Friday, 3 August 2012

Banja. Photo: Max HeikenfeldWe had not discussed before the expedition the possible need for privacy on the island. Well, I must admit, we have got on really well. For places in the tents we practically fought. The losers got the sleeping places at the warm station.

Nevertheless we have to explain: How can we get clean?
There was, of course, out in front of the station, the Lena River and on the adjacent bank almost perfect sand beach. And with about 17 degrees water temperature, we didn't need much encouragement to jump into it - the perfect cool down after a busy day.

But by far the best cure, however, for the several days under the mosquito shirt accumulated sweat is a twice a week our visit to the Banja - the Russian equivalent of the Finnish sauna. A few meters away from Banja Lake, there is the sauna cottage. The lake was named already by previous expeditions.

So, twice a week around 18 o'clock one can see the station residents armed with towels and toiletries marching the little path down to the lake. Two single-sex groups, each reserved two hours of banja, which group starting depending on the decision made each bathing day separately.

The banja, both the vestibule and pleasantly warm sauna itself offers relaxation, sweating and showering, but also a possibility for all sorts of interesting conversations. These discussions are, however, every now and then interrupted by a sudden "Oh, man, now it's getting too hot for me!" or the appropriate exclamation in Russian or English. Then the nearby lake, with its cold, clear water, becomes necessary cooling before the next round in the sauna. After about two hours clean, freshly shaved and relaxed researchers can be seen on their way back to the station.

Greetings from the relaxed - at least twice a week - "Wellness Island"

Max

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Main page of the English translation of the blog "Tundra Stories": http://page21.org/blogs/59-samoylov
Original blog in German: http://www.awi.de/de/go/Tundra-Stories