Monday, September 25, 2006

Kalmykia

Did everyone else know this country existed?

An entire Buddist nation within the Russian Federation? A nation populated by Kalmyks who seem... very Asian in appearence? A geek-filled place that has, at its head, a fellow who is president of the World Chess Federation?

http://www.newtimes.ru/eng/detail.asp?art_id=615 What an excellent picture. No ego evident at all. (and it sounds like he's embracing autocracy as only an Asian and, dare I say it, a product of socialism can.)

I think I've just found my next holiday destination, folks. A place that combines my love of dodgy places, Russian language and Buddhism.

I wonder how I'll arrange this holiday... But wait, I'm sure this year's chess championships in the capital Elista have put the place on the damn map by now.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun :) I might be looking for some dodgy holiday destinations on my way home next year :) We should do it!

Carol