Altai

This weekend we took a trip to the Altai Mountains, located in the south of Siberia, near the borders with Mongolia and Kazakhstan. 12 hours on bus there, 48 hours in the mountains, and then another 12 hours back to Tomsk. Needless to say I'm worn out, and on top of that our flight to St. Petersburg leaves early tomorrow morning, but it was all worth it. The mountains were very beautiful, we did some fun excursions and generally had a great time together. We did hiking, saw a waterfall, went into a cave, and also went to a banya.

A banya is like a sauna - there's one room with a large, hot oven, and you poor water over it to steam up the room. You get really hot and sweaty, and then one of your friends beats you with birch branches as you lie down. When you've had enough you go into the next room, where you jump into a really cold pool. Repeat the process as much as you like. You leave the banya feeling clean and purified, not to mention warm. As is known, for many months of the year Russia is a very cold place, so the banya has become an integral part of the culture.

In conclusion, beautiful scenery, fresh air, and Russians of all ages in skimpy clothing. Pretty much like going to the backwoods in America. Now for pictures.

Birch trees are everywhere in Russia.

The tour guide got everyone to put their hand on the inside of the tunnel, make a wish, and then run around it three times, with the promise that your wish will come true. I personally think he was bored and curious to see what he could get people to do.

Beautiful scenery. What you don't see is the pile of garbage at my feet. People take it upon themselves to create garbage dumps here and there.

My new hat, in the fashion of the indigenous Altai people.