Tuvan spa Ush-Beldir (Triple confluence), located in a difficult to get to eastern taiga part of the republic, 360 km from Kyzyl, won a Gold Medal in an interregional competition “Gemma-2009”, which just took place in Novosibirsk.

Among the best products and services of Siberia, the spa exceeded the famous “Krasnoyarsk Mountains” and “Shira”.

“Especially the effectiveness of the healing was evaluated, not the material basis”, Mira Opeyen, the head doctor, explains the sensational success of the Tuvan spa.

Despite infrastructural problems, the balneologic spa, which opened in 1933 at the elevation of 1127 meters above sea level, won great popularity by its healing methods and means not only among Siberians. The spa is connected with “Greater Tuva” only by air.

Trophy-Expedition “Metel-2010”, consisting of 10 off-road vehicles started out on Jan. 2 from Novosibirsk, taking the route: Novosibirsk – Abakan – Kyzyl - Saryg-Sep - Kungurtuk. The main goal of this trip is the abandoned fortress of the Uighur Kagan Eletmish Bilge-Kagan, which was built in 8th century. The total length of the route is about 3100 kilometers.

On New Year’s Eve, around 40 people aged 17 to 70 years ascended to the top of Mount Dogee north of Kyzyl.

“20 minutes to twelve, we were already on the peak of the mountain, - says Maadyr-ool Khovalyg, one of the originators of this ascent. – The challenge to meet the “Year of Tourism” in field conditions received a response from enthusiasts from Tes-Khem, Shagonar, and Ak-Dovurak”.

Allow me to express New Year’s best wishes to you from the Administration of Kamby-Lama of Republic Tuva and from me personally, with the beginning of year 2010.

The year that is ahead of us comes in the image of the Tiger, personifying unquenchable energy and courage.

On January 1, a representative of a famous Bai-Taiga dynasty of stone-carvers, Donduk Toibukhaa celebrated his 65^th birthday. The name of the Merited Artist of Russia(1988), Laureate of State Award of Russia(1992), State Award of Tuva(1991), and prize of Leninist Komsomol of Tuva, is included in the state book of the republic “People of Merit of Tuva in XX. Century”.

Today is the birthday of Vera Chuldumovna Bailak, the legendary front fighter, medical worker of the volunteer cavalry squadron, and participant in the liberation of Ukrainian villages and towns from fascist occupation in 1944. The veteran was warmly greeted by the head of the republic, Sholban Kara-ool.

And a letter of greetings from faraway Rovno came to the administration of the Dzun-Khemchik district of Tuva, where Vera Chuldumovna’s large arat holding is located.

During the day, the life of the camp is paralyzed by the sun. The heat sends the reindeer huddling together in a circle. They alternate lying down: those standing up provide shade for the others.

Young calves hide beneath the bushes and under blankets that are hanging outside to dry out.

One small gust of wind is enough to make them grunt joyfully in anticipation of the coolness of the evening.

Experience of nomadic life

The map of the Todzha district of Republic Tuva was spread out over the entire wall of the socio-economic department of the administration. It did not show highways or roads for cars, none with covered tops neither without it. Only four canvas tents with chimney pipes of “burzhuyka” stoves sticking out remind us that people live here. Everything else is a painting without artefacts. 19^th century ethnographers used to describe the common nomad grounds of several families, forming a single camp – aal – as a nomadic neighbor community. It could consist of relatives, or of people without any blood ties.

In Tuva, Sergei Kuzmich Kochetov is a legendary personality. The village where he spent his youth and one of the central streets in Kyzyl bear his name. He was a participant in three wars – The World War I, the Civil War, and the Great Patriotic War. He fought at Moscow, battled at Kursk, liberated Kiev. When he returned to Kyzyl, he became the first delegate to the Supreme Soviet of USSR from the republic. Sergei Kochetov was born on November 7, 1894 in the Kodybai village of Minusinsk district.

A meeting dedicated to the victims of political repressions was held by the Monument of the Undefeated Arat in the capital of Tuva on October 30. 10-20 meters from the monument, there is a one-story grey wooden building, which today contains a museum of political repressions. Its history is closely related to this tragic page in the history of Tuva. In the basement of this house, by the burning-hot stove, confessions were extracted from the accused.