Thanks for sharing this dfnsk (what's you real name?!). How many other forums know about your guide? What has demand been like (do you know) for accommodation, observing sites, etc?

Seanie.

Artem (artyom) is my name

We've opened officially today, so meanwhile i posted it only on this forum, but i plan to post to other i know during this week. if you cloud help - it would be great, because i know few astronomical forums.

I didn't really get your last questions. If you asking about popularity of this site, i can't say yet - we've just launched, so there is no representational stats.

Dear Artem,

Thank you for me as well for the website.

Do you have any information to share with us as to whether ALL of the hotels are booked for the eclipse? There are rumours that many tour operators have booked everything specifically for the eclipse and no more rooms are available. If you can get us some information as to whether this is true or not it would be very much appreciated.

I also note that most of the hotels do not accept credit cards. Do you know why?

Dear Artem,

Thank you for me as well for the website.

Do you have any information to share with us as to whether ALL of the hotels are booked for the eclipse? There are rumours that many tour operators have booked everything specifically for the eclipse and no more rooms are available. If you can get us some information as to whether this is true or not it would be very much appreciated.

I also note that most of the hotels do not accept credit cards. Do you know why?

Hi,
you are welcome

not all, but in big hotels (like Sibir', Novosibirsk, River Park). Information about it was in the news last month. I think tour operators said that there is no places because they work only with 3-4 hotels in Novosibirsk. In the same time there are middle-size and small hotels ( novosibirskguide.com/accommodation/ ), that don't have any contracts with touroperators and usually work with russian business tourists. I'm not sure 100%-ly, but i think there are free rooms on eclipse days in such hotels. I'll try to find out it soon.
Moreover, there are many so-called "baza otdiha" ("holiday recreation center"). I really don't now how to tell it in english. It's a kind of country-side hotel, with simple service (cantine, sport activities), that works only at summer. in this case i'm absolultely sure, that no touroperator works with them. I'll add information about.
( by the way, i recommend you new "yakutia" hotel ).

About credit cards. When i was writing about hotels i entered "no", when i was not sure about accepting. Thank you for noticing - i'll check it now, it will be "no, or no information" instead of "no"
I'll call to hotels some day on this week in free time and will make information about credit cards up-to-date.

Artem,

Do you know how commonly available wireless internet is in Novosibirsk and the surrounding areas?

Artem,

Do you know how commonly available wireless internet is in Novosibirsk and the surrounding areas?

In Novosibirsk and Akademgorodok:
wifi and internetcafes:
look there - novosibirskguide.com/telecommunications/ :)
gprs:
all local cellular networks have GPRS.

In surrounding areas - only gprs.

update: if you are not in suburbs of novosibirsk, usually it is not a problem to get an internet access somewhere.

Howerye.
Lads,
are ye all really certain that this is the best spot weather-wise?

I think Frank that part of China is also an option (and offers a little longer Totality) but the problem is the cost (about €3,000 for a 7 day 'vacation'). From experience, as a group, Turkey was so successful because so many people could afford the average €500 all-in 7 day stay (143 made the trip I think) that we'd like to kind of keep the family together on another eclipse trip.

Seanie.

Seanie et al,

I am getting a LOT of Russian SPAM the past 24 hours following my replies here to this thread and visit to the new site.

Just a heads-up ....

Seanie et al,

I am getting a LOT of Russian SPAM the past 24 hours following my replies here to this thread and visit to the new site.

Just a heads-up ....

There is no and can't be any connection between visiting the site (hosted in usa, by the way) and your email address. Even technically! So, please, do not slander.

Artem,

This is NOT slander. My website (in my signature) is getting hits which are redirects from this thread ... and I have been bombarded with SPAM emails the past 24 hrs.

I can easily monitor the hits to my website and the source of the redirections .... see for example "Last 20 referrers" at extremetracking.com/open;ref1?login=perseusg ... I also have additional information.

I have nothing to gain by slandering!

PS. One sample hit to my website with a source this thread is the following website: academ.org/ .... and there are others as well ... and with a lot of SPAM activity the past 24 hours.

Seanie/Bart,

Do you have any information for the past 24-48 hours in relation to visits to the IFAS board by country etc? :wink:

Seanie/Bart,

Do you have any information for the past 24-48 hours in relation to visits to the IFAS board by country etc? :wink:

Bart should, he won't let me see those!

Seanie,

As of yesterday, I had just under 1300 hits to my website for this month alone which were redirects from the message threads here ... this is an average of 65 hits per day!

Yes, we are all buddies here but I seriously doubt my Irish friends hit my site at an average of 65 times per day (and not that I would mind).

Artem,

I just received the SPAM message with the following content:

4-5 декабря 2007 г.

ОТКРЫТИЕ ТОРГОВОЙ ТОЧКИ СЕТИ

(Двухдневный семинар-практикум)
Семинар-практикум разработан для руководителей компании,
руководителей департаментов развития, маркетинга и продаж.


I am getting many such messages during the past 24 hours ...

Anthony - that's not spam.

It says - "This is guy is well cool at taking images of the night sky"

See, they love you :wink:

Hi Dave,

I just used one of the online translators and the SPAM message I provided above reads as follows:

On December 4 to 5, 2007.

THE DISCOVERY THE COMMERCIAL POINT OF NETWORK

(two-day seminar- practice)
Seminar- practice is developed for the leaders of company,
the leaders of the departments of development, marketing and sales.

You have my word I would be delighted to know the activity I cite above is indeed related to my work ... I am just not 100% convinced given the "coincidental" bombardment with (Russian) SPAM.

PS. Maybe comrade Seanie Morriskovich is responsible ...

Can I take it that you won't be taking up the offer to attend the seminar?

As for Seanie Morrisovich, I wondering how long the honeymoon would last for.... :wink:

By the way, I clicked on the link you posted "academ.org" - will I get loads of spam now?

So, any idea how you posting a message to this board could result in you getting lots of mail from Russia? I'd be curious - from a self preservation point of view...

Dave

Can I take it that you won't be taking up the offer to attend the seminar?

Now if it was around Aug 1/2008, I/we could kill two birds with one stone.

As for Seanie Morrisovich, I wondering how long the honeymoon would last for.... :wink:

Leave my buddy alone!

By the way, I clicked on the link you posted "academ.org" - will I get loads of spam now?

I am sure you will let us know either way ... in my case, it is just one of the hits (sources) I noticed yesterday.

So, any idea how you posting a message to this board could result in you getting lots of mail from Russia? I'd be curious - from a self preservation point of view...

One possibility is for bots to scan and parse these threads so as to extract addresses and emails ... which could have been done with me given the presence of my website in my signature.

Relax, I won't mentionyour web address at www.hahahaha.nothere.bozo.com . :wink:

Here is a fresh one (and the last one being posted, I promise):

ПОМОЩЬ в согласовании, регистрации и разработке.

Разработка проектно-технической документации на переустройство помещений.
Получение разрешения и согласование устройства отдельного входа.
Согласование перепланировки жилых и нежилых помещений во всех округах и районах г. Москвы.
Получение разрешения на реконструктивные работы.
Регистрация самостроя.

Тел.: 8(495) 148`87_77
8(495) 148_87~78

.... and which seems to translate to ....

AID in the agreement, the registration and the development.
Development of engineering-design documentation on the reconstruction of accomodations.
Obtaining permission and the agreement of the device of separate entrance.
Agreement of the re-planning of habitable and uninhabited accomodations in all regions and regions g. Moscow.
Obtaining permission on reconstructive works.
Registration of [samostroya].

Tel.: 8 (495) 148 `87_77
8 (495) 148_87~78

I also note that most of the hotels do not accept credit cards. Do you know why?

Hi,
We've just updated Novosibirsk's hotel list . Razdolie Hotel, that opened not long ago, was added to our list. Also we updated (as you asked, ayiomamitis) information about hotel's websites and bank cards - now it is 100% reliable.

Thanks Artem.

PS. Maybe comrade Seanie Morriskovich is responsible ...

Believe me Anto, if I was NOT down as your buddy, you'd know it was him!

Hi all,

Here we are a team of 12-14 people from Athens, and we are very close (a stones throw away) to make reservations for the eclipse.
We will probably stay at a hotel in the center of Novosibirsk. We arrive early on Wednesday morning and stay 3 days in Novosibirsk and 3 days in Moscow, after the event. Cost is about 1.500 euro for Novosibirsk (it will depend from the hotel we choose) plus ~500 for Moscow add on. Today, maybe in a few hours we 'll have our final set up.
What about you guys? Have you made any reservations? We will be glad to meet at Novosibirsk!
Anthony, is the 36 hrs final?
Artyom, thanx for the valuable info!

Vagelis