-rather them than me-bad enough with today's technology. A very different day-bright hot sun-the tawdry little beach and pleasure park looked better, from a beer tent on the esplanade (or was it the beer?) But the natural beauty of the setting is still marred by what soviet man has done here.

Putin( the good tsar) is 10000 klms and 7 hours away-it shows in that despite the potential of this port and the presence of Asian businessmen-the investments and profits do not seem to make their way to meet public needs here. But as Putin only recently encouraged the oligarchical previous governor to resign on health grounds (failing which he might have become very ill) there is a gleaming treasury and federal bank office in evidence in the main street-so perhaps some hope.

Monday 6/8
Back to sea mist-a climb up to the highest look out ( the funicular railway was closed ( zakrete!-a word I have got to know well) showed the natural harbour in all its glory and to have all the potential of a Sydney or Auckland but not the sympathetic, complementary human touch. Why beautify a place whose sole purpose was dedicated to sea born warfare and the disposition of poor souls bound for the gulags of the arctic north?

But change is coming, no matter how slowly-they cannot ignore globalisation, the internet, western TV and the freedom to travel-perhaps in 10-20 years the architects and entrepreneurial types who gave us the Queensland Gold Coast will transform these heights and drive freeways through the 19th century heart of the city??? Progress???

Vladivostok means Lord of the East. Alas the revolt of the proletariat and mendacious middle class Bolsheviks) has not created much that could be called Lordly here. Beware politicians promising level playing fields that reduce all to the same base level and remove all initiative to strive, compete and play for something much better. (Listening Australian voters??)
As Putin said-Russia cannot and should not seek to emulate the likes of Britain and America with their deeply established historical social values and must rely on its own way. Well goodbye to you Mr Putin (that's if you actually stand down in 08) you are welcome to it.