It is 8pm in Khanty-Mansiysk (pronounced haunty-man sisk) and once again we are tired but thrilled to have had a day packed with new learning.
We spent time exploring the hotel/resort area this morning since we arrived at 2am and didn't see much last evening (photos below). It is beautiful here and appears to be well into the Fall season. The trees are changing, we can see our breath, it is crisp but not cold. There is much to do here at the resort but I'm not sure we will have much time. Traci L. was particularly disappointed that the ice skating rink hasn't opened yet for the winter season (JaeRan and Tracy C. on the other hand were quite happy about that).
We were fortunate that our hosts planned a cultural program for us that included viewing the city of Khanty-Mansiysk as well as two specific cultural points. First we visited the ethnographic museum, Torum Maa, an open air museum which has preserved the traditional life of the Khanty and Masi, two indigenous peoples of the area. After an extensive, personalized tour of the grounds, buildings, hunting areas, and spiritual gathering place, their native historian and keeper of traditions and language, "Zoya" cooked a traditional meal of fish soup, reindeer soup, Whitefish, bread, cowberries (also called mountain cranberries or lingonberries) with sugar ... and Vodka. Throughout the day we learned about how the traditional traps operated, what the various buildings were used for in the winter, as well as their more mobile dwellings in the summer (they resemble the tipi or lodge of indigenous people of North America).
Following our visit to Torum (Topym) Maa, we visited the Archaeopark. This is a favorite place among visiting Russians and other tourists as it is a sculpture park and quite picturesque. There are Pleistocene animals (Mammoths, wolves, buffalo etc.) located throughout the park-begging for children to climb on them, use their imaginations, and of course for tourists to pose and take photographs. Harriet, the unofficial mascot of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, got out to stretch her legs a bit at the Archaeopark and really enjoyed herself amongst the sculptures!
We hope you enjoy the photos (below) of our incredibly interesting day in Khanty-Mansiysk! Our conference begins in the morning with welcome from the Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk along with many other dignitaries. Conference sessions will be presented by our Russian colleagues tomorrow and the American presentations will occur on Tuesday. We are so excited!
A structure for rest for men who were out hunting. Also provided shelter from the wind to allow for fire
The tour group of Americans along with our host and Khanty elder, Zoya.
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These sculptures were HUGE and so beautiful. It is obvious why this is a favorite destination for local, national and international visitors! It was so great, that we couldn't leave Goldy and Harriet out of the fun ....
We spent time exploring the hotel/resort area this morning since we arrived at 2am and didn't see much last evening (photos below). It is beautiful here and appears to be well into the Fall season. The trees are changing, we can see our breath, it is crisp but not cold. There is much to do here at the resort but I'm not sure we will have much time. Traci L. was particularly disappointed that the ice skating rink hasn't opened yet for the winter season (JaeRan and Tracy C. on the other hand were quite happy about that).
We were fortunate that our hosts planned a cultural program for us that included viewing the city of Khanty-Mansiysk as well as two specific cultural points. First we visited the ethnographic museum, Torum Maa, an open air museum which has preserved the traditional life of the Khanty and Masi, two indigenous peoples of the area. After an extensive, personalized tour of the grounds, buildings, hunting areas, and spiritual gathering place, their native historian and keeper of traditions and language, "Zoya" cooked a traditional meal of fish soup, reindeer soup, Whitefish, bread, cowberries (also called mountain cranberries or lingonberries) with sugar ... and Vodka. Throughout the day we learned about how the traditional traps operated, what the various buildings were used for in the winter, as well as their more mobile dwellings in the summer (they resemble the tipi or lodge of indigenous people of North America).
Following our visit to Torum (Topym) Maa, we visited the Archaeopark. This is a favorite place among visiting Russians and other tourists as it is a sculpture park and quite picturesque. There are Pleistocene animals (Mammoths, wolves, buffalo etc.) located throughout the park-begging for children to climb on them, use their imaginations, and of course for tourists to pose and take photographs. Harriet, the unofficial mascot of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, got out to stretch her legs a bit at the Archaeopark and really enjoyed herself amongst the sculptures!
We hope you enjoy the photos (below) of our incredibly interesting day in Khanty-Mansiysk! Our conference begins in the morning with welcome from the Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk along with many other dignitaries. Conference sessions will be presented by our Russian colleagues tomorrow and the American presentations will occur on Tuesday. We are so excited!
The Cronwell Resort, Khanty-Mansiysk (our hotel)
Boarding the bus for a day filled with adventure - we couldn't leave Harriet or Goldy behind!
The open air museum of the Khanty traditional way of life
Traditional structures for summer living, drying and preparing food, and storing belongings
Daily tools, children's toys, skins used for warmth etc. Articles found within a traditional winter home
A toddler and infant beds can be seen in this photo along with a handmade bed cover and articles of clothing
A structure for rest for men who were out hunting. Also provided shelter from the wind to allow for fire
Traiditional Red Fox trap
Idols in the spiritual gathering place (Photo taken with permission). The idol in the middle represents the seven faces for the seven days of creation.
A traditional Khanty meal
The tour group of Americans along with our host and Khanty elder, Zoya.
These sculptures were HUGE and so beautiful. It is obvious why this is a favorite destination for local, national and international visitors! It was so great, that we couldn't leave Goldy and Harriet out of the fun ....
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