Skiing in Siberia

Back from skiing at Lake Baikal in Siberia...


First day was joyfully uneventful, I just sat around mostly. My host, Nina, and I struggled with English/ Russian language barriers for the most part, trying to make one another understood as best we could. Strolled onto the ice lake in the afternoon and enjoyed a silent moment with myself.

The next day was pretty similar, although Yefghenny turned up. He speaks english alot better, so this made communication easier and the conversations soared. Sadly, we also said goodbye to Nina.

On Thursday we headed to the ski slopes for some powder fun. I've never skied before, so I fell over about 20 times, but my progress was strong and fast, so by the end of the morning I was navigating the smaller slopes masterfully. Not enough, however, to manage the steeper stuff. This I didn't discover until it was too late and I was already up in the danger zone.

By this time I was quite tired and didn't really have the strength to control myself properly, so I fell harder and more often. In all a very fun time, though my muscles and bones ached severely.

Hitched a ride home with a very nice Russian girl. She ended up staying with us for the rest of the night as we wound down from a day on the slopes.

We wound down with food and Banya. Banya is a kind of Russian Sauna, except super heated and as such very intense. the idea is to stay in as long as possible, then run outside, onto the frozen lake and into a small holed smashed through the ice. The experience is invigorating almost to the point of spiritual enlightenment. I must've taken the icy dive at four times in total, and felt absolutely refreshed and exhausted by the end of my last day on Lake Baikal.

In 15 minutes I get on a train and head for UlaanBataar, Mongolia, where I'll be for about four days or so. Takes about 25 hours or so.

More soon...

djb.