Tourvashu, an Indian traveler, shares his experience of visiting Yakutsk, the coldest inhabited city in the world, located in the Sakha Republic of Russia. He begins by describing his journey from Vladivostok to Yakutsk, where he encounters a local Russian who helps him navigate the airport and eventually leads him to his host's home.
Upon arriving in Yakutsk, Tourvashu is struck by the extreme cold, with temperatures reaching -40C. He describes the city as being covered in fog, with visibility less than 50% in some areas. He also notes the unique architecture of the city, with houses built in Siberian style to withstand the harsh climate.
Tourvashu meets his host, Katrina's husband, who is a big fan of Indian movies and even sings Hindi songs. He learns that the local people are warm and welcoming, despite the freezing temperatures. He also tries local cuisine, including a potato dish and tea.
Throughout his experience, Tourvashu marvels at the resilience of the local people, who seem to adapt to the extreme climate with ease. He also notes the unique cultural blend of Russian and indigenous influences in the region.
Tourvashu's adventure in Yakutsk is a testament to the city's reputation as one of the most extreme and fascinating destinations in the world.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator's name is Tourvashu.
2. He is in Vladivostok, the largest city in the Russian Far East.
3. He has a flight to catch in 1.5 hours.
4. The airport is 50 km away from the city.
5. He took a train to the airport from the city.
6. The train had a 2-hour gap between every stop.
7. There was a snowfall in Vladivostok the previous day.
8. The temperature in Vladivostok was around -8C.
9. The narrator's destination is Yakutsk, the coldest inhabited city in the world.
10. Yakutsk is located in the Republic of Sakha, Russia.
11. The temperature in Yakutsk was -40C.
12. The narrator's flight to Yakutsk took 3.5 hours.
13. The ticket cost 10000 rubles (around 12,000 INR).
14. The narrator was wearing 5-layered clothing on his upper body and 4 layers on his lower body.
15. He was also wearing 2 caps and 2 pairs of socks.
16. The airport in Yakutsk is 10 km away from the city.
17. Buses are available to travel to the city, with tickets costing around 50 rubles (50 INR).
18. The narrator was picked up by a local named Ujin.
19. Ujin told him that the temperature in Yakutsk was -51C the previous day.
20. The narrator visited Ujin's home, where he met his family.
21. The family was fond of Indian movies and sang Hindi songs.
22. The temperature in Yakutsk dropped to -40C after a snowfall.
23. The schools in Yakutsk are closed if the temperature is lower than -50C.
24. The narrator was served traditional Russian food, including tea and a potato dish.
25. He also interacted with Siberian Huskies at Ujin's home.
26. The narrator was surprised to find that people in Sakha Republic love Indian movies and sing Hindi songs.
27. The time difference between Yakutsk and India is 3.5 hours.
28. Yakutsk is in the GMT +9 time zone.
29. The narrator was told that the temperature in Yakutsk can drop to -65C.
30. The city has a short daylight period, with the sun setting at around 4:30 pm.