Sunday, April 11, 2010

The Driver Hired to Pick up 7-year-old Artyem from the Aiport



Arthur Lookyanov

Arthur is a self-described "Private Tour Guide & Professional Driver."

His English is excellent and he knows Moscow well. He offers a wide variety of personal guide services. He owns a Ford Fiesta and he offers an 8 hours guided tour of Moscow, including the services of his car which sits 3 passengers, all for 5000 rubles. He's prompt in answering is mobile phone and email.

Moscow-Driver.com is a personal website created by private guide and professional driver Arthur Lookyanov in 2002 as a tool to contact overseas clients who are looking to find a local English speaking person to arrange all transportation needs during their trip to Moscow, Russia. After several years experience working with people from many different countries and receiving diverse requests from businessmen and tourists, he gained a reputation not only as an excellent driver, but also as a knowledgeable tour guide and noteworthy photographer with a very personal approach to his guests.

Custom Tailored Services

At the present time, Moscow-Driver.com is an individual company / travel agent that specializes in personalized guide and driver services in Moscow tailored to clients’ specific interests, for example:

  • Planning personal itineraries according to each client's requests;
  • Transfers, transportation services in/out of the city;
  • Tours of local attractions;
  • Local support including interpreting services;
  • Help to book accommodation or any tickets (train, plain, theater or circus) in advance;
  • Taking professional looking photos to commemorate all important events.

Featured Testimonial

Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles." (Og Mandino author and speaker) This is in dedication to Arthur who became my friend. He looked after me and took care of me with great care and tenderness. Who would have thought that as a female traveling alone and landing in Moscow could trust the hands of a stranger to take her to her hotel. That strange man ended up being one of the best experiences of my trip. Besides being my driver, tour guide, educator, interpreter, photographer and mediator, he was kind and one of the most humble human beings I have ever come across. His passion for his work beamed through with his enthusiasm for his country as well as having the love for people and life. The tears we left behind were a symbol that there are such good people on this earth. Thank you so much for making my trip such a wonderful experience!

Carolanne Leone from Delaware, USA


Arthur says:

Had been misled by Nancy Hansen, I met Artem in Domodedovo

airport at 10:45 am on April 8, 2010 and the whole day I spent this

this boy till he was taken into hospital #21. Due to the fact that the

media may wrongly interpret events without knowing the details of

what happened, I decided to write full story in details about how I

came up into this story and what happened at those crazy for me

day...

3 comments:

Mary said...

Some of these children are incredibly damaged. I sympathize with the adoptive mother though I do not condone her actions. Sending a little boy alone on a plane, returning him like an outfit that doesn't fit, is unforgivable. But Russia bears responsibility too. So many of these kids are damaged - from abuse, neglect and maltreatment - both in their birth homes and in the orphanages. Our son is terribly damaged - helping him has been the biggest challenge of our lives. 5 1/2 years down the road, he is doing well, but he will probably never live on his own or even drive a car. To read about our experience, see: http://whenrainhurts.wordpress.com

Mirah Riben said...

My sympathy is with the child. She is an adult and should have known better - known that she was getting in way over her head: a single woman adopting an older institutionalized child! It's absurd! And no agency should allow it! And, having gotten in too deep she had resources she did NOT avail herself of for help. No, no sympathy. What she did is unthinkable!

What would anyone think of a biological mother who did that to a child?

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mirah.Adopting child who is institutionalized, from foreign country, requires much, much preparation, study, strong will to overcome, resources, and strong mentality of a loving parent, who is ready to face challenges. Biological mother would give arm and leg for her child, die for him, sacrifice anything she can if needed. Adoptive mothers like this one, shouldn't even be called "mother", its a joke, fony replication of what real mother must be. This woman should be ashamed of herself for the rest for her life. Because this boy have to deal with rejection, betrayal and neglect at tender age. She didn't think of that. All she said is in defence of herself. She didn't even thought of making a statement of love to this boy, of support to him, she did not took moral responsibility whatsoever. What a disgrace. She is an icon of what mother shouldn't be.Feeling sorry for her? I feel sorry for you.
I am mother of 3.

RussiaToday Apr 29, 2010 on Russian Adoption Freeze

Russi Today: America television Interview 4/16/10 Regarding the Return of Artyem, 7, to Russia alone

RT: Russia-America TV Interview 3/10

Korean Birthmothers Protest to End Adoption

Motherhood, Adoption, Surrender, & Loss

Who Am I?

Bitter Winds

Adoption and Truth Video

Adoption Truth

Birthparents Never Forget