The Russian visa

Recently Yakutia was visited by Germans’ Land Rover off-road vehicle expedition “Paris – Moscow – New York: Transcontinental 2009.” Everything went smoothly. Two vehicles entered Russia, expedition members spend a few days in Moscow, gave the press-conference and did much work with cars preparation, then a few weeks on the way to Yakutsk. Eventually they arrived in our city. Precisely, one car reached the city only, another stuck in Aldan after unpredictable accident on the road. The repair took another few precious days.

And, you know, what happened next?.. Instead of forwarding to the Pole of Cold and Magadan, adventurers flew back to Germany in order to get another Russian visas with the new period of the visit to Russia.

How much time the visa procedure will take, nobody knows exactly. Two weeks (including flight time), for sure or maybe. So… To avoid such sitautions, when you didn’t manage to fit to the restricted visit period, and any problem with Russia’s Federal Migration Service in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), you must keep in mind a very important thing. That’s the importance of obtaining appropriate visas. Read More »

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Homestay in Yakutsk

This is incredible. A Swiss backpacker asked me about homestay possibilities in Yakutsk. I started thinking. At my place no free space is available. Kids, you know. His question seemed to stay without a positive response. But I went another way Read More »

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How do the people of Yakutsk survive in extreme cold?

Accepted a lot of questions from Marie, of windy Chicago. Three dozens, maybe. All of them about Yakutsk and its dwellers’ way of life in the winter. I had two attempts to answer and, sorry, made Marie waiting for the reply a few days, because I was sick and busy later. Read More »

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Happy New Year !!!

Wish you bright warm days all the year round, your dreams come true, health, prosperity and happiness not leaving your beloved and you! Read More »

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All about Andrei Borisov’s By The Will of Genghis Khan movie

Further is all one wanted to know about Andrei Borisov’s movie “The Mystery of Genghis Khan” known initially as “By the Will of Genghis Khan” Read More »

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The best period to visit Yakutia and experience extreme cold?

It’s now, actually. If to be more accurate, the best period for such visits is from the midth of December till the end of January. It is the very time to feel -50°C and less even in Yakutsk. Check out the table and my recent photographs. Read More »

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An interview about the life in Oymyakon, the coldest village on the Earth. Part I.

We, I and other Yakutians, are often asked about Oymyakon. The last time we forwarded received questions to a local resident. His name is Nikolay N. Krivoshapkin, 50-year-old driver, who was born, grew up and live the whole life in Oymyakon. Nikolay tried to describe what life in the coldest place on Earth looks like. He says: Read More »

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Railroad stations in Yakutia?

A Swiss, who plans to travel across Yakutia and go back to Moscow by train, asked a few questions about availability of railroad stations in the region. My answer is following: Read More »

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Is it possible to charter a helicopter from Tiksi Airport?

A scientist planning expedition next summer to the Lena River delta, asked about possibilities to charter a helicopter from Tiksi and who he should be in contact with. Read More »

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Photo Report: Another Day in Yakutsk, December 2008

Yeee, we are in the midst of intensely cold weather. December is prominent here for minus 40 degrees Celsius (-40F). The first day with registered -40C was December 5, 2008. Praise God, there were no strong winds, otherwise we couldn’t stand it. Read More »

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