Russia: Funny Diving for Christmas - no comment

Uzury area of Olkhon Island, Baikal Lake

Amazing photos of the north village Uzury on Olkhon Island!

Must see.

Uzury area of Olkhon Island, Baikal Lake

Also these pages with A LOT OF amazing photos of Olkhon Island, and cape Khoboy:

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/157764.html#cutid1

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/157475.html#cutid1

http://dmitry-yurlagin.livejournal.com/159667.html#cutid1

Why Winter?

I always say that winter in Siberia is the best time to visit. Especially lake Baikal are.
Many people ask me: "Why Winter?" Here I would like to give some answers :)

First of all, its New Year time. Cities are largely decorated with lights, ice sculptures. Every office and shop has discounts and gifts!

People are more active and energetic. In summer, its vacation time in Russia. Many people are gone traveling, cities seem to be very relaxed; but in the winter people are at their most powerful state. Happily stressed and openminded.
Parties at home are very warm and full of tasty things. People stay more indoors, become closer, what makes them best friends ever.

Of course it is very cold sometimes, its hard to handle for some people (good clothes is very important). But the beauty of the cities and nature is overwhealming. It is much cleaner, and everything is white. Rivers and lake are frozen in the second part of January and thats where fun begins. Ice skating, winter hiking, skiing, snowboarding and many other sports and activities.

Also for "real" divers its THE time to come to lake Baikal for diving. Its crazy-stunnig-amazing thing to do. It can be compared to diving in Antarctica.

Please comment about this, tell us why do you think winter is better for traveling in Siberia.

Olkhon Island

Transportation

Minibus is the most popular transport to go to Olkhon Island. They leave in the morning every day and arrive around lunch time in Khuzhir -- the biggest village on the Island (Around 1200 local people). Minibusses usually pick people up from where they stay at in Irkutsk, or you can hop in near the central market or at the central bus station. Also you can book a minibus hostel-to-hostel transfer in advance by e-mail or phone.

Big regular bus leaves very early in the morning and arrives a little bit later, but costs a little less as well. Also, for the big bus you have to buy the tickets in advance in the bus station office, and there is a luggage fee, which has always been a challenge, even for local people.

Personal transfers are a bit expensive, but its cost-effective if you have a team to go with. The benefits are vivid: you can stop wherever you want, and usually the personal car is a lot more comfortable than public transport. Ask for price, its different and depends on the car, driver and your wishes.

Helicopters and airplanes are also available. It is the fastest and the most expensive way.

Accommodation 

Depends on the time of the year. You must be REALLY shure where you are going in winter. In summer its easier, but still  you must be ready to camp, if you really want to do it. But there are plenty of homestays on the island, so if you pay you will have a bed and a place to "take shower".

Actually showers are a luxury on the island. Banya (the oldest type of taking shower, a little bit like sauna) is available in plenty, for rent and sometimes is included in the price of stay. 

If you stay in Irkutsk for at least one night, you can get your accommodation organized and booked on Olkhon Island too. Usually managers at hostels and hotels have opportunities to do that, and it is usually super easy, and is cost effective.

Also some hosts on Olkhon Island started to use international booking systems, so you can find and book something online.

Basic Things to Do

All year

Rent a bike and go to various wild nature places with amazing views.

All day land-water tour with lunch on the very north tip of the island.

Take amazing beautiful pictures.

Meet many different people from all over the world. Exchange. 

Volunteering, interaction with local people. (teaching)
Camping. 
Hiking.

Party.

Summer

Rent fishing equipment and try to catch some fish form the shore.

Fishing tour with professionals.

Cross the lake on a ship, or go to nature excursion by water.

Camping and hiking.

Sitting by the fire at night on the shore.

Swimming, getting sun tan.
Ship cruises and short tours. 

Winter

Diving under ice.

Crossing the lake by ice.

Ship cruises start in the end of winter when south part of the lake melts.

Ice fishing from the end of January to the early April.

Finding the most quite places on earth to relax and read a book.
Ice skating.

Circum Baikal Rail Road

Good news, everyone! Taking "Circum Baikal" railroad has never
been easier than today.
Here is how to manage a custom trip on your own.
Don't forget to ask questions about anything.

IRKUTSK -- PORT BAIKAL VILLAGE
!!! BUT it is ONLY: Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday.
1) Take a public local ('elektrichka' -- sitting train) train from Irkutsk train station to Sludyanka. About 100 RUB per person.
Leaves at 8:35 am, arrives to Sludyanka at 12:18 pm. 
This train is everyday 'elektrichka'. You can buy tickets on the train, or at the train station.

2) Take "Matanya" diesel train from Sludyanka to port Baikal village. Around 100 RUB per person.
(this is Circum Baikal railroad)
(Take some food and drinks with you, it is expensive on the train.)

Leaves at 1:30 pm, arrives to Staraya Angasolka at 2:22 pm,
arrives to port Baikal village at 7:40 pm. 

Matanya Diesel

Some cargo carriage

Travel with locals
4th class ;-)

PORT BAIKAL VILLAGE -- IRKUTSK


To return to Irkutsk you can take a ferry from Baikal village to Listvyanka village, across Angara river, that flows out of lake Baikal.
BUT Ferry is not that often!!!
As we know so far, it is only 3 times a day:  8:15am, 4:15pm, 6:15pm.

From Listvyanka there is a regular minibus and bus transportation to Irkutsk until 6:00-7:00 pm. Around 100 RUB per person.

Also you can take "Matanya" train back to Sludyanka.
Leaves Baikal village at 2:25 am, arrives to Sludyanka at 8:15 am.

!!! BUT it is ONLY: Monday, Tuseday, Friday, Saturday.

From Sludyanka you can take 'elektrichka' train to Irkutsk which
leaves at 8:40 am and arrives in Irkutsk at 12:22 pm.


EXPRESS to Baikal and Back
Also there is an EXPRESS train that takes you straight from Irkutsk
to Baikal village every wendsday and saturday.  
Leaves at 10:45 AM, arrives at 7:10 PM
You can take this express to go back to Irkutsk on thursday and sunday. 
Leaves at 10:50 AM, arrives at 11:18 PM


TUu-TUu! 
GOOD LUCK!

Transfer to Olkhon Island is POSSIBLE!

Since the ferry to Olkhon is not functioning any more because of ice, many people ask if it is still possible to go to the Island.
It is possible to go to Olkhon Island, but not everyday.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Leaving every morning from Irkutsk.
There is a boat and hoover craft that takes people across
the half-frozen waters.
It costs extra 150 RUB one way for the water transfer.
Please contact us for booking: +7 904 118 10 75

Irkutsk Circus

Welcome to Irkutsk Circus!

18 and 19 of December Grande Opening!
Tickets 300-700 electronic rubles. :)

Book now!

Continuing performances: 25-26 of December.
After New Year Everyday Circus Madness: 2-10 January!!!

Interactive Map of Irkutsk

Introducing interactive map of Irkusk city. Just go to Irkutsk section of our website.
If you travel to Irkutsk, this is the main thing you'll need.
Only best recommended and most important places.

From people who really love Irkutsk

Gold on the Bottom Myth?

During the Russian Revolution and subsequent Russian Civil War huge quantities of the former Tsar’s fortune went missing across Russia. More than 1,600 tonnes of gold was allegedly in the possession of White leader Admiral Kolchak, and legend has it that the gold was lost as his men tried to transport it across a frozen Lake Baikal.


The more widely accepted version of events is that the gold was being transported across the frozen lake in a train (after all, 1,600 tonnes is a lot to carry!). This isn’t quite as fanciful an idea as it sounds – the ice on Baikal is very thick during the winter and it was quite common for temporary rail lines to be laid across the ice, particularly during times of war. However, occasionally, the ice would collapse under the weight of a train, leading to disaster, and it appears that this may be what happened to one of Kolchak’s trains.


Read more about this on Siberian Light

Professional Photography of Lake Baikal

Visit our new project and find out where you can find the best photos of lake Baikal and surrounding areas. Also featuring photos of Nepal and North India.

Order suvenirs and other products.

Baikal Club International Photography

Ride Trans Siberian

New Project from Russian Rail Ways and Google Maps. On this video you can see lake Baikal part of trans siberian.



Take the full Trans Siberian here.

Republic of Buryatia

Republic of Buryatia: "(Friday, 22 October 2010) I just got back from downtown, where we (Irkutsk State University Choir) performed at ВТБ Bank’s 20th birthday pa..."

Won't you take me tooooo, Chinggis Towwwwwn!

Полтора Года: Won't you take me tooooo, Chinggis Towwwwwn!: "The overnight train from Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude was of course fine, except for the minimal amount of sleep, which was to be exp..."

Paper Mill Story Updates

Irkutsk to Beijing

We left Irkutsk with some friends from the hostel. The trip to the border with Russia is empty. That is the right word. Especially when you come closer to Mongolia the landscape is getting more empty, no trees, only some hills, grass, sheep and some occasional huts and buildings here and there. Fascinating was that our wagon was the last one on the train, so we could look out from the back of the wagon on the tracks.

At the Russian border town (forgot the name) the russian train personnel leaves the train and disappears. At first we thought we could only leave the train for some minutes, but soon it became apparent that we would stay on this station for quite some time. A locomotive began to shunt the wagons of our train from irkutsk from one track to other tracks. The motive for shunting was unclear for us but the mongolian driver was having fun and used his horn to cheer us up quite often. Shunting took 3 hours. The only wagon left on the track was our wagon, the wagon with all the bloody tourists. There were only 4 locals in it, the rest came from Europe and one guy from India.
When discovering the vicinity of the station, there was a little cafe with very unfriendly, very russian personnel. They sold cola and old potato fried bread. Bwahh! Outside however, there was an old woman with a pram. In the pram, there was no kid, but a big cooking pot filled with stew. Very nice! (there are relatively clean toilets (payed) on the platform in the direction of where the train came from).
With topped up stomachs, we went back to the station and found a relic locomotive from the better times of the USSR with a broadly smiling mongolian driver on it. I was the first to glance into the cockpit, he noticed and invited me into his 'cubicle'. NO RUSSIAN, NO ENGLISH, ONLY MONGOLIAN, were the only words he said. Did not matter at all, because sitting in the driver seat, pushing all the buttons was a childrens dream come true. The guy had loads of fun as well.
Luckily the weather was perfect, because before we knew, 7 hours of waiting abruptly ended when a parade of unfriendly russian border patrol women! came out of a building and commandeered everybody back to the train. Back in the train they took away our passports and started taking apart the wagon. I did not expect to discover so many hidden panels.
An hour later we were on our way to the mongolian border town. First we passed the russian fence with machine guns on it, very friendly guys. As we were in the only wagon behind the locomotive, the still smiling driver could see us hang out of the windows. While driving on a very curvy track at 50 km/h he started hanging out of the window as well, waving his arms, faced backwards that is...

In Mongolia the whole passport thing started again but only took an hour or so. At this station it is important to keep your wagon in sight, because it will be shunted to another passenger train that arrives from ulaan bataar. Funny thing happened when they started shunting. The border patrol had our passports, then the wagon started moving. Some guys panicked completely. Oh my passport, help, my passport is still not here! But after a few hundred meters the train stopped and was driven back to the passenger train.

Very early in the morning you are woken up by the provodnitzas, still some 50 km away from ulaan bataar. The landscape has completely changed again. No grass anymore, only dust and stones, the sheep are still there, but what they eat, I have no clue. The sun was coming up, everything had a golden lining. In Irkutsk we booked beds in a hostel called Golden Gobi. Arriving on the platform still sleep drunken, a kind women from this hostel welcomed us in well spoken english, something that would amaze us some more times in the coming days. We were driven to the hostel in a minibus that had no strait axles anymore and not a single panel that still had its original shape. Cars are strange in mongolia. Lots of people in UB have 4x4s that would be considered top class luxury SUVs in the states or europe. Even in the countryside, the nomads are driving new passenger cars imported from japan through the steppe. There is no real business to earn money with in Mongolia, apart from herds and tourists...
In the hostel a small breakfast with bread, marmalade and tea was served. The start in this hostel was good, but later it seemed the family was particularly fond of its guests when you booked something with their tour guides. If you did not, like us, they did not like you. Showers were ok though, not always warm, but after 4 days living in a tent between sheep, goats and camels, that doesn't matter anymore.
Next day we discovered UB and had our 'orientating' lesson with the organization that would let us travel among nomad families in the inland, Ger-to-Ger. In the evening we discovered the best, probably the only, good western kitchen restaurant in UB, called Veranda. It is close to the central square. Although you might think that we are cultural barbarians eating steaks instead of local dishes, this was actually a good idea. We didn't know that by that time though.

Next day very early we left the hostel to take a bus to Sansar, a small village (actually, 5 huts along a road) 300 km west of UB. At the bus station our bus was already loading people and lots of luggage, no animals though. After leaving UB, where the roads are particularly bad, the road became of western quality. Actually, it was a road build with development money. After 100 km though it abruptly stopped. The bus left the road and continued off road. I have never seen anything like it. Sometimes it could go 40 km/h but most of the time it was navigating big humps and pits/ditches. After 20 km, the road continued as if there was no discontinuation in between.

At Sansar we were met by a local who brought us to our first family where we would spend a day and a night. The first family was a bit distant. My brother made a lot of effort to communicate through the small dictionary we got at ger-to-ger. The father was drunken most of the time, but he managed to put us on camels for a walk to the other side of the valley. Oh and btw, the landscape is breathtaking in this area. Sometimes it looks like what you would imagine on Mars. Mountains are rolling through the landscape. Herds of horses are galloping through the open grassland and everywhere you can discover little white spots, the gers where the nomads live.
After the ride on camels, our bottoms would hurt for another two days, we got our first meal. Dried sheep/goat meat (mutton) with home made pasta, cooked on a stove, heated by camel excrement. Very tasty actually, but as you get it three times a day, you have had enough after 4 days. Not something for people with a sensitive stomach. Some families also make their own yoghurt. I come from a country where they make excellent yoghurt, but this was so fresh! It was prickly on your tongue.
The next day we walked with camels to our next family, where we rode horses onto a mountain and back. Again, the view is beyond imaginable. This family was much nicer. The mom and dad where actually working together in a manner I am used to. Nothing traditional wife and husband thing. In the evening it started raining and storming. Amazing enough, you don't notice any of that in the Ger, until you have to pee. I nearly lost my clothes while trying. This was actually the first rain in the year, we're talking mid May. Our next family was so happy because of the rain, that they did not have time to show us around. They were all way too drunk. Straight walking was impossible for them. Instead we rode horses with grandpa, who trained horses for the yearly horse racing festival in mongolia, the most important thing that happens in a mongolian year. He brought us to a place where you can see five different climates in a stretch of 4 km. Green, rounded hills, then the kind of grass you expect in your garden, then water with living creatures in it like frogs, then dunes that could come from the sahara and last but not least, very sharp and bare, red mountains. The strangest thing.

Although it was a big adventure, it was so nice to drive back to UB with the prospect to have a shower and eat steaks in the Veranda again! After eating we decided to go out and find a club with the head of Stalin in it, a relic of the communist period. Other tourists in the hostel told us that they also searched for it, but couldn't find it. We thought they were amateurs, so we got into a taxi and asked the driver to bring us there. He put us at the side of the road at a stretch of buildings that didn't look particularly attractive. But the buildings weren't the biggest problem, the drunken people were. Mongolian guys get drunk, not the girls, and when they do, some of them get aggressive. They don't look for foreigners in particular, but if your are in reach they will hit you. Don't make too much eye contact!
We didn't find the club, but were drawn into a basement full of mirrors and dancing locals. The guy at the door, 2 by 2 by 2 meters, brought us to a empty space of little bars tables and stools and gave us a beer. Within no time, the empty spots were taken by mongolian girls only. I guess they don't get to see blond people very often. I started reasoning, if these girls are the girlfriends of some guys, who are also here and they are drunk, then we might have a problem. I wasn't finished thinking and the whole mirrored wall came down on one side of the basement. Two guys had started a fight. The bouncer took the guys and threw them out like you see in a cartoon. Music was out, everyone back to their places. After 10 minutes the mess was gone and the music started again. This was apparently a normal thing in UB. We didn't feel very comfortable though and left the premises. On the way back in the cab, we almost got caught up in a traffic accident. Mongolian drivers put their foot down if you are walking on a zebra. The trick is to cross the road lane by lane. Traffic lights are for amateurs.

Early in the morning we left UB with the diesel train to Beijing. At first I thought it was a steam train because of the smoke, but that was just because the engine was still cold. The first stretch the train is rolling through a hilly landscape trying to get up the mountain with lots of black smoke, the track is making almost circles in the process. After a few hours we stopped at a little city that marks the beginning of the gobi desert. Climate change. From 9 C in the morning to 35 in the shadow in a few hours. Then the crossing started. Clouds of dust would come into the wagon regularly, even when all the windows were closed. The dust is so fine, you can see it as mist and taste it. Your hair is getting sticky, you can do all kinds of strange things with it. The ventilator in the compartment is a welcome treat (although no net of steel is build around it, so let your long hair not get caught up in it). In the evening we reached the border with China, where the platform is occupied by soldiers standing exactly 5 meters apart. Some piece of mozart is blasting through the night to welcome us in china. After passport checks, the train is shunted backwards into a big shed. The whole train fits in it. Every wagon is decoupled and lifted with everybody in it. The bogies are changed from wide gauge to standard gauge and then rolled back to the station, where you can buy your last supply of chengiss khan vodka.

After waking up, the first thing you notice is that the track is so smooth. Look out of the window and you see that everything, EVERYTHING, is brand new. The diesel locomotive seems out of place here, high speed tracks are normal. Left and right of the tracks you can see russian build nuclear powerplants in numbers that shock. If the Chinese are building a building, they build 20 flats at the same time, not one. Another regular sight is that of oxen pulling a plow with a farmer behind it. So much about the difference between rich and poor.
After arriving in Beijing, the first thing you have to do is navigate the big square in front of the station. It is packed with people, so tight, that it is almost impossible to walk. At the street side of the square there is a taxi stand. Our guide said that it is easy to get a taxi in Beijing and they are cheap. It couldn't be more wrong. There was a row of people of at least 300 waiting for cabs that weren't there. We circumnavigated the row and got an offer from a taxi driver. He would bring us to the hotel for only 140 euros. We told him to rip off some other tourists and he suddenly could say dirty words at us in english. Very strange.

Although the temperature was close to 35C and humidity at 100% we decided to walk with our bags to the hostel, some 6 km. (one tip: don't pack too much. choose your clothes in layers. put everything you think you need on your bed and then leave half of it at home. although you are going to the end of the world, it doesn't mean there is nothing to buy there. as things are mostly incredibly cheap in russia, mongolia or china, just buy it there if you need it) On the way to the hotel we got an offer from a lady in a three wheeled motorcycle cab. We negotiated a price and were happy tourists. Arrived at the hotel, I gave her the money and she asked where the rest was. The rest? This was what we negotiated right? No the price was for only one person. :-) Very funny. Stupid tourists. Anyway, in Amsterdam we would have paid 5 times more. The Beijing Jade international youth hostel, 15 minute bike ride from the forbidden city, was perfect. Personnel was inflexible, but room and breakfast was ok.

In Beijing do one thing: rent a bike and travel by bike. The bike roads are separated from the normal roads, traffic is reasonably safe and if you have some experience, driving a bike is not a problem. The bike is fast, you see a lot of things and you can decide what to do. Beijing has excellent food markets on the street, you can visit the silk market for clothes that costs 20x more in europe or usa and buy tea in one of the specialized tea shops. The forbidden city is a must and around it you can find a lot of nice little street restaurants. We ate a sichuan hot pot at such a terrace. Two blond guys completely red in the face from the peppers. They laughed at us, but the food was good!

By Douwe Braakman.

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Irkutsk Museum of Regional Studies

The Irkutsk's museum of regional studies is one of the oldest museums in Russia. It was founded in 1782. Mr. Erick Lacksman, an honoured member of the Russian Academy of Sciences was assigned to organize the museum. At first the museum was housed in a single room in the town's public library. Later on since 1805 the Irkutsk's provincial Grammar school became in charge of the museum.

In 1854 the museum was handed to the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society. This event was a major landmark in the life of the museum. After 1854 the museum's collections were enriched with the artifacts gathered by Mr. R. Maak's expedition in 1853 (the region of the river Vilyui), by Mr. A. P. Shyapov's expedition in 1856 (the region of Turuhan), by Mr. I. A. Lopatin's expedition and by Mr. P. A. Kropotkin's expedition. They were as well enriched with the artifacts gathered by Ms. I. D. Chersky, A. P. Chekonovsky, V. I. Dybovsky, B. Godlevsky (polish rebels exiled in Siberia).

In 1879 during the Great Fire of Irkutsk all the collections, all the books in the library and the building of the museum perished. By raising money to erect a new stone building of the museum the citizens of Irkutsk best proved their love to the motherland, demonstrated their desire to learn more about it and to give this knowledge to the future generations. In October 6, 1883 the new building of the museum was opened with solemnity. This building erected in the Moorish style was designed by the architect Baron Rosen. The building itself became a monument to the famous explorers of Asia because their surnames were engraved on its frieze. In the new museum actively worked such outstanding scientists as Ms. N. M. Yadrintsev, G. N. Potanin, D. A. Klements, V. A. Agapitov, M. P. Ovchinnikov and others. In 1898 the museum successfully took part in the World Exhibition in Paris. By the end of the XIX-th century the museum housed more than 20 000 artifacts.

After the Great October Revolution (1917) the museum received extra accommodations, the needed finances and initiated the systematic researches of this vast province. In the museum in the early years of the Soviet Power were engaged in research such famous scientists as Ms. A. P. Okladnickov, M. M. Gerasimov, G. F. Debets, F. A. Kudryavtsev, Mrs. V. I. Mihailovsky, Ms. P.P. Horoshih, M. K. Odintsov, V. I. Podgordunsky and B. I. Lebedinsky.

In 1920 in the museum there appeared the Department of Natural History.

In 1936 the museum was divided into two parts: the Museum of Regional Studies and the Art Gallery.

By December, 1970 the Prince Trubetskoy's premises in Irkutsk were completely restored. And a new Decemberists Museum was opened there. Then fifteen years passed and in December, 1985 after eleven years of restoration the Prince Volkonsky's premises in Irkutsk were opened for visitors.

From 1982 to 1994 the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies was part and parcel of the Irkutsk's State United Museum. The Irkutsk's State United Museum was a methodical centre for the whole province.

In 1982 in the building of the former Church of Our Saviour (this monument of the XVIII-th century had been restored for a long time) the Exhibition Department was opened.

With the purpose of the museumification of cities and regions of the Irkutsk province the Irkutsk's Museum of Regional Studies in January, 1992 organized a special Methodist Department.

The Artifact Depository of our museum is the largest one in the East of Russia. The museum pieces stored there have to do with the material and spiritual culture of the peoples of Central Asia. The majority of the museum pieces were gathered in the exploring expeditions held by the outstanding scientists, members of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.

The ethnographic collections on the peoples of Siberia, Far East, Kamchatka, Korea, China and Mongolia include about 30 000 museum pieces. The unique archeological collections include 100 000 museum pieces and among them there are nephrite artifacts belonging to the Neolithic Age. The Photograph Department of the museum's Depository houses 40 000 photos. Besides all this the museum's Depository houses the collection of the Orthodox cult objects as well as the largest collection of the Orthodox silverware manufactured by the Irkutsk silversmiths. The collections in the Department of Natural History (including 10 000 museum pieces) characterize the Fauna, the Flora and the Natural Resources of the Irkutsk province.

The museum has a library which is one of the richest libraries on Siberian studies in Russia. In this library there are about 90 000 books, newspapers, magazines, journals, materials concerning the expeditions and researches carried out by the scientists of the East Siberian Department of the Emperor's Russian Geographic Society.

In the library there is also a collection of the old Chinese books (XVIII - XIX-th centuries), numbering 440 volumes.

Source: official website of museum.

Tihomirovy Fund

The Tihomirovy family - mama (Olga), papa (Mikhail) and three children (Mikhail, Darya and Anastasia) - could not think for a long time that their lives would be connected with horses. 

As all romantic girls, young Olga was dreaming to ride sometimes. But there was almost no horses in Irkutsk at that time, and she was busy with journalism job. 

But as soon as she learned about recently opened Riding school, she took three her children there. They were 7 to 13. Later Tihomirovy met Malakhovskie family of private horse owners - mother and daughter. Olga and Marianna Malakhovskie were truely passionate, and their horses were always clean, never hungry, very kind and tender. Despite they were doing usual ‘riding rent’, we could only learn the very best from how they treated their horses. This is how Tihomivory got their first skills in working with horses. This lead to the idea to create a small club, joining with Malakhovskie. This “niche” was free in Irkutsk. Darya Tihomirova started attending courses in local hippodrome. There was a lot to learn, so Olga herself decided to ride a horse too. She was amazed to find out how much better she started to feel immediately. It became clear that the direction of work should be helping people with disabilities. 

A bit later Darya and Olga visited Moscow to attend the seminar of British trainers of hippotherapie. The trainers not only demonstrated greatest skills but taught them to treat a horse as a partner. “The horse working in hippotherapie should be happy” - these words Olga remembered forever. 

In 2000 new social organization was created: Irkutsk Social Charitable Tihomirovy Fund of Treating Disabled Children with Horseback Riding. 

Thanks to kindness of the director of historical museum “Decabrists in Siberia” Evgeniy Yachmenev, the horses found their home inside the museum, near Volkonskiy house. This blessed place with little stable has become the starting point for the growth. 

With sponsorship help, two first horses were purchased from Malakhovskie, who could not participate by that time. Buyan and Pinki horses are still healthy and work with us. 

Working with disabled children has made it clear very fast - it is much more complex than Tihomirovy could ever imagine. It was very difficult from professional point of view, and it brought great social responsibility. 

It was also clear that this work could not make profit. Disabled children were and are still treated for free. But the results were so inspiring that there was no doubt - the idea was right. 

It should be noted that Irkutsk community reacted very actively and positively. Thanks to many journalists, the project was highlighted in the press, and a famous local newspaper “Chestnoe slovo” was dedicating the whole list of each issue to the Fund for some time! 

Over the time, people from hippodrome (where Darya attended the courses) started joining the Tihomirovy Fund, including Larisa Vlasenko - the only trainer in Irkutsk region with sports master dergee at that time. She gave a lot to Fund volunteers. 

Since the first days of Fund work, there is a lot of help coming from Oksana Shumilova - experienced rehabilitation specialist, taking a great interest in Fund idea and later becoming excellent riding trainer. 

We also need to thank Natalia Rakitina, young doctor who put a lot of effort to help the Fund, and many others! 

Year by year, all participants have been improving their experience and skills. Our workers constanly attend various courses in Moscow, St. Petersbourg, and Fund founders also invite foreign specialists to Irkutsk. 

The biggest problem has been, and still is, the lack of horse riding specialists in Irkutsk area. The only solution was to grow our own specialists. Olga and Mikhail had no choice but to build their own innovative business model, facing lack of money, resources and staff. 

Together with Main Administration of Education of Irkutsk Region and specialists of regional natiralusts club, Fund worked on developing such business model. After serious expertises, this project received status of Federal experimental area. 

After this job was completed, the organization had its own model of surviving and developing, which still successfully works and improves. The idea of this model is moving forward in all directions a the same time, and great motivating of all participants. 

The process is built in such a way that young people coming to work with horses are watching complicated but exciting process of treating disabled children, and get motivation to participate in it. This results in deeper self-evaluation of their activities, makes them work harder to improve their skills. This naturally leads to sports achievements. 

So, sports achievements of trainers motivate disabled children to succeed in their own sports programs. And it also helps them to fight their disabilities, because they clearly see it is possible to win. 

The great job has also been done on planning and building new Equestrian Center, because the historical museum “Decabrists in Siberia” could not fit the volume of job any more. 

Today, the team of Tihomirovy Fund is happy to work in new Equestrian Center in Granovschina village of Irkutsk region. And in winter time, they work in two places at the same time, Granovschina and historical museum! 

The organization is growing and helping more and more children, thanks to its sponsors and partners.

Visit Tihomirovy Fund Website for more info. 

Baikal

Getting Optimized Saltwater Performance with Minn Kota Riptide

Minn Kota Riptide, reengineered to endure the use and improper handling, steps up to the sterness of saltwater environment.  This   trolling motor is designed for the harsh conditions of saltwater immersion. The Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors come in six different models with unique attributes designed to conveniently make your time more productive on the water. This is the trolling motor that can simply give the saltwater the ultimate stare-down.


Minn Kota Riptide's improved performance to the rigors of salt water is the result of its fully-optimized Riptide SP?s reinvented electric steer control, enhanced deploy-assist lever, and a manager of options and features that set the standard for ultimate power and control. It also comes standard with redesigned foot pedal and CoPilot hand control for better trolling, thus making it easier for you to reach your favorite fishing spot. It also has the i-Pilot, a GPS-based navigation control system for positioning that doesn't require hands-on operation.  This revolutionizes the way fishers and anglers use a trolling motor.


The new Minn Kota Riptide hand control gives you the best of both worlds with its new Tilt/Extend Tiller handle. To become more accessible to anglers, Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors are now available in bow mount and transom mount with thrust speeds ranging from 40 to 100+ lbs; which means you can choose the best that fits you and your budget. Its tiller steering system is fully customizable in terms of tilt angle and length and imbodies a new quick-lock cam depth adjuster to easily and securely set the depth adjustment on your motor. Easy to adjust to any situation and any style of fishing, it can both tilt up to 45 degress and extend up to six inches.


Minn Kota Riptide trolling motors has the Digital Maximizer that perfectly works in drawing power at variable speeds; it reduces energy wastes and extends battery life, giving you more time in the water.


These units utilize 12 volts to put 55lb of thrust at the end of a 36" shaft and they offer the self-contained Lift-Assist gas-charged machine which is specifically built-in with the bow mount. This makes lifting the motor in and out of the water easier when not in use. They also feature composite bushings for isolation and makes the motor fish-spooking-free on any metal-on-metal interfaces.


For information on specific features of Minn Kota Riptide model lines, please visit http://www.trollingmotors.net/trolling-motors/by-manufacturer/minn-kota/riptide.html.
by: Arthur Markham

Baikal Nature

One of the best art videos found online about nature and local people in Baikal Region. Very interesting and well done.

Sacred Sea: A Journey to Lake Baikal

Click "Watch Full Program" if you want to see full 1 hour presentation of the book, where Peter Thomson tells a lot of interesting stuff about traveling to the lake.

Nerpa, Baikal Seal

News

Don't forget to read the news :) That's what I found recently in them, pretty interesting stuff about science on lake Baikal.

"It is in a unique lake - there are no similar conditions to Baikal's
anywhere else on Earth," said Bair Shaibonov, an astrophysicist
who was on a shift at the NT-200 base.

Even in tempest, Siberian lake is a jewel

SOUTHBOUND ON LAKE BAIKAL, Siberia | Though mainly celebrated for its beauty, this jewel of Siberia also commands respect for the frequent mighty gales that can whip along its 400-mile length in any season.

The winds have names, often taken from the topographic features down which they rage — river valleys, and the canyons of mountains rimming the chasm that contains the lake.

At their worst, they can howl at 40 to 50 meters per second — 90 to 110 miles an hour — and create waves as much as 20 feet high.

The one we met today may have been the one called the Kultuk, a lesser storm, but exciting enough.

The day began with banks of low clouds gathering in the southwest, and for much of the morning we progressed uneventfully, the boat nosing through a mild chop.

By the time we gathered for lunch in early afternoon, the wind had freshened greatly. Rain was falling in blinding, horizontal sheets, and the boat’s pitching was much increased.

Borne up on waves that Victor estimated at between 2 and 3 meters, or more than 6 to nearly 10 feet, it would slam down in the following trough with a thunderous jolt. Water cascaded over the bow and the forward window of the galley.

Standing or walking was a challenge. To venture out onto the deck was unthinkable.

Fortunately, the Yaroslavits is a stout, steel-hulled craft. But in the name of comfort, if not caution, the crewman at the wheel reversed course to run with the southwest wind and the waves, not against them.

We all sat tight in the galley area, waiting for the storm to ease, as presently it did.

It was discovered later that a porthole in Victor’s compartment, not securely latched, had swung open and admitted spray that doused his sleeping bag. But apart from that there was no damage.

The sky began gradually to clear, the tumultuous clouds breaking away and sliding down to make a frame above the mountain peaks.

And as we rounded the tip of a peninsula that blocked the wind entirely, we glided on a surface smooth as glass to our anchorage once again in the Bay of Snakes, the very place we’d left that morning.

The evening was spectacular, with clouds lighted from below by the setting sun, and ranks of mountain ridges, one after another, receding in shades of forest green, purple and blue.

Our retreat from the tempest meant that we would return to Victor’s rescue base near the mouth of the Angara River and to the city of Irkutsk a day later than originally planned.

But I don’t for a moment consider that a day lost.

Irrespective of the schedule, an extra day spent on the world’s most beautiful lake is by any reckoning a bit of luck, a day gained.

From here: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/09/11/2216328/even-in-tempest-siberian-lake.html

Irkutsk Virtual Tour

This is great video, very nicely made! 34 minutes across Irkutsk, catching the most important stuff. After watching you will have a good image of what to expect when you travel to Irkutsk city in winter, near lake Baikal.



Bruno, you did a really good job! Thank you very much for this video!

Baikal is among 100 coolest places on Earth

The Anthropologist

theanthropologist

Transportation to Olkhon

Irkutsk – Olkhon (Khuzhir)

From the central market place:
Minivans leave at 9:00 and 10:00 (500 rbls).

From the central bus station:
Public bus leaves at 8:10 (395 rbls + 100 rbls for luggage).
Minivans leave at 10:00 (500 rbls).

Olkhon (Khuzhir) – Irkutsk

Public bus:
8:00 Baikalskaya street 44. (395 rbls + 100 rbls for luggage).

Microbuses:
8:30 from Nikita's Homestead (530 rbls).
8:10 from the village hostel (500 rbls).
9:30 in front of the school (500 rbls).

The price of a bus ticket in 2010 (including booking and ticket delivery) is 800 rubles.

Timetable for Krugobaikalka 2010

Wednesdays at 08:16 from Irkutsk railway station, return in Irkutsk around 21:00-22:00

Thursdays at 09:00/09:30 from the Irkutsk Drama Theatre, address: Karl Marx str.14, return in Irkutsk around 22:00

Fridays at 06:55 from the Irkutsk railway station, return in Irkutsk around 20:00

Saturdays at 08:16 from the Irkutsk railway station, return in Irkutsk around 21:00-22:00

Sundays at 09:00/09:30 from the Irkutsk Drama Theatre, address: Karl Marx str.14, return in Irkutsk around 22:00

Dry Frogs

Recently met my friend Benjamin in Irkutsk. We got aquainted on Olkhon Island. And he told me that they recorded a song and a music video with a company of Irkutyanins. I really liked this video. Music is very energetic!

Travelers saved a man on lake Baikal ice

The ice is very tricky this days. It is very dangerous to walk on it, especially in the end of may. :)

Two french travelers saved a man from a floating piece of ice on the lake. They decided to go for a short hicking trip, and saw a man on the ice. Asked for help from local people who could understand what they are trying to say. Finally this man was saved, by an international team. What a surprise :)

Here is their blog about their eurasian trip.



Thanks to foreign travelers! :) Ура!

Thanks to Baikal

But Irkutsk is an exception. On first sight, it seems like just another flat Siberian city, undistinguished in orientation or architecture, having the usual Lenin and Marx streets, the Musical and Drama Theatres, the Philharmonic Hall, Orthodox Churches and the Eternal Flame dedicated to those who died fighting the Second World War. But if you dive a little deeper, the city is littered with backpacker- hostels serviced by friendly English speaking staff - a concept alien to the rest of Russia! This little ecosystem of hostels is no accident because even at 70 km away, Irkutsk is the closest city to the worldґs deepest lake, Baikal that sustains this ecosystem by attracting travellers from all over the world.

Thanks to Baikal, Irkutsk became an exception for yet another reason. I was no longer alone on the Trans-Siberian; I had made 5 new friends. It was Ryan and Tom in the compartment next to mine, who were speaking in English. They along with their friends Katy, Lizzie and Gary were going to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia for 6 weeks as volunteers from the University of Edinburgh to work with children on protection and development. But before heading to Ulaanbaatar, they too were going to spend a couple of days exploring Irkutsk and Baikal...

The easiest way to get to Baikal from Irkutsk is through mini-buses that run on the hour. So off we went; the 6 of us cramped together in one of these to Listvyanka, a tiny village on the shore of Baikal. Baikal - the "Pearl of Siberia"; the deepest lake in the world; an ocean in the making that with the rift in the tectonic plates over millions of years will split the Asian continent into two! The phrase "crystal clear" must have been coined by someone standing at Baikalґs shoreline. Even from a distance, we could see the plants and rocks below. Baikal seemed like a thin sheet of silvery mirror placed delicately between the tree-covered rocky cliffs around and their undisturbed upside-down reflections!

A quotation from here.

Dedicated to all Bulgakov fans all over the world.

I met an artis here. He is a big fan of Master and Margarita. Right now he lives on lake Baikal. And his name is Alexander Baikal. Check his art.



Pictures taken from here.

Report from Russian TV about Circles on Ice

In russian.

Isla de Olkhon y Lago Baikal

(on this photo: cape Khoboy, Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal)


Check this blog out (It is in spanish). It is about a travel from London to New-York. And autor visited lake Baikal and Olkhon Island and took some great pictures. Its great you shoulv visit this post. It is in spanish, but pictures don't have language you will see, they are beautiful :)

Guy Meachin photographer

Check out great photos from lake Baikal by Guy Meachin.

Circles on the Ice

Jim's Art

Rock Video

Check out this rocking video!
It is pretty amazing. It was made by a polish crew called: BETTERFILMPOLAND.

Art Video by Peter Gremani

Ogoy Island on Lake Baikal.

Siberia has always been famos for Fishing