The Last Breath of the Siberian Summer

What is Siberian Summer like? Imagine: clear blue sky, and small meadow with alpine plants. Everyday is a fine weather. It is not even nearly rainy as in Europe. Rest of our landscape is flat. You cannot find here any ridges, ranges; if you will, it means that you are just right on the border of Siberia. The most enjoyable views are here, lean on birch or conifer and dream.

Everywhere people are friendly, it is not the most populated area in the World, and so you have to be fortunate person to meet someone. That is why hospitality – is the best nature of every Siberian nation (including mine Sakha). Little you did know about Northern Asia culture wasn’t enough to get in touch to it. Just come here and spend one summer, then you will feel whole the difference between literary work, documental proof and any scientific publication. Sometimes you can find here modern European “discoverers” by any kind of vehicle. Probably they are seeking here that difference.

As every Northern native, our best national feasts are at summer. Sakha people have got Yhyakh (please, don’t try to spell it, ask me to do it :) …) – celebration of summer meeting, successful spending the winter and the foretaste of better season. Generally this party is the biggest one after New Years Day (NYD is celebrated, like your Christmas, but I shall narrate it later), there are many national sport games, sing competitions, beauty pageant, horse racing, repasts, ceremonial stuff (feeding spirit of the fire, drinking kumys, meeting of the Sun). After this vast celebration Sakha people are going to haymaking.

In end of August everything is freezing and stopping growth. Real frost starts in September-October… Autumn starts. Everybody are welcome to Siberia! I can show you what does mean “Siberian Hospitality”. :) You need to do just one thing – try to not miss Yakutsk in my huge country.

Norwegian Folks

On N2N meeting I met foreigners. Kinda exchange students, but they are not really. There is no exchange between us. Just one way. :)

I have decided to show them surroundings. So we took a bus to the southern village of our valley. I think the most pictorial spot. For their luck there weren’t so many mosquitoes.

We made short hike to the top of hill (promontory). On that spot there is nice view to the river. We sat there had some beer (he-he certainly!), sang songs, eat our snack. It was warm, we decided to swim and try our river’s water.

Lena River is very cold. It was enough to be in water once.

On the way back my father picked us up. We did it fast and in minivan with conditioner otherwise we could get back home by bus. It is really exhaustible and unpleasant ride. Believe me I am an experienced Russian bus passenger.

Piece of Wilderness

General information. One day we have decided to make a hike: big circle from my village to abandoned military base and back home. Through the way there are meadow, hills, forest and cutting in a forest. Distance is 32 kilometers (20 miles). Estimated duration is 10-12 hours.

Hike participants. Hehe this is the funniest part! Just two persons, including me. I had been looking for the folk for 3 weeks! And didn’t find them! That is awful! Nobody wants to make a hike. Everybody needs just go out and barbecue a stake.

First step. First step were via “wide” meadow. It was the fastest part. When we reached to the forest line, then the Horror has begun. There were too many mosquitoes. So many, that you couldn’t undress. We had to wear jackets and hats in spite of hotness. For God’s sake, sun disappeared in clouds.

Second one. It started after lunch and was lied in cutting in a forest. It was the most difficult part of our hike. We had to cross many teeny streams, go up and down from the hill with numerous mosquitoes.

Third. Cool. We reached to the road leading to abandoned military base. Sun had appeared and insect gone. We cooled off with light breeze and went straight to the next point.

Fourth. Abandoned military base was build for the air defense reason, but at present days it is just big clearing with destructed buildings. There is quite fun if you are in big friendly company.

Check out my web gallery

http://picasaweb.google.com/Haska.uola.haska/FinishingUniversity

Here are some hot photos. Hopefully, I will post something soon :) Keep waitin'

Graduating with “Costello Music”

Since arriving home I have been learning as a real scientist. The great work was in finishing my thesis. Some people were writing it for whole winter, one person made it in two weeks J sweet! I had my final examination on the 4^th and thesis report on the 8^th of June. I am done!!! It is left to do some paper stuff and take the Diploma. I am free as a bird now!

I am sorry that I haven’t put any photos into my web album. There is nothing happening J I will do it after our “banquet” (celebration of our graduating).

At home agian

First thought in Moscow was "It's fckn' hot!" It was 29C and stuffy. Got to my friends' apartment quite soon - in two hours :) Next day I was melting. Goodbye my long hairs again! Too hot I am sorry. I entered to the first barber’s shop and I was surprised twice. For the first time – not perfect hair style, second – extremely cheap, equivalent to 400ISK! I wasn’t too disappointed, low cost compensated the haircut impression. Ha-ha (not funny). Firstly I bought jeans (my present size!), some T-shirts and enjoyed the summer (watch the photo in my gallery), secondly met a classmate and my best friend (it’s him, sitting behind of me in my avatar), thirdly went to the Red Square, fourthly with my sister and cousin planned to go to Europe for the Christmas holidays (I am not sure are they really going to do this Eurotrip, it will be nice). By the accident got wet to the skin in the thunderstorm when I was going back late night after cup of hot chocolate in kaffihus with friend of mine since childhood. Even if I hate Moscow, I had there a great time!

In Yakutsk here is high level of water in Lena River. Everything is in flood, furthermore it has been raining for a week. We have awful roads – all in mud. Father’s car is 4x4 Toyota minivan and diesel that’s why we don’t have any troubles with cross-country abilities. Dog is so cute and tender for everybody. No barking and biting. Home, sweet home.

The Sunny Day

The morning was glorious! Rock climbing and lots of fun there. I really enjoyed. Afternoon went to the swimming pool. Sweet!

Glerárkirkja - there was a concert. I adore live music and talented singers (keep going girls!). This concert was final chord in the Icelandic Part of My Life. With poor English vocabulary I cannot describe all my feelings. Have all the best moments to remember. I wish you enjoy your staying here. Good Bye Girls! xxxxxx oooo

Time to bid farewell to AK. Walked around, took some pictures. Bónús, veganestí, domino... statue =) Harbor and cafés )))

Click on the topic and you will be linked to "The Sunny Day" album in Picasa Gallery. Bless bless!

Saturday Night

Waking up... Steinn: "hey, do you wanna wash your clothes?"... I was sleepy and it took five minutes to give him right answer. Yeah...

Day I spend in my room trying to write my thesis. Mostly it is ready but I need organize it and make everything clear, put some definitions and analyze the field researching data. My head was stuffed so I have decided to go and meet Steinn in the gallery. There I met one funny guy - an Austrian artist. Hehe nobody can understand him cuzz he is mixing three different languages. Super I'd like to know those! He-he
Yes!!! It's starting. My first guests were Emily and Demian. Then Austrian girls came. We were talking quite long. Finally here came Sanne, Christina and Costa Ricans (Sorry guys... dunno your names). I invited Sanne upstairs to share with e-mails and showed her our map from the trip around country. Firework!!! Beautiful, fantastic combination of message receiving, and answering to that one at the same time. Others came up and were staying for awhile.
The adages of the evening:
"... sorry, what?" and "How much aspirin should you take to {censored}?" - becomes "Do you want some aspirin?"

Then we went to cafe Karolina (hehe) and continued our party there. Just talked a little bit and shared with contact information. Epic night! Thank you guys for everything! I love you! I will miss you!!!

Always be optimistic! One day we will meet again! No Doubt!

Café Karolína

Today I went to Ágúst´s place and we were trying to play guitar. I picked up Fool´s garden´s "Lemon Tree". It was a mistake. For bloody two hours we had been looking for the right chords. No one sang it. Sucked. Ha-ha...

There is nothing better than café Karólína. Every single meeting is in there. If you want to meet somebody just point that place. You can have a seat on couch and have fun. My Last Friday in Iceland I spent there with two very nice girls. Eve is from The States &-) and she has got 11 chicken at home! Cool! Petra is from Austria. And they gonna open coffee house in Vienna. I´d like to meet them there.

Rock climbing in Iceland

The best thing what I am doing in Iceland - is mountaineering. Actually today with Tom, Demian and Emily we went to Munkaþvera and hung on the cliff. My first time was two days before. It is amazing feeling, especially when you are trying to rappel and hang just on anchor. I was always afraid of the high, here I have found out that it was just small fear.

On our trip around Iceland we did ice climbing. That was quite nice experience. Guys were so excited! We have been in ice cave. Cool. Everything is in blue. Pure water was streaming, you could just open your mouth and enjoy the freshness. Our guide was funny man :)

Of cause I was skiing!!! Even you can find some video in U-Tube.

The main content of mountaineering is hiking. The Icelandic mountains make this country awesome, otherwise I could get here really bored :) My several hikes made time here much more colorful, useful and beautiful.

How my life does look like...: in Iceland (pictures)

Life in Iceland

YES! I did it!!! I've been an exchange student! Great conversational experience and lots of friends.