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 May 2010, in Moscow, on the eve of Day of Victory, an exhibition will open concerning the role of Tuva in the Great Patriotic War. This was announced by the head of the republic, Sholban Kara-ool, at the meeting dedicated to the Day of National Unity.

At the recommendation of the Premier, the agreement about the placement of the Tuvan exposition in the museum complex at Poklonnaya mountain was reached with the administration of the museum.

1000 Buddha statuettes were on exhibit in the prayer hall of the main temple (khuree) of Tuva during the great Buddhist Holy Days. These statuettes were made in Nepal under the supervision of the Nepal lama Tuge Rinpoche. The figurines were made for the “Ustuu-Khuree” monastery which was destroyed in the 30’s of last century. They will be placed in the Upper Chadan khuree after the work on the new temple, which is an exact copy of the destroyed temple, is finished.

The Tuvan throat singers Alash are flying to the U.S. from reindeer country to perform “Jingle Bells” and other Yuletide favorites with the legendary American group Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, to promote the Flecktones' Grammy-winning CD Jingle All the Way. This lively and innovative album presents holiday tunes like you’ve never heard them before. The buzzy sounds of throat singing provide a surprise element in several songs, including the traditional Tuvan song “Dyngyldai” ingeniously interwoven with the English Christmas carol “What Child Is This?” (See it on YouTube). By the way, in case you’re wondering, "dyngyldai" is a Tuvan nonsense word that has no translation.