Spring sun sends its first rays to Esso!
Although it´s now colder than ever, the bright light is not only sign of a new season, for me it’s also the beginning of a new chapter in my life. There are only three month left as volunteer on Kamchatka – and than the big unknown is waiting for me! I will start to discover it in June from Vladivostok – by motorbike. My journey will first lead me home to Switzerland, through Russia, Mongolia and the southern parts of Eastern Europe. It’s planned to be back home next autumn. So far my plans I dare to tell you – further secrets I won’t tell you ;-)
And here still the latest news from Esso:
Last weekend was the start of the Beringia, a two weeks lasting sledge dog race from Esso to Ossora, 950 km in the north of Kamchatka. 15 teams were at the start and Esso was for some days full of people. For the first time of my life I had also the chance to go for a short ride with sledge dogs. 13 dogs pulled us with an incredible speed over the fields near Esso. Additional information you find on http://www.sleddogrevue.de/Article260.phtml in German or on the official home page http://www.beringia.ru/index.php?home&lang=en.
The weekend before was the day of the reindeer herders. That day reindeer herders participate in traditional competitions, such as reindeer sledge race, throwing the chow (lasso) and hatchet, wrestling in the snow and jumping over a line of sledges. There you could also watch local dance ensembles perform traditional Evene and Korjak dances and locals were selling hand made souvenirs and handicrafts, such as fur hats, boots and mittens, bead embroidery, wood carvings and handicrafts out of birch bark.
The days are now already long enough to do nice skiing trips to the near and further surrounding of Esso and the snow has gotten more assured so getting ahead is no more so hard. See the pics!
Next time I will tell you about my stay at the reindeer herders’ camp.
