05/09/2025
This neo-n@zee arrested in Australia recently was unfortunately the example photo for the latest haircut I wanted from my Ukranian barber.
I'm back in Ukraine for another three-months on a volunteer D-visa this time.
The city of Kharkiv has a similar allure to Darwin.
It's like a frontier army town, 30km from the Russian border, but it's a city-size, with that country town vibe!
Still chasing the idea of opening the first Australian bar in Ukraine.
Problem is, I can't get Ukranian real estate agents to reply my viewing inquiries on bar leases!
I can't speak the language and don't want to ring them; and all my written inquiries are going un-replied!
I've even tried writing in the translated Ukranian language, but I have to mention I'm a foreigner living here. I can't trick people on the situation.
I'm fine hiring local staff. In fact I'll need to.
It's really sad how cheap wages are here.
I've even been talking with a former Australian soldier who's finished his service for Ukraine, and could work for me behind the bar.
Drinking a bit lately with a group of former Aussie soldiers and other western expats serving here in Kharkiv.
They all seem to like the idea of an Australian bar; but I worry about it becoming a target for Russia to un-alive foreign fighters, and worry no one will come because of that.
On the realestate front; may be I need an intermediary, industry advocate or consultant?
I understand that I would have to pay.
I've been searching for Australian breweries who ship to Europe, because an Australian bar needs at least one Australian line for sale!
Guiness on tap and Corona's are available here in Ukraine, but the big problem is finding a VB importer.
VB is available for retail in the UK, but they won't ship beyond their borders.
Australian wines are available here in Ukraine would you believe. There's also dozens of European beer brands in supermarkets too, but not one single Australian beer.
Don't need to tell you about the size of the vodka aisle here.
Australia's Coopers brewery ships internationally to Belgium, and the importer there will sell me a minimum 60 cartons; but I need to organise the shipping across the border.
VAT taxes on alcohol are 20% to enter Ukraine, and still sounds cheaper than the Australian beer tax, but no doubt international shipping with temperature controls etc etc will blow out per-unit resale.
Starting a company here in Ukraine is relatively simple, and attracts a two-year temporary residency visa.
Reckon I could smuggle vegemite in someone's budgies to Ukraine, and offer it on toast as the centre-piece to my bar snack menu.
Sui-Min noodles are more Australian than the Asian country they come from, but baby-steps, Mango.
Many international Australian bars sell kangaroo and crocodile on their menus; but I don't think foreigners realise that's not "normal" or a genuinely regular Australian thing to eat.
So the idea might be an Australian/westerner bar where the local population can come and try to score an Aussie, as we're the prime meat, on this social-human-market. (jokes)
Had a bizarre experience getting on the train after clearing customs to enter Ukraine again recently, where over-zealous train staff were checking passports themselves and asking for stories before we could board the train.
The lady didn't speak english and I was saying "Australian" while she was looking through my passport speaking things that seemed uncooperative.
Someone in the crowd waiting to get on the train repeated "Australian" and everyone seemed to laugh a lot and "ohhhhh" sounds.
It was absolutely lost on me what was funny, but it was a very positive vibe from the crowd.
This was 2am at night.
We have a great reputation overseas in some countries I think.
Or they see us as a comically pleasant people.
Got a local gym membership last week, but haven't gone for my first session yet.
Hoped to post my first gym selfie ever, but will give it a few more days.
Monday for sure.
We are The Mango Inquirer.
