Photo by Reuters via The Telegraph.
People covered in mineral-rich black mud prepare to bathe in the salt waters of Tus lake in Khakassia region of Russia.
All posts by “Elia Kabanov”
Culture shock: What you should expect of Russian NGOs
Photos by Maya Shelkovnikova.
The Western IT-companies CEOs, American diplomats and actor Ashton Kutcher arrived in Novosibirsk as part of the Russian-American Presidential Commission. Read More
Medvedev’s Photo Sold for $1.7 Million
Photo by Dmitry Medvedev.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s photograph of the Tobolsk Kremlin (the fortress in a Siberian town of Tobolsk) was sold for 51 million rubles ($1.7 million) at a charity auction in St. Petersburg. Read More
Fur, Felt and Food
Our colleagues from The Times [continue](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/weather/article6965700.ece) [to write](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/outdoors/article6977947.ece) about the inhabitants of Siberia who live permanently in a horrific frosts:
> Fur, felt and food are Siberia’s holy trinity for surviving and thriving in [exceptionally cold weather](http://metkere.com/en/2010/01/ice-yoda.html). “If Britain is getting a dose of our weather, then tell people to put on a fur coat and hat – real, of course”, – says Galina Ivanovna, 62, who stands at her outdoor market stall in Novosibirsk for six hours a day. In temperatures as low as minus 38C,she has little appetite for animal rights.
>
> “Wear valenki, boots made from wool felt, and put on lots of woollen clothes underneath”, she adds. “You need good thick gloves, like the ones I sell, and make sure you protect your neck with a really warm scarf. Thick, long socks too. Above all, eat a good breakfast before you go out. I usually have fried potatoes cooked in lard and a mug of lemon tea with three sugars”.
Obviously, journalists are trying to inspire the freezing UK citizens. We hope they are successful.
Grannies vs Putin
Russia’s Prime Minister [Vladimir Putin](http://metkere.com/en/2009/09/big-brother.html) is a well-known fan of judo, but he could face his greatest challenge yet as a martial arts class for grannies is ready [to challenge Putin on the mat](http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-12-26/babushkas-putin-martial-arts.html).
“Vladimir Putin! We invite you to come here. We can show you what we have learned”, – says Lyudmila Ignatenko, aikido class student from [Novosibirsk](http://metkere.com/en/2009/09/look.html). – “You know, once a Japanese guy came here – I knocked him out. Why not try it
“Vladimir Vladimirovich! Please come here! And if you allow us – we will try our favorite grips on you”, – says another aikido class student, Lyubov Adamchik.
Mr Putin possesses a black belt in judo, so it is likely he will not be easily knocked out. Regardless, the ladies are well-prepared.
“The ladies are not playing here, we don’t gather for tea or chatter. This is aikido as it should be”, – says aikido trainer Andrey Podoinikov.