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70 Travel Photos: Reindeer Sledding w/ Even Herders in Oymyakon, Siberia, Russia

Bolot — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:17:26 +0000

In February, as you might already know, I experienced just a magic reindeer sledding expedition across valleys and rivers of Oymyakon, East Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia. With the Even nomad family of the Cherkashins. Well, it was a sort of expedition to me, but not to reindeer herders. They considered two-day travel as a regular neighbourhood visit.

No more words from me. Enjoy 70+ photographs.

More about Oymyakon reindeer sledge trip at my other blog AskYakutia.com.Similar Posts:

Yakutian horse riders in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [photos]

Bolot — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:43:10 +0000

Hereby, I am publishing Yegor Makarov’s photographs of Yakutian horse riders from different horse trekking expeditions across the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Russia’s Siberia.

Yegor Makarov is a successful businessman, who lives and runs the Muus Khaya entertaining complex in Yakutsk, Russia. His big addiction is to travel across his vast homeland, and he is a big fan of the Yakutian horse, Yakutia-orginated horse breed.

Currently, he is making a documentary and a book about the Yakutian horse. Meanwhile, he shares his passion with you.

Photos were taken during his expeditions to Verkhoyansky and Oymyakon regions as well as across Verkhoyansky and Chersky Ranges.

See the episodes of Yegor Makarov’s Yakutian horse documentary. More his photos are available in posts tagged under his name Yegor Makarov.Similar Posts:

Ice fishing on the Yana River in North-East Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [photos]

Bolot — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:15:42 +0000

In the late March, I had a chance to watch fishing on the Yana River near Batagai settlement in the Verkhoyansky area of North Yakutia, Siberia, Russia.

In the above photo you can see the Yana River. Pretty complicated flow. This way all tundra rivers look. Yana is not exception.

Further, find 12 photos of how ice fishing is done and what type of fishes are caught over there.

Rods for ice fishing:

But at that time fishmen used the net. They drilled many holes in a line through which they pulled the net from one point to another.

Asked what the thickness of ice cover was. They said, 1 m. – 1.5 m.

One of the major ice holes to get out the net.

With the net, we caught a dozen of fishes such as fat perches and crusians, and golden-look pikes.

Mmmmm. Yummy!

My trip to the Yana River happened thanks to GamesAsia.ruSimilar Posts:

Kihilyakh & the Fire of the 5th Children of Asia International Sports Games [87 photos]

Bolot — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:27:10 +0000

To visit Kihilyakh, sacred stones in Verkhoyansk district in North-East Yakutia, was my long dream. I’ve never been to that area. And, finally, I made it.

Two weeks ago, I received a call. There was Yakutia’s Vice President Dmintry Glushko on the phone. Amazing. He asked, whether I wanted to go to Kihilyakh. “My god! Definitely,” I said. He continued, “There will be the ceremony of lighting of the Fire of the 5th Children of Asia International Sports Games.”

What is Kihilyakh?

Stones on hills in Verkhoyansky district of Yakutia. They look gorgeous and they are considered to be sacred and worshipped highly by Sakha people. This place is more like Mecca. It is believed, when you touch stones, you recharge yourself and get the power of nature.

Photos of Kihilyakh in summer

Legend about Kihilyakh (Stone People)

Elders say that there were People of Sunlight living on Earth in the ancient time. Their thoughts were as clean as spring water, and their deeds like milk brought abundance and prosperity into the Middle World. The world was kept in peace and order, and no wars and fights happened, as People of Sunlight owned the Sacred Fire, that had ability to endow strength and courage, wisdom and longevity. Evil Spirits of the Lower World learned about the fire. They got a strong desire to bring maladies and wars to the people and they decided to steal the magic fire.

To protect the land, People of Sunlight clashed in a battle with Evil Spirits of the Lower World at the top of the mountain at the coldest place on Earth, where nothing lived nor grew. Skies filled with lightnings, grounds trembled under warriors’ feet, and Evil Spirits were defeated for ever and ever. To guard the Sacred Fire, People of Sunlight stayed on the mountain and turned into stones to become eternal sentinels. Even now the fire might be seen in the sky as bright flames of the Northern Lights.

What is The Children of Asia International Sports Games?

Children of Asia is the biggest sports event held by Republic of Sakha-Yakutia once in four years. This summer we’ll have it for the 5th time.

The 5th Children of Asia International Sports Games is supported by Olympic Council of Asia, Russian Olympic Committee, and Nike (as a sponsor), etc. Everything about the Games might be learned on its official website www.gamesasia.ru.

What was the event held on Kihilyakh on March 28th, 2012?

The official fire of the 5th Children of Asia was lit and the torch relay started.

During 100 days, Children of Asia Torch Relay will cover 32256 km and go through 197 settlements across Yakutia.

The first, who took the torch fire, was bronze Olympic winner, boxer Georgy Balakshin. The second was Pavel Pinigin, free-wrestler, Olympic winner.

The event was visited by high guests, namely by Olympic Council of Asia member Gofur-Arslonbek Rakhimov, National Olympic Committee of Russia Secretary General Marat Bariev, representative of sponsoring companies, Nike and Megafon.

In below photographs you can see our fly in AN 24 over the Lena River, Verkhoyansk mountains, the Yana River, welcome ceremony in Batagai Airport, Kihilyakh, torch relay start celebration in the village of Elges, and Batagai Airport.

SEE PHOTOGRAPHS:
*Click thumbnails to enlarge picture in big size.

Similar Posts:

Winter Magic with Reindeer & Herders in Oymyakon, Siberia / Russia

Bolot — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:32:43 +0000

This winter scene is good for a Merry Christmas card, though reindeer here is in his natural environment… in Oymyakon, one of the coldest inhabited places in the world. Located in Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, East Siberia & the Far East, Russia.

This magic is brought from my recent reindeer sledding with Even nomads through valleys, rivers, hills and mountains.

See more videos.

Hereby Kesha, one of herders, is catching reindeer with lasso to prepare a big caravan for 5 travelers. Eventually, he caught 25 animals. Before catching, his brother Misha found reindeer in mountains where they were freely roaming amoung snowy trees.

This is already on the 2nd day of sledding. It was the end of daytime and the temp was much below -40 degrees Celsius.

Definitely, it was an adventure of 2012.

See the full photo-video report on reindeer sled travel on my other blog http://AskYakutia.com.Similar Posts:

Osuokhay, Sakha Round Dance Beyond Time & Space [video+music]

Bolot — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:22:56 +0000

Mira Maximova is a talented Sakha composer, who currently lives in China. Many might know her as a YouTuber ExUmira2. On her channel there are a lot of songs written and performed by her. A few years ago China closed the access to YouTube and now she can’t upload her new songs.

Recently she sent me the song Osuokhay, Sakha Round Dance Beyond Time & Space and asked, if I can post it on the website. Sure, Mira. That’s what I am doing now. Moreover, I made a slideshow with my photographs.

Further find information on the song dedicated to the Sakha traditional round dance known as Osoukhay.

Song: Mira Maximova.
Leading voice: Alex Montyro.
Photos: Bolot Bochkarev.
In pictures: Osuokhai during Stroganina Festival in Yakutsk, 12 Dec. 2009.

Dance Description:

Universal unity of people is symbolized by round dance with singing of Osuokhay, meaning existential circle. Dancers sing and move slowly with the motion of the Sun, as if following constant flow of life in time and space and giving the contribution of gratitude to heavenly bodies for their light and warmth given to people of Earth. The dance proceeds continuously till morning; in past Osuokhay has been sung for three days and nights. It is considered that everybody in a circle is charged with energy for the whole year. The ritual symbolizes the birth of Universe and Man.

Lyrics:

Oh-huo-oh-huo-oh-huo-khuy!
Eh- hey-eh-hey-eh-hey-kay!
I’m so honored here today!
To be with you all and say!

We are starting Osuokhay!
The roundelay of Sakha!
Let us speak out from the soul!
Our best regards to all!

May your inner mind be free!
May your breath be long and deep!
Always live your life in peace!
Live your life in harmony!

And let all-embracing Love!
Melt the ice inside your heart!
Make your body strong and hard!
Make You beautiful and smart!

Let deep wisdom grow up!
Wisdom that lives deep inside!
May you be from now on!
Good-looking, clever and strong!

May you always live in peace!
Let your mind be clean and free!
Let us wish to all our friends!
Kind regards and all the best!

We all dance and sing today!
Universal roundelay!
Dance is energizing us!
It is filling us with love!

We all have to realize!
That the Universe is one!
It wants love from all of us!
So space could be lighten up!

We are having round dance!
And the light surrounds us!
Due to our dance today!
The world became a better place!

So, My Friends, I want to say!
Let us change ourselves today!
Let us try to do our best!
To live lives with no regrets!

Oh-huo-oh-huo-oh-huo-khuy!
Eh- hey-eh-hey-eh-hey-kay!
Let us wish to all our friends!
Kind regards and all the best!

Dom!Similar Posts:

Yakut Horses Living in the Siberian cold. Not-Yet-Completed Documentary Episodes

Bolot — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 00:16:46 +0000

Huraay, Yegor Makarov (http://www.muuskhaia.ru/), prominent businessman in Yakutia, shared this video with me. He said, The world needs to know the Yakut horse.

The Yakut horse is a breed originated on the territory of the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia in North-East Siberia, Russia.

See how awesome they are in the extreme cold winter in Yakutia, Russia’s biggest Siberian region.

It is just a few episodes of Yegor Makarov’s new documentary. A teasing video was done with the help of talanted cameraman, Yuri Berezhnev. The film is not completed yet. They are working on it.

Meanwhile, you might wish to check what I have already on my blog under the tag Yakut Horse.

Feel free to share this video. Let’s spread a word about the Yakut horse.Similar Posts:

Extreme Cold Winter Weather in Yakutsk, Siberia / Russia. -50C -52C [photos]

Bolot — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:23:03 +0000

A few years ago, the Moscow-based Independent correspondent Shawn Walker arrived in Yakutsk, the administrative center of Siberia’s Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, in the deep winter. I think it was January. So, he wanted to visit Oymyakon, but he was lack of time adn eventually he didn’t make it to that coldest inhabited village.

Shawn returned to Moscow and wrote and an article with many Yakutsk winter images. He called his piece “Journey to the coldest city in the world.” That was like a bomb in the UK

Since that moment, mass media started to use the phrase “the world’s coldest city” for Yakutsk in their own stories. That’s actually true. Oymyakon, for instance, is not the city, it is a small village, though it has -60C as the average temperature in the late December and January.

Meanwhile, we are taling about Yakutsk City and its winter with -50C and -52C. That’s the temp we’ve got this week. Enjoy photographs.

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The World’s Coldest Road. Kolyma Highway in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [video]

Bolot — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:26:28 +0000

The photographs were taken on the road between Oymyakon and Khandyga in the mountain part of the Kolyma Highway known also as Stalin’s Road of Bones.

When we were driving, the outdoor temperature was as low as -55C. In the beginning of the way, i.e. in the village of Tomtor in the Oymyakon area, we registerd -57.3C. Extremely cold. Not surprised that the Kolyma road is considered by many as the coldest one in the world.

Photographs are mine. Song by the Yakutia-based rock band “103″ (give this group your like at http://facebook.com/103RockBand) Performed in the Sakha language.

- About Oymyakon at eYakutia.com and AskYakutia.com;
- the “103″ rock band;
- my travel to Oymyakon.Similar Posts:

Winter Welcome Celebration in Yakutsk, Yakutia, Siberia / Russia [photos]

Bolot — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:03:12 +0000

Winter starts from Yakutia! This is how a new travel project is called. What’s that? A good question.

Officials, who are responsible for tourism development in Russia’s Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, have been thinking over tricks of attracting tourists to Yakutia. They spent much time on that work. Indeed, it was a hard mission.

Yakutia is located pretty far away and, moreover, it’s huge and impossible to travel across in a short span of time and see all exotic things at once. What to do?

Three years ago, Yakutsk City Hall held its first Stroganina Festival. Stroganina is a delicous national dish made out of the fresh frozen Arctic broad whitefishes, whitefishes, and white salmons. See the above photo. By the way, the full photo report on that event is available at AskYakutia.com.

Yakutsk people liked such an event. As a result, it is arranged now annually in the early December. Locals started thinking why not inviting friends and other people to Yakutsk just for the sake of Stroganina Fest.

Early, the Yakut myth hero named Chyskhaan (The Bull of Frost) became popular among local people and used commonly in New Year public events. Nowadays, winter is not imagined without Chyskhaan. It became a Yakut version of Santa Clause and Russia’s Father the Frost.

Hey, by the way, a few times the Pole of Cold Festival in Oymyakon was arranged with all those three winter heroes, Yakutia’s Chyskhaan, Russia’s Ded Moroz (Father the Frost) and Lapland’s Santa Clause.

Since than, Ded Moroz from the Russian city of Veliky Ustyug tends to come to Yakutsk and borrow the cold from Chyskhaan’s hand and continue carrying it across the country to the West and declaring the soon-coming Happy New Year.

Oops, what am I trying to tell you? Oh, yeah, it seems that in the early December we are going to have the annual event called Winter Starts from Yakutia. In short, it will be the moment when we welcome the winter and send it to the rest of the world with all our Yakutian (read, Siberian) greetings.

Apart from the Winter welcome ceremony, we’ll have many other interesting events such as the Stroganina Festival, Ice Sculpture Contests, etc.

Below, please, see photographs taken during the Winter Welcome celebration with Yakutia’s Chyskhaan and his Russian fellow, Ded Moroz (Father the Frost) on one of the city’s major square.

Forgot one thing. It’s better to celebrate the winter, otherwise you’ll be left without snow for Christmas and New Year. Just can’t imagine how it is possible to Merry Christmas & Happy New Year without puffy white snowflakes.Similar Posts: