A Very Special Vacation Opportunity

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

While weaklings plan winter beach getaways, why not instead experience the cold of a lifetime - in Oymyakon, coldest place of former Soviet Union, Siberia? A fabulous once-in-lifetime tour for small group is offered here.

Excerpts from itinerary:

1 DAY

"Arrival in the early morning to the airport of Yakutsk…
Sightseeing program in Yakutsk, including guided tour to the Treasury of Yakutia . Visit to the complex Ytyk-Khaya,national traditional ritual of blessing Algys, visit to the complex Chochur-Muran where you can try out riding in the dog sleds (2 persons per sled). Visit to the Kingdom of Permafrost arranged in the glacier insides of the mountain located just next to Chochur-Muran…Shopping of the equipments…

2 DAY

Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Khandyga by 4WD minivan (appr.400 km, 8-10 hrs). We will cross the Central part of Yakutia and the Lena river and its right inflow the Aldan river.
Hot meals in field conditions (in the car)…

3 DAY
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer for the Oymyakon (appr 500 km ) along famous “Kolyma road” constructed by GULAG prisoners … Accommodation in the family house. Here you will have opportunity to experience the conditions locals live in (there is no drainage system in the houses, so all the inhabitants use outside WC facilities). Dinner and night in Oymyakon (in rooms for 2- 3 persons)

4 DAY

Breakfast at the family. Excursion around the Oymyakon. Visit to the Mayor of Oymaykon, receiving the certificates of visiting Pole of Cold. Visit to the horse-breeders. Acquaintance with their life, possibly horse riding. Lunch in the family. Under ice fishing in the Indigirka river. Dinner at the family…

5 DAY

After a late breakfast at the family, have fun participating in the short but very entertaining programme – make diverse practical experiments on the effects of cold & frost… Visit to the Winter houses of Chyskhan(the symbol of Cold) .

6 DAY

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Khandyga (about 450 km). Lunch with lunch boxes in the car.

7 DAY

Breakfast in the hotel. Transfer to the Yakutsk.
Hot meals in field conditions (in the car)…Souvenir shopping.
Farewell dinner at the restaurant

Promise, you will never forget!

2

Visit the Equator in Plague ravaged Africa.

Promise you will never forget the heat over the cold.

3

I’m wondering what kind of “souvenirs” are avaiable . . . a life-sized likeness of the Mayor of Ohmaykon, carved in ice?

4

aka
Visiting Rural Alaska. But with infrastructure!

That does sound like something I’d like to do just to see how the people live and see the similarities and differences.

5

All that driving in vans across the frozen wastelands! What keeps the gasoline from freezing?

6

In Russian vehicles? Fuck that.

7

Sounds like fun. Probably beats my vacation to Maoist-held civil war Nepal or my trip living atop a sack of rice on an overcrowded cargo canoe in Malo.

8

I think it sounds like fun, too, except I wouldn’t want to go all the way to Siberia for just a week. If I were already there, as part of a longer trip, it doesn’t sound half-bad.

9

Actually I’ve been back to some of the old family stomping grounds in Komi and also the Kamchatka Peninsula so that doesn’t sound half bad to me.

10

I think it would take less than a week to decide that you’re bored and want to leave.

11

Weather.com 10 day forecast.

Next Wed: Hi -29 Lo -44 Bring your sunscreen.

12

“There are 36 different types of snow and right now you’re standing within sight of 32 of them!”

13

I’m wondering about the “diverse practical experiments on the effects of cold & frost” you will engage in.

Might be amusing to see if Jack London was right about spitting at 50 below and seeing it freeze before it hits the ground.

14

If you need to pass the time on the long journeys.

" I spy with my little eye, something beginning with …S"

15

I can’t get past the word “Yakutsk” without thinking that I should attack Irkutsk or Kamchatka.

16

I’ll go! :slight_smile: I read a great book about traveling in Siberia last year. It was called…Travels in Siberia.

17

Do Not Lick Pole of Cold.

18

It’s tempting. I experienced a 126-degree heat wave in Death Valley, and it would be neat to experience the opposite.

They lost me, though, with the part about outside WC facilities. In winter. In Oymyakon. No.

I have to say, though, that given the tanking ruble the price is pretty darn reasonable.

19

My advice: don’t stick anything out unless you’re absolutely sure you can get it back in again.

20

I’ve heard if you pee on an electric fence, the current can travel up your stream & give you a nasty ZAP!
Is it like that with cold? Will it freeze before it hits the ground & travel up the stream to ice your junk? :eek: