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From Africa to Primorye: A Congolese blogger explores the Russian Far East’s hidden corners

From Africa to Primorye: A Congolese blogger explores the Russian Far East’s hidden corners

Arctic.ru: Discover how Russia implements its development goals in the Arctic and the Far East

2026-04-20T14:20

2026-04-20T14:20

2026-04-21T11:53

people

primorye territory

amur region

khabarovsk territory

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Charlie Landu Kisolokele, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has lived in Russia for 16 years. Over that time, he has gone from a student who didn’t speak a word of Russian to a travel blogger fluent in the language.Today, Charlie travels across the Far East, showing the region through a foreigner’s eyes – with genuine curiosity about local culture and the traditions of its indigenous peoples. The Arctic and Far East Development portal tells the story of how an African student found a second home in Vladivostok and discovered new creative outlets.Charlie was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He studied medicine there for a while, but suddenly felt the need for an urgent change in his life. So he decided to move to Russia.He considered other countries, too, from the Czech Republic to India. But in the end, the prize in this impromptu competition went to Russia – a country Charlie knew practically nothing about at the time.“I’m the kind of person who, if they want to see a movie, doesn’t read the synopsis, doesn’t even look at the actors or the posters. I want to see everything for myself. That’s pretty much how I got to know Russia.”Jackie Chan didn’t let him downCharlie’s first glimpse of Russia actually came from a Jackie Chan movie. The title has faded from his memory, but that first visual image stayed with him for a long time, becoming etched in Charlie’s mind: a country with lots of snow, strange upside down letters, and enormous people.Charlie had an indescribable feeling the first time he arrived in Russia. It was November. He went from the hot Congo (25°C) to the harsh Moscow cold of -22°C, with tall snowdrifts everywhere. Charlie made a mental note: at least Jackie Chan hadn’t lied about the snow.After settling in a bit, Charlie started studying Russian. He began to truly immerse himself in the language – mastering vocabulary and grammar not only in class but also in everyday conversations.Sometime later, a life changing event occurred. Charlie met Marina, his future wife. She invited him to Vladivostok to meet her family and celebrate New Year’s 2020. The city already impressed him, but Charlie truly fell in love with the Far East the next summer, during a trip to Reyneke Island.After that trip, he knew: Vladivostok was the city he wanted to live in.A shaman’s message in a songVladivostok became not only a second home for Charlie, where he started a family, but also a launchpad for his creative work. It was here that he found a team to film a blog about the Far East.Charlie believes the travel blog format will appeal to both seasoned travelers and beginners. He not only covers popular places and routes but also highlights lesser known corners of the Far East. He also introduces viewers to the traditions of indigenous peoples.By now, Charlie has visited an Evenk village in the Amur Region. The trip was tough but very memorable: “We walked through the snow in the taiga without a map, without the internet – just trusting that we’d reach our destination soon.”The team received a warm welcome in every sense: the locals heated up the stove for the guests, treated them to a variety of local delicacies, and wrapped them in such hospitality that Charlie and his companions felt right at home.According to Charlie, trips like this let you truly connect with a region’s life and see things you’ll never find in travel magazines or articles.The blogger’s creative journey also included a trip to another indigenous minority – the Nanai people in the Khabarovsk Territory. There he learned how they pass on their knowledge through song, sharing their traditions. One of the locals turned out to be a shaman. She demonstrated the art of cleaning fish skins for clothing, singing an ancient song throughout the process that detailed every step like a set of instructions.Filming has already taken place in the Amur Region and the Khabarovsk Territory. The first episode will be available in May. Next up: Primorye, Sakhalin, and Kamchatka.Charlie doesn’t rule out the possibility that the project could one day expand into full length films about the Far Eastern regions and the people making significant contributions to their development. In his view, each region deserves its own high quality film.But the blog is already serving an important purpose – showing the Far East from an unusual perspective. Viewers follow the travels of a man who ended up in Vladivostok by chance and ultimately found a home, family, and creative inspiration there.Advice from a seasoned travel bloggerWhen talking about the Far East, Charlie recommends starting your trip in Vladivostok, the capital of Primorye Territory. He says the city perfectly combines a compact set of attractions, diverse cuisine, and proximity to nature.Charlie also recommended visiting the Vladivostok Botanical Garden. According to him, the best time to plan trips is September.“Autumn is the mellow season here. The botanical garden is next to a reservoir and has an amazing variety of plants. In September, with all the autumn colors, the place becomes simply stunning,” he explained.“The Arctic is an incredibly cool region!”The blogger isn’t stopping at the Far East – he’s already eyeing Arctic travel with curiosity and great interest.“It’s an incredibly cool region! Science is advancing there at breakneck speed. And that’s something we need to show people: the Arctic isn’t just snow – people live here, and cities are growing,” the blogger noted, jokingly adding that maybe, with such advanced science, he’ll even be able to plant bananas somewhere up north.Charlie is already looking forward to one day traveling on an icebreaker in the middle of the ocean. He’s confident the Arctic will offer uncharted routes, new experiences, and, of course, extraordinary people. And he’ll be happy to share all of that on his blog.

2026

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people, primorye territory, amur region, khabarovsk territory