smiesj's Photobucket 04 - Ulan-Ude album media

Baikalsk railway station (which, for some reason, is several kilometers out of town), whence we caught a train to Ulan-Ude.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 02:04:10 MDT

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Baikalsk railway station (which, for some reason, is several kilometers out of town), whence we caught a train to Ulan-Ude. - Siberia313.jpg

This was a westbound train, but the livery is identical to that of the one we took to Ulan-Ude.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 02:02:03 MDT

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This was a westbound train, but the livery is identical to that of the one we took to Ulan-Ude. - Siberia316.jpg

Travelling kupe: Scott is happy to be out of Baikalsk.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:54:04 MDT

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Travelling kupe: Scott is happy to be out of Baikalsk. - Siberia320.jpg

I\'m just happy to be on a train. In this case, train 340 from Moscow to Chita.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:54:03 MDT

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I\'m just happy to be on a train. In this case, train 340 from Moscow to Chita. - Siberia321.jpg

Thomas catches some Zs.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:54:01 MDT

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Thomas catches some Zs. - Siberia324.jpg

Upon discovering our nationalities, this gentleman embarked on a lengthy diatribe about the second world war; he also insisted on being called \"tovarich.\"

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:53:59 MDT

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Upon discovering our nationalities, this gentleman embarked on a lengthy diatribe about the second world war; he also insisted on being called \"tovarich.\" - Siberia326.jpg

View from room 1208 of the Buryatia hotel in south-easterly direction.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:47:03 MDT

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View from room 1208 of the Buryatia hotel in south-easterly direction. - Siberia327.jpg

View continued, tracking right to look due south.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:47:01 MDT

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View continued, tracking right to look due south. - Siberia328.jpg

View continued, now looking south-west. At the bottom of the slope is Lenin street.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:47:00 MDT

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View continued, now looking south-west. At the bottom of the slope is Lenin street. - Siberia329.jpg

Daily gate to the Ivolginski datsan (Buddhist temple). Once inside the gate, one is supposed to pass clockwise along the outer perimeter, in order to cleanse oneself spiritually before entering the datsan itself.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:37:29 MDT

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Daily gate to the Ivolginski datsan (Buddhist temple). Once inside the gate, one is supposed to pass clockwise along the outer perimeter, in order to cleanse oneself spiritually before entering the datsan itself. - Siberia365.jpg

Just inside the gate, a sign instructs you not to argue.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:37:27 MDT

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Just inside the gate, a sign instructs you not to argue. - Siberia364.jpg

The circuit of the perimeter is teeming with prayer wheels, with less-than-subtle encouragements to give a donation at each one. This adds up.

smiesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 01:35:11 MDT

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The circuit of the perimeter is teeming with prayer wheels, with less-than-subtle encouragements to give a donation at each one. This adds up. - Siberia332.jpg

A treeful of prayer flags. One writes one\'s prayer on the flag, and supposedly the wind will convey your prayer to the powers that be.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:09:46 MDT

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A treeful of prayer flags. One writes one\'s prayer on the flag, and supposedly the wind will convey your prayer to the powers that be. - Siberia333.jpg

Scott, with a closer look at a prayer wheel.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:09:44 MDT

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Scott, with a closer look at a prayer wheel. - Siberia336.jpg

Scott spins a prayer wheel. Note that this is a different prayer wheel from the one in the previous photo. I stopped taking pictures of them after I ran out of small change, which was remarkably quickly.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:09:42 MDT

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Scott spins a prayer wheel. Note that this is a different prayer wheel from the one in the previous photo. I stopped taking pictures of them after I ran out of small change, which was remarkably quickly. - Siberia337.jpg

A clutch of houses in the compound; fairly typical Siberian designs.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:09:40 MDT

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A clutch of houses in the compound; fairly typical Siberian designs. - Siberia338.jpg

Our guide (in white T-shirt) answers some questions.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:03:37 MDT

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Our guide (in white T-shirt) answers some questions. - Siberia340.jpg

On the far side of the compound, looking through to the main gate.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:03:35 MDT

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On the far side of the compound, looking through to the main gate. - Siberia341.jpg

More prayer flags.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:03:33 MDT

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More prayer flags. - Siberia342.jpg

Yours truly; Thomas on the far right, and Andre (from the Evenk trail team) center.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 21:03:31 MDT

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Yours truly; Thomas on the far right, and Andre (from the Evenk trail team) center. - Siberia347.jpg

This building is used to train budding lamas.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:51:26 MDT

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This building is used to train budding lamas. - Siberia348.jpg

New construction adjacent to the training building; note the lama (in orange) providing spritual guidance.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:51:25 MDT

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New construction adjacent to the training building; note the lama (in orange) providing spritual guidance. - Siberia350.jpg

The instruction building again, with a stupa in the foreground.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:51:19 MDT

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The instruction building again, with a stupa in the foreground. - Siberia351.jpg

I don\'t know what the purpose of this building is (it may have been a new library), but I thought it looked pretty.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:51:17 MDT

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I don\'t know what the purpose of this building is (it may have been a new library), but I thought it looked pretty. - Siberia353.jpg

The datsan itself, seen from the perimeter path.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:43:42 MDT

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The datsan itself, seen from the perimeter path. - Siberia357.jpg

Ceremonial gate giving direct access to the datsan (and only for use by the Dalai Lama or something); Scott is caught at an inopportune moment.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:43:40 MDT

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Ceremonial gate giving direct access to the datsan (and only for use by the Dalai Lama or something); Scott is caught at an inopportune moment. - Siberia359.jpg

Our guide and various GBT volunteers on the causeway leading to the datsan. Note the tigers guarding the approach.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:43:38 MDT

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Our guide and various GBT volunteers on the causeway leading to the datsan. Note the tigers guarding the approach. - Siberia358.jpg

Scott contemplates one of the tigers.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:43:36 MDT

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Scott contemplates one of the tigers. - Siberia360.jpg

Critter at the datsan steps; it may be a qilin, but I don\'t really know.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:37:09 MDT

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Critter at the datsan steps; it may be a qilin, but I don\'t really know. - Siberia361.jpg

New building under construction

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:37:07 MDT

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New building under construction - Siberia363.jpg

Soviet-era locomotive parked at Ulan-Ude railroad station

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:37:02 MDT

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Soviet-era locomotive parked at Ulan-Ude railroad station - Siberia372.jpg

Detail of the locomotive\'s cab

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:36:58 MDT

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Detail of the locomotive\'s cab - Siberia373.jpg

Snooping from the hotel room window

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:36:56 MDT

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Snooping from the hotel room window - Siberia375.jpg

Scott doing his laundry. Fourteen years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the bathtub still did not have a plug.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:33:07 MDT

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Scott doing his laundry. Fourteen years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the bathtub still did not have a plug. - Siberia376.jpg

Depending on whom you talk to, this lady is the spirit of Buryat hospitality or their ur-mother.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:29:15 MDT

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Depending on whom you talk to, this lady is the spirit of Buryat hospitality or their ur-mother. - Siberia377.jpg

Yours truly with Vicca, a Buryat student who helped us find lodgings on our first evening in town. We ran into her again while she was on her way to class.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:26:09 MDT

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Yours truly with Vicca, a Buryat student who helped us find lodgings on our first evening in town. We ran into her again while she was on her way to class. - Siberia379.jpg

Lenin street pedestrian zone

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:26:07 MDT

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Lenin street pedestrian zone - Siberia380.jpg

Shop on Lenin street. We dug the Atlas-type figures.

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:26:03 MDT

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Shop on Lenin street. We dug the Atlas-type figures. - Siberia383.jpg

Lenin street pedestrian zone

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:26:01 MDT

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Lenin street pedestrian zone - Siberia384.jpg

Lenin street pedestrian zone

smiesj — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:22:59 MDT

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Lenin street pedestrian zone - Siberia386.jpg

The Univermag department store on Revolution square.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:35:29 MDT

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The Univermag department store on Revolution square. - Siberia388.jpg

Monument on Revolution square, commemorating the capture of Ulan-Ude by the Bolsheviks in 1920.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:32:38 MDT

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Monument on Revolution square, commemorating the capture of Ulan-Ude by the Bolsheviks in 1920. - Siberia389.jpg

St. Mary\'s Orthodox church, at the junction of Lenin and Banzarov streets.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:30:35 MDT

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St. Mary\'s Orthodox church, at the junction of Lenin and Banzarov streets. - Siberia393.jpg

Closer view of the church

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:30:03 MDT

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Closer view of the church - Siberia395.jpg

House on Banzarov street.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:28:07 MDT

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House on Banzarov street. - Siberia401.jpg

House on Banzarov street.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:26:49 MDT

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House on Banzarov street. - Siberia402.jpg

Buryat bootsellers with their products at the outdoor market.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:16:52 MDT

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Buryat bootsellers with their products at the outdoor market. - Siberia403.jpg

Vegetable sellers at the outdoor market.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:15:44 MDT

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Vegetable sellers at the outdoor market. - Siberia404.jpg

The interior of the indoor market.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:14:00 MDT

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The interior of the indoor market. - Siberia409.jpg

School No.1 on Baltakhinov street, opened in 1937.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:11:30 MDT

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School No.1 on Baltakhinov street, opened in 1937. - Siberia410.jpg

Statue in front of the school

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:10:46 MDT

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Statue in front of the school - Siberia411.jpg

Ulan-Ude\'s first fire engine, now a monument outside civil defense headquarters.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:08:57 MDT

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Ulan-Ude\'s first fire engine, now a monument outside civil defense headquarters. - Siberia419.jpg

Orthodox church off Dimitrov street. It was built in 1798.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:07:20 MDT

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Orthodox church off Dimitrov street. It was built in 1798. - Siberia421.jpg

The local World War II monument, topped with a T-34/85 tank; it also features portraits of every Hero of the Soviet Union from Buryatia.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:03:11 MDT

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The local World War II monument, topped with a T-34/85 tank; it also features portraits of every Hero of the Soviet Union from Buryatia. - Siberia423.jpg

Scott & I with the tank

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:02:07 MDT

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Scott & I with the tank - Siberia428.jpg

The Buryatia, the Brezhnev-era monstrosity where we stayed; our room was on the 12th floor. The hat is mine.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 15:58:52 MDT

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The Buryatia, the Brezhnev-era monstrosity where we stayed; our room was on the 12th floor. The hat is mine. - Siberia430.jpg

Scott with the Buryat ballet dancers in front of the Buryat theater.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 15:57:09 MDT

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Scott with the Buryat ballet dancers in front of the Buryat theater. - Siberia432.jpg

Kombinat building, on the corner of Lenin and Yerbanov streets.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 15:53:32 MDT

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Kombinat building, on the corner of Lenin and Yerbanov streets. - Siberia433.jpg

The fountain in front of the Kombinat building is one of the spots where the cool kids hang out.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 14:13:19 MDT

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The fountain in front of the Kombinat building is one of the spots where the cool kids hang out. - Siberia434.jpg

Ulan-Ude boasts the largest head of Lenin in the world, which gazes over Square of the Soviets.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 14:01:16 MDT

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Ulan-Ude boasts the largest head of Lenin in the world, which gazes over Square of the Soviets. - Siberia435.jpg

Yours truly, by immense head of Lenin.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:58:27 MDT

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Yours truly, by immense head of Lenin. - Siberia436.jpg

Scott, dwarfed by the huge head of Lenin.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:56:21 MDT

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Scott, dwarfed by the huge head of Lenin. - Siberia437.jpg

The Buryat theater, taken from Lenin\'s head.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:55:23 MDT

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The Buryat theater, taken from Lenin\'s head. - Siberia438.jpg

The huge head of Lenin placed in wider perspective.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:52:27 MDT

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The huge head of Lenin placed in wider perspective. - Siberia439.jpg

We think this is Pushkin.

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:51:41 MDT

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We think this is Pushkin. - Siberia440.jpg

The Mongolian restaurant where we ate had a cool menu (and the food was pretty good, too).

smiesj — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 13:50:59 MDT

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The Mongolian restaurant where we ate had a cool menu (and the food was pretty good, too). - Siberia441.jpg