I chose this title because I live 15 hours ahead of my home in Minnesota, so unless you live between here and Japan you can consider this a message from the near future! It's actually a post about my most recent trip with the new international students who have arrived for second semester. Enjoy :)
Irkutsk is looking as beautiful as ever these days. The weather is slowly warming up (-15C yesterday, today -5!) and we took advantage of a long weekend by going to Olkhon, the largest island of Lake Baikal. This is a great time of year to visit, because the entire lake is frozen over with at least 2 meters of ice, which turns it into a vast icy highway. It's also nice that the island is almost completely void of other tourists, who tend to come to the island in the summer.
 |
| A view of the island as we drive over the frozen lake |
The island's population is about 1,500 people, both Russians and Buryats. Buryatia is an autonomous republic of Siberia, it's capital being Ulan-Ude on the south-eastern side of Baikal. The Buryat people are very spiritual, and the most famous part of the island is dedicated to the Buryat tradition of Shaman practice. Shamanka, as the place is called, is home to the Shaman rocks and pillars to which Buryat people tie brightly colored fabrics to invite good spirits (that's my understanding of the tradition, anyway).
 |
| Buryat Fabric-tying |
 |
| At the top of Shamanka |
We spent all of Saturday morning and afternoon on a tour around the island via marshutka (minibus) driving on the ice all the way. We saw ice caves, drank water from the center of the lake (best tasting water I've ever had), and stopped in places where the ice was so clear that you could see the lake bottom. One of the more beautiful trips in my lifetime thus far.
Great friends, great weekend, and great to be back in Irkutsk. For more pictures, check out the facebook album. Take care, everybody!
Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment