Online Radio Interview
Chatting with Santari Green from Quantum Creativity Online Radio about my impressions of Altai and leading on to my newfound hobby, Capoeria. This is the first time I have spoken […]
Category Archives: Life in the field
Arjhan
If you met Arjhan Kezerekov in Altai then you will probably already know that he passed away today. He was a great, great man. Arjhan was a public figure. He […]
As Eternal Glaciers Melt, the Soul Freezes
This week travelling into the valley I followed the line of the horizon waiting for the sacred mount to appear round the corner and greet us. Finally, there it stood. […]
Summer Solstice: Safe & Small
On the day of the summer solstice an international fire ceremony was held for the protection of the sacred karakol Valley. Despite my best intentions to attend I arrived late by […]
Happy Christmas from Russia – ‘keeping the arrow poised’
There are some things that I really miss about England such as ‘fish ‘n’ chips’ and a pineapple fritter served in newspaper, Cornwall and the sea but most of […]
Ice-Hole in Altai
There is a well-known eastern proverb that goes: ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood, haul water; After enlightenment, chop wood, haul water. This is my friend Vitya, my neighbour, who helped me haul water in the short, […]
Pilgrim’s Pages Autumn, ‘kyrgyzstan, Squirrels & Marina’s Library’
10th-21st September, Kyrgyzstan In September I went to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan to renew my visa for Russia. Whilst there I visited an American woman who was conducting research on wolves […]
Pilgrim’s Pages April (UNESCO Conference on Permafrost Burials)
Pilgrim’s Pages April 2006 UNESCO conference, Gorno-Altaisk, “The problem of preserving permafrost burials in the Altai” Unesco have just held a conference at the Gorno-Altaisk (capital) state university on “The […]
From a Pilgrim’s Pages – March
In 2002 I was offered work teaching English at a private language school in Novosibirsk, Siberia. I accepted the offer because it brought me closer to the Altai Republic. I […]
‘May’ from a Pilgrim’s Pages Ongudai Region 2006
We were certain that spring had finally arrived when there was an unexpected drop in temperature and all the spring flowers and buds huddled up in a white blanket for a […]
The Holy Ground
The Holy Ground Took Care of Everything Recently, I spent five days in a mountain valley, Kosh-Agach region, Altai Republic. Maiya from the Agency for Cultural and Historical Research organised […]
The Tying Post
When the earth shakes you need something to hold on to. What’s your tethering post? Personal earthquake – leaving Altai for Akademgorodok. No doubt, you have already found the […]
Altai New Year : Chagaa Bairam
I have heard it said that the measure of one’s culture is reflected in ritual for this is the way in which a people communicates with God, the deities […]
Snow
Preparations for Chagaa Bairam In preparation for the New Year celebrations, ‘Chagaa Bairam’, the snow was cleared from the square where Lenin stands…..Despite the temperatures (minus 30 and […]
