Useful tips
CURRENSCY EXCHANGE
You need to have hryvna cause you will have to pay to boaters to get to the beach and tokens in metro. Plus food, water and so on. We do not advise you to exchange money at the train station. It’s legal and safe but the rates are usually very low. So it’s easier to get some money from ATM (you will pay additional 3 USD for each transaction) or exchange your cash in any other place in the city.
There is also one exchange place on Hydropark station, you need to take left after you get off from the train. The rate there is higher but also so-so.
Currency exchange rates (as for 17-06-2010):
$1 = 7.92 hrn
RUR 10 = 2.43 hrn
EUR 1 = 9.65 hrn
MOBILE CONNECTION
If you plan to have active communication by mobile phones – then it’s easier to buy prepaid cards of any local operators – they are cheap and can be found everywhere. All incoming calls are free but calls from stationary phones to the mobile phones are ranged differently (1 hrn/min) – so keep it in mind if you call from place where you stay. Roaming is also expensive.
WASPS
Wasps – are legal inhabitants of Dovbychka beach. In hot day – there are tons of them. But they don’t really bug you unless they feel something sweet :) So we advise you not to provoke them – any sweet water, candies and so on can woke up these beasts. So once you finish your food or drinks – hide your trash somewhere in the bag and then throw away in the trash buckets. There are a lot of trash buckets on the beach and organizers will also add additional. Let those wasps be where we are not :)
MOSQUITOS
Two, can you hear me, Two open air parties between the water and the woods. One advise – the bigger your body the more means to keep yourself protected from mosquito. Just remember – there are a lot of them, even though less then wasps.
SUN
The nicest inhabitant of the island. We expect +32 in the shades during the day and +40 inside at night:). All sorts of hats, ointments, sun blocks – protect yourself! We will try to shade ourselves as much as possible but who knows.
SAND
Get a pair or socks with you. Even if you some on skies – socks might help. At the temperature +27,3 Ñ from 12:40 till 15:15 you can bake somebody’s eggs on it. At night – its better not to bake but use a blanket cause you might freeze them or rub them :)
NUDISTS
Please, don’t make fun of them and don’t point your fingers on them. We are on their territory and they are already dying as a type:(
LOCALS
As old Caucasian saying goes – there are always a couple of jerks in the flock of sheep. But as the captain in Abdullah division said once – if they don’t f’’k you – do not move your legs! We are serious – don’t big them and the won’t touch you.
WOODS
People say… Don’t go too deep. There are all sorts or strange creatures and human beings who can cause your physical and mental troubles. We repeat once again – its people say…:)
WC
There is one! It can smell bad. But if you do it outside of it – you can easily call out those creatures from the woods (see previous tip). Plus get your hand dirty in somebody’s sheet is no fun, right?
NIGHT SWIMMING
Have you ever seen how our beach patrol works? And we haven’t. But they exist! They are across from the river. And your shouting like: “I’m drowning, help and so on” won’t be heard even by their watchdog. Don’t play with your destiny. And if you really need to – ask your sober friend to keep an eye on you. And don’t swim too far from buoy - you are risking to be hit by scooter who slightly makes 80 km/hour. In our country after 22:00 and two bottles of vodka all the speed limits are taken away! :)
