You need no reason to visit previously communist countries. Although I suggest you do your research. Especially now that there is a war over what was the Russian federation. Ukraine is a good place to start. Natalie is attractive, But after you visit these countries you realize that is the norm in those countries. Thailand has a large population of Russians living outside Russia. Russian patriots are probably the only ones that rival American patriots. Imagine the south lives again except the Soviet regime instead when it comes to older Russian people. Russia had an extremely opulent society under Tsar Nicholas, and his family being killed is what threw Russian society to the Bolshevik revolution. It was not good. Really this is a just go kind of situation. Nobody is going to invite you to visit their poor country unless you are personally connected to them, And that is never going to happen behind your computer. You will learn a lot.