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Respublika Buryatiya

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    • Day 18

      Auf Wiedersehen Russland

      October 25, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

      Nach 2,5 Wochen verlasse ich nun Russland.
      Von Irkrutsk bis nach Ulaanbaatar sind es diesmal nur 22 Stunden Zugfahrt. Eine richtig entspannte Fahrt in einem fast leeren Zug.

      Nach einem abenteuerlichen Ausreiseprozess an unserem letzten Stopp in Russland, stehen wir nun aus Russland ausgereist, am Bahnhof und warten darauf in die Mongolei einreisen zu können.

      Bye Bye Russia 🇷🇺
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    • Day 97

      Bey bey Baikalsee

      June 5, 2023 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

      Das rückwärts ausparken ist nicht ganz ohne auf dem schmalen Kiesstrand mit den Bäumen, mit etwas Gefühl geht es aber.
      Ich halte nochmal ca. 35km später bei Vydrino hier hätte ich wesentlich besser und ruhiger gestanden kann man ja vorher nicht wissen.
      Ich freue mich das es laut Navi nicht so weit ist, allerdings stellt sich später heraus das es diese Strecke nicht gibt. Also musste ich über Ulan-Ude die lange tour weiter fahren.
      Am Gussinojesee halte ich auf einen Hügel und mache mir Essen man weiß ja nie wie wie lange es an einer Grenze Dauert.
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    • Goodbye Lenin

      December 6, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ -16 °C

      Nun haben wir einen großen Abschnitt unserer Hinreise nach Südostasien also schon hinter uns gelassen, mit dem Blick auf einen wunderschönen Sonnenuntergang in den Bergen Burjatiens schreiben wir diesen letzten Post aus Russland. Wir sitzen zu zweit in einem Viererabteil, weil es für diesen Abschnitt der Strecke keine dritte Klasse gibt und wir somit gezwungen waren, die teurere zweite Klasse zu buchen. Wir haben also den ungewohnten Luxus von Platz und Privatsphäre und sind gerade sehr zufrieden. Die Landschaft ist traumhaft, endlich gibt es mal was zu sehen! Nach tagelanger eintönig flacher, karger Landschaft in Sibirien nun jetzt Berge, dazwischen kleine Dörfer bestehend aus Holzhäuschen und eben haben wir eine Herde Wildpferde gesichtet!
      Diesen Post möchten wir aber dazu nutzen, noch einmal auf Russland zurückzublicken, auf unsere ersten Erfahrungen des gemeinsam Reisens und auf das was uns bisher so aufgefallen ist.

      Gemeinsam unterwegs sein:
      Wir sind bisher ein wirklich gutes Team, klar zicken wir uns ab und zu an (besonders wenn wir hungrig sind 😬), aber alles in allem läuft es echt gut. Ab und zu wird es leider sogar etwas stressig, den ganzen Tag Städte angucken und abends dann noch die nächste Station/Tag vorbereiten oder einen Blogeintrag schreiben/Fotos sichten. Da wollen wir noch besser werden und auch abends mal Zeit zum chillen haben (bspw. indem wir auf einen Schlag alle Hostels in China buchen wollen). Langsam ergreift uns beide der Großstadtkoller. Auch wenn natürlich alles super spannend ist, ist es ganz schön viel, ständig in diesen großen Städten herumzulaufen und ein Sightseeingobjekt nach dem anderen abzuhaken. Doch das wird sich bald auch ändern, wenn wir mehr an kleineren Orten und in der Natur sein können.

      Essen:
      Sicher denken einige von euch: vegan und Reisen - das kann doch nicht gut gehen, besonders nicht in Russland. Doch bisher lief es echt problemlos und wir denken, dass es ab jetzt noch um einiges einfacher wird. Das Frühstück haben wir immer selbst zubereitet, es gab Porridge mit Obst und Nüssen (🍌&🍎 gibt es hier überall). Meistens sind wir einmal am Tag essen gegangen und haben einmal gekocht. Für die Fahrten haben wir uns immer gut vorbereitet, meistens bei einem veganen Imbiss etwas zum mitnehmen für eine Mahlzeit geholt, Brot mit Veganer Salami/ Aufstrich und Gemüse gegessen oder eine Tütenmahlzeit verspeist. Dank Übersetzerapp und Happy Cow standen wir bisher vor keinen großen Problemen. Außer in der Pagode in Ulan Ude, in der wir einen Salat bestellten, der, wie es Salate so ansich haben, zu 70 Prozent aus roher Zwiebel und 29 Prozent aus winzigen, frittierten Kartoffelstückchen bestand, für das Grün gab es dann noch ein Prozent Koriander 😅. Außerdem gibt es leider nicht so viele deftige Snacks, auf denen wir verstehen was drin ist, und die Russen haben auch einen sehr weirden Chipsgeschmack. Meistens gibt es Chips mit BBQ, Pizza, Lauchzwiebel oder Krabben-Geschmack, wenn wir Glück hatten, gab es ausnahmsweise mal mit Paprika oder pure Chips. Aber unsere Gesundheit dankt es uns, dass wir nicht so viel Knabberzeug in uns reinfuttern (außer Oreos 😍)
      Typisch russisches Essen haben wir auch an einigen Stellen probiert und es war wirklich lecker. Sowohl das Borschtsch und die Pelmini in Moskau, als auch verschiedene russischen Gebäcke und Schichtsalate in Yekaterinburg oder die Manti in Novosibirsk und sehr viele Gerichte mit Buchweizen, alles war wirklich lecker. Nur den Vodka haben wir verpasst (jaja Schande über unsere Häupter 😱), da wir nicht lange draußen unterwegs waren oder was trinken gegangen sind und in den Zügen, glauben wir, Alkoholverbot galt.

      Die Zugfahrten:
      Wir haben uns wirklich in diese Art des Reisens verliebt. Klar schläft man nicht durch und im großen Abteil ist die Luft stickig und die Gerüche manchmal unangenehm. Klar ist die Toilette kein Luxus und man hört unweigerlich die Youtubevideos der Mitreisenden mit. Aber insgesamt ist es eine wirklich schöne Erfahrung und um einiges cooler, als zu fliegen. Wir sind mit jeder Zugfahrt glücklicher diese Route gewählt zu haben. Es ist ein ganz eigenes Gefühl mit 50 Menschen in einem Raum zu sein und durch die Gegend zu fahren oder zu viert in einer kleinen Kabine und aus den Fenster zu gucken. Das leise Rattern des Zuges und die sanfte Schaukeln sind mittlerweile zu liebgewonnenen Reisegefährt*innen geworden. Unser Alltag im Zug ist so angenehm unaufgeregt und wir haben Zeit zum relaxen und runterkommen, was wir nach den ganzen Großstädten wirklich nötig haben. Mal sehen as wir in den anderen Ländern für Erfahrungen mit dem Reisen machen.

      Was ist so ganz anders?
      Ein großer Unterschied sind die Sicherheitskontrollen. Besonders in Moskau gab es quasi in jedem Gebäude eine, jede Metrostation, jedes Museum ist ausgestattet wie ein Flughafen mit Metalldetektor zum Durchlaufen und einer Röhre zum Scannen des Gepäcks. An einigen An- oder Abreisetagen haben wir die großen Rucksäcke sicher 4 bis 5 Mal auf- und absetzen müssen. Die Kontrollen wurden aber mit der Reise weiter östlich weniger streng und in Ulan Ude wurden wir schon einfach nur noch durchgewunken. Auch die Polizeipräsenz in Moskau war ziemlich krass und manchmal auch etwas einschüchternd. Da kann man schon gut verstehen, warum nirgendwo auch nur ein kleiner Sticker an einer Laterne klebt.
      Außerdem scheinen die Russen und Russinnen eine weirde Liebe zu Hausschuhen zu haben 😅 In jedem Hostel mussten wir quasi noch vor Begrüßung und Check-in unsere Schuhe ausziehen und aus einer bereitgestellten Box mit Hausschuhen in allen Größen ein Paar aussuchen und anziehen. Und selbst im Zug haben 5 Minuten nach Abfahrt alle Leute bequeme Hosen und Hausschuhe an.
      So ganz anders war auch das Gefühl der Fremdheit, das wir beide bisher von keiner vorherigen Reise so kannten. Wir waren eigentlich überall immer die einzigen Leute, die kein Russisch konnten und die einzigen Tourist*innen. Sonst trifft man ja so ziemlich überall andere Europäer*innen oder andere Touris. Und die meisten Menschen hier haben auch eher reserviert reagiert, wenn sie mitbekamen, dass wir kein Russisch konnten. Wir konnten dann oft nicht einordnen, ob das nur an der Sprachbarriere lag. Zum Glück hatten wir aber ja auch einige wirklich nette Begegnungen. Und es tat uns oft auch wirklich leid, dass wir nur so wenige Worte auf Russisch konnten. Allerdings können wir auch echt sagen, dass das trotzdem nie Probleme gemacht hat. Irgendwie kann man immer, zur Not mit Händen und Füßen, erklären, was man möchte.

      Wir sind beide jetzt echt gespannt, was uns in Ulan Bator und China erwartet und sehnen uns nach Ruhe, Natur und warmen Sommernächte.
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    • Day 85

      Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha Tempel

      August 28, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      The Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha Temple is located on a hill about 3km away from the city center of Ulan-Ude. Especially the view to the city from the hill was very nice.

      Der Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha Tempel ist ca. 3km vom Bahnhof Ulan-Udes entfernt und liegt auf einem kleinen Hügel über der Stadt. Der Tempel an sich ist ganz nett auch wenn wir schon schönere gesehen haben aber für den Blick über die Stadt hat sich der Weg gelohnt.Read more

    • Day 84

      Ulan-Ude

      August 27, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      It is our last city in Russia and it is not a really nice one. It is very dirty and we found nothing special here. Tomorrow we will visit a temple maybe this is more interesting than the city.

      Die letzte russische Stadt die wir besuchen ist tatsächlich auch die hässlichste. Ulan-Ude (neuer Name Ulan-Öde :D) ist eine sehr schmutzige Stadt und ohne viele Highlights. Dennoch gibt es natürlich ein zwei nette Ecken, aber mehr leider nicht. Morgen gehen wir nochmal zu einem Tempel, mal schauen wie es uns dort gefällt.Read more

    • Day 86

      Goodbye Lenin, Mongolei wir kommen!

      August 29, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

      After 29 days travelling through Russia it was time to leave. We took the Trans-Mongolian Train from Ulan-Ude to Ulanbataar. The people in the train changed completely to the people in Russian trains. There are almost only backpackers and other tourists in this train. In our compartment there were backpackers from Sweden, Denmark, England, Ireland and even a girl from Nippes :D. Later in the taxi to our hostel we met a couple from Niederkassel.
      The landscape the train passed was really amazing and at around 8pm we have reached Naushki the last Russian city before the border.
      When we arrived the toilets were locked (for 5 hours :D) and everyone needed to get out of the train for about 10 minutes. During this time really nothing happened except millions of mosquitoes biting everyone. After that we were allowed to get in again and we needed to wait for the passport and custom control in our compartment. The whole process was done quite fast at our cabin but nevertheless the train stopped for about two hours and the train checked completely by military guys.
      At around 10pm the train continued in direction Mongolian border. All windows were covered so that nobody could see anything outside anymore. After 30 minutes the train stopped again and the Mongolian passport control started. This was really fast and the guy was very nice, but nevertheless when the train continued it was after midnight already and it was time to sleep. At 7am we have reached Ulanbataar.

      Tomorrow we will start to a 7-day Safari to the desert Gobi. We are really excited!

      Nach 29 Tagen in Russland war es heute Zeit in die Mongolei zu reisen. Mit der Transmongolischen Eisenbahn ging es von Ulan-Ude nach Ulanbator. Das Publikum in der Bahn hat sich plötzlich auch komplett geändert: Anstatt fast ausschließlich Russen sind nun nur noch Touristen im Zug. In unserem Wagon tatsächlich auch ausschließlich Rucksackreisende wie wir aus Schweden, Dänemark, England, Irland und tatsächlich auch einem Mädel aus Nippes! Im Taxi zum Hostel haben wir auch noch ein älteres Ehepaar aus Niederkassel getroffen. So klein ist die Welt!
      Je näher wir der Mongolei gekommen sind desto beeindruckender wurde die Landschaft und dadurch, dass alle (abgesehen vom Zugpersonal) Englisch sprachen war die Stimmung bei uns ganz gut. Gegen 20 Uhr haben wir dann Naushki die Grenzstadt Russlands erreicht. Hier mussten alle für 10 Minuten aussteigen und in dieser Zeit passierte nichts, ausser das wir gefühlt ein paar tausend Mücken sehr glücklich gemacht haben. Danach durften wir wieder einsteigen und warteten auf die russische Pass- und Zollkontrolle. Die Kontrolle ging sehr schnell und war für uns sehr komfortabel, denn eine Passkontrolle im Bett ist ja gar nicht so schlecht. Dennoch wurde jeder Millimeter im Zug abgesucht und es ging erst nach ca. 2 Stunden weiter Richtung Mongolei. Nach der Abfahrt wurden alle Fenster verhangen, damit man auch ja nichts geheimes auf der Grenze entdeckt.
      Der Zug fuhr ca. 30 Minuten bis er kurz nach der Grenze in der ersten mongolischen Stadt wieder zum stehen kam. Hier gingen dann die Grenzkontrollen wieder vom vorne los, allerdings bedeutend freundlicher und nicht annähernd so genau. Dennoch sind wir erst um 0:20Uhr weiter in Richtung Ulanbator gefahren, also ca. 4,5h nach Ankunft an der russisch-mongolischen Grenze.
      Gegen 7 Uhr morgens sind wir dann pünktlich in Ulanbator angekommen.
      Morgen geht es dann auf eine 7-tägige Tour in die Wüste Gobi. Das wird hoffentlich mega cool!
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    • Day 47

      Galère vers Archan

      May 14, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

      Il suffisait de dire que le stop était facile en Russie pour qu'on galère ensuite. Ce matin on reprend la route direction le petit village d'Archan dans les montagnes à 3h de route d'Irkoutsk. 1er conducteur rapide malgré la neige qui tombe. Mais on reste bloqué plus de 3 heures sur la route pour être enfin sauvés par un russe qui nous fait office de taxi cheap. La galère en vaut quand même la chandelle. On est niché entre les montagnes et on dormira au chaud ce soir.Read more

    • Day 13

      Adventures at Lake Baikal

      April 18, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

      We jumped into the car and drove back down the road we had come up yesterday to visit the town Turka. We found a good spot to get some pictures of the lake and ended up spending some time here clambering over the snow, indulging in a snow fight, breaking off icicles and testing the ice. We had wanted to walk across the lake to another big snow drift further out but after testing the ice we didn’t think it would be very safe, much to our chagrin. Mike and Kyria ventured out a bit further Heidi had a great time slipping and sliding in the snow.

      We all felt like a hot drink to warm us up but they don’t seem to have cafes round here - just canteens so we continued our drive down to Gremyachinsk. We wanted to check out a resort located here as we were keen to experience the hot springs. The resort was not as impressive as expected - I guess having done the hot springs in NZ I’m a bit spoilt but the rooms weren’t amazing, except for the extra fancy one which was $400 per night and you had to pay extra for the facilities. We like where we’re staying so we thought we might just come back to the resort during the day and use the banya (hot baths / cod baths / sauna etc).

      We couldn’t find much for lunch so we ended up stopping at a canteen and having lunch there. Then we drove round a bit, exploring a few back roads and stopping to take photos of the scenery. At one point Kyria was hanging out the car window getting photos! We were hopeful of seeing a bear in the forests but no Iuck! Perhaps they’re still hibernating!!

      We then drove back the the guest house for Heidi to have her nap.
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    • Day 21

      Privet Ulan-Ude!

      April 21, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

      My last stop in Russia has probably been one of the best. Let's catch you up withy my stay in Ulan-Ude.

      Train 5 - Irkutsk to Ulan-Ude

      As this train journey was only seven hours and was during the day I decided to choose a seat instead of a bed. My carriage was only about a third full so was a very quiet journey. I read most of the way, although stopping to take in the amazing view of the lake which we travelled alongside for about an hour. I still can't quite get over its size. I arrived in Ulan-Ude at about 10pm and walked the short distance to my hostel. I was quite hungry when i got there and the girl working at the hostel told me there was a shop nearby that would be open. On the way there though i noticed a Subway out of the corner of my eye. I caved. I chose the easy option. Don't judge me...

      Day 1 - Ivolginsky Datsan

      I decided to take the local bus out of the city to the village of Ivolgiansky to visit the datsan (Buddhist monestary) which is the oldest Buddhist monestary in Russia. The journey was very straightforward and I arrived after 40 minutes. As it is a Buddhist temple there are a few rules which should be followed when inside the complex. When you enter the complex (which is a series of temples and buildings within a walled area) you have to walk around the tiled path in a clockwise direction, in a proud manner (being in thought or prayer), and you must spin the Mantra scrolls that you pass them, which is supposed to symbolise the mantras being read and the enegry being released. Only after have you completed this circuit can you enter the temples themself. After the first circuit I walked around again and then went into each other temples as I walked by. As you enter you must take off your hat as a sign of respect, and when inside you must also walk around the room in a clockwise direction. Each temple I went in was empty apart from a single monk who i assume is there to look after the buildings between prayers. The buildings themselves are very colourful, and insde are decorated with a number of coloured silk scarfs and flags. There is an area in the middle of each one with small seats and cussions where the monks pray. And as they are meant for prayer it is forbidden to take pictures inside. It was very peacful walking around the monestary, and as it is off season for tourists, and it was actually snowing that day the place was nearly empty. Just a few monks walking around and locals who are visiting to pray. As i was trying to enter the main central monestary a monk came over to see if I needed help. He explained that the temple was closed as the monk was probably eating. He then said that he had some free time and would i like him to show me around. He explained that each temple was build for a different lama. And the one that i was trying to enter was actually for the 12th Pandito Hambo Lama who was 166 years old and was inside meditating and has been like that for 95 years. More on that later. He gave me a small tour of the complex where he showed me a few temples, the university where the apprentice monks train, and was even kind enough to show me his house on the site. As we were walking around he explained that he studied in India in an english school and that is why he can speak the language but he has forgotten alot, so when he sees tourists here and has some free time he likes to talk to them to practice. As we were about to part ways, as the main temple was about to open again, he asked if I had facebook. So now folks I am facebook friends with a very cool Buddhist Monk. I didn't expect that when i woke up this morning! I then whent to visit the 166 year old Lama. And as no photos were alowed inside the temple I am afraid you will have to visit Ulan-Ude to see him for yourself. Words will not suffice.

      Day 2 - Ulan-Ude

      I decided to get the local bus to Datsan Rinpoche Bagsha, the temple within the city, which also provided a panoramic view of the city. When i got on the bus it was standing room only and I positioned myself in the aisle next to an older man. I glanced at him and he took that as an ivitation to start talking to me. I told him i didn't speak any Russian (in Russian), but he carried on talking to me. He had a book with him, which i later learned was of foreign literature, and he was trying to show me pages from England, in Russian. I kept smiling and nodding along and then he closed the book and handed to me and said "present". I said "are you sure?" and he kept nodding. I thanked him and took the book and then sat down in a newly empty seat. He then turned around to me and nodded and said "hmm... Beatles!...John Lennon... Paul McCartney...". I then interjected "Da... Ringo Star." He smiled excitedly and then turned away. I then heard people laughing and turned around and saw two local girls who said "he's crazy". After a few minutes he got up for his stop and said "Goodbye my friend" as he left. Well that was definitely the most interaction I've had with a local who wasn't working in a hostel. Once at the temple I followed the same rules as the previous day and walked around the complex in a clockwise direction, but this time i took a few pictures as I walked as it seemed to be a more relaxed place. As I was walking around I saw the two girls from the bus ahead of me talking. As I approached them one turned around and said "Hello, where are yoou from?", I said "England", they said "Oh, England! How exciting! Maybe we can help you?", I said "oh yes please!" Cue me spending the next hour with them walking around the temple, talking about travelling and what they do (both 22 years old, studying helicopter engineering). One of the girls, Kristine, spoke English quite well and the other one, Masha, could understand quite a bit but only felt confident to speak a few words. After walking around for about an hour, talking and taking pictures, we came to the end of the temple walk. The girls then asked what my plans were for the rest of the day. I said I had none. They then said they had another friend who had a car and we could go to the Ethnological museum just outside the city. Of course I jumped at the chance. We got the bus back to the city centre and then walked down the main pedestrian street to where their friend picked us up. Sasha spoke no English at all so spoke with Masha in the front while me and Kristine sat in the back seat. During the drive I could work out that Masha was telling Sasha about the man on the bus. It was then that Kristine told me that the man was actually telling me the he didn't like England or English people and that the Queen was a bad person. And he seemed so friendly! Oh well... My new friends were very sweet and insisted on buying my ticket for the museum, with Sasha saying "present". The ethnological museum is a big open are museum where there are loads of actual houses from different areas of Russia from the last hundred or so years. The houses have actually been moved from other parts of Russia and rebuilt in the museum. It was really interesting walking around and seeing how people used to live in the past, and comparing the sizes of houses to what we are used to now. We walked aroung the museum for about an hour, during which my new friends asked if I wanted to go to Lake Baikal, two hours drive there and back. I thanked them but explained that I had already been and I think too far for me today. After the museum we drove back to the city and they dropped me at my hostel, not before exchanging Instagram details though!

      So what I have learnt is that in Ulan-Ude, if you look like a tourist you will attract such kind and helpful people, as they are so surprised that you have travelled to their small city far away from Moscow. I don't think i have to tell you that it has been my favourite city in Russia to date.

      So there you have the last of my stories from Russia.

      Before I leave you again here are a few things i have learnt about Russia:
      1. All trains run on Moscow time (which is mighty confusing when the country spans 11 time zones!)
      2. The trains run bang on time.
      3. There is no drainage system in the roads (which means lots of surface water during spring).
      4. Unfortunately (for some western travellers at least) you cannot flush toilet paper, there are seperate bins for that...
      5. Russians have two passports, a domestic and an international passport. Very handy I think.
      6. Unlike other places I have been, you will find many locals living in hostels as they work in other cities for short periods.
      7. There is a statue of Lenin in every city in Russia (and in Ulan-Ude it is just his head, but it is huge!)
      8. Russians like weird statues.
      9. It is not impossible to be Vegan here, but it definitely gets harder the further east you go.
      10. Russia is a MASSIVE country, and one that is definitely worth exploring!

      So that concludes my Russian journey. Next stop Mongolia!

      Dosvidaniya!!
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    • Day 14

      Banya Experience

      April 19, 2018 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ -3 °C

      We had a fairly quiet day today - catching up on sleep etc. Eli, Heidi and I went for a walk this morning down to a local banya (hot pool / sauna etc) and cafe we had seen advertised. It was quite cold today - I think we were only getting a max of 3 or 5! But once you had been out for a while you adjusted and it didn’t feel so bad. We were disappointed to find the place locked up and nobody home. Guess they weren’t operating at the moment. Heidi enjoyed crunching in the snow on the way back. I stopped to stock up on our chocolate supplies on the way home. Ive lost track of how many blocks of chocolate we’ve consumed - they are smaller than the usual!

      I think Heidi enjoyed having a more chilled day. I took her out to play in the sandpit and then she was running round inside playing with the few toys they had provided.

      Eli rang the resort we had visited yesterday to see if we could go there this afternoon. We weren’t able to get in until about 5 as it would take a couple of hours to heat up the banya. We put Heidi down for a nap in the meanwhile.

      The banya experience was fun. We had sole access to a small building which had a small eating area, toilet, shower and sauna with hot and cold pools outside. We changed into bathers and went outside to try the hot pool. We were a little disappointed to find it was not very warm - about 30 degrees which was just over lukewarm. We all hopped in eventually. I had been sitting on the bench feeling cold as I didn’t want to bother getting wet if it wasn’t that warm. But it was warmer than sitting out in the cold! Heidi had a great time jumping round in the ‘bath’.Then we made a dash for the hot shower to warm up. The others also went in and out the sauna while Heidi and I played around with the shower. The head came off and Heidi had fun showering everyone with it!

      We did this for a couple of hours and then finished up feeling warm and toasty. The sun was setting so we made a drive down to the lake to get some photos. We arrived at the perfect time and managed to get some nice pics. We ventured onto the ice a little, however it wasn’t as firm here and although we were still on the sand, three of us ended up with a wet foot!

      We drove back to the resort (we’d only gone 5 mins away) to have dinner. We were upstairs and as no one else was dining, we chose the table in a room off to the side with glass windows all around with a view of the lake. The lady tried to get us to sit inside the main area but we insisted we wanted the view. We came to regret our choice as the room was not heated and we slowly became colder and colder, especially having wet feet. We were all sitting there with our coats and beanies on! We felt bad at mucking up another table setting so decided to grin and bear it. The waitress didn’t speak a word of English and responded in Russian to everything we said so we were thankful for Kyria otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to make head or tail of what she said! The resort seemed to cater mainly for Russians as there were no english menus.

      We ate quickly (well I tried to but I’m terribly slow - I just can’t chew as fast as other people!) so we could get back and warm up. It was late when we arrived back so we all made for bed.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Respublika Buryatiya, Buriatia, République de Bouriatie, Бурятия, Burjatien

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