Khuzhir, Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal

Back in Irkutsk... So I went here. Stayed there for 2 nights, for 600 RUR got three (huge) meals / day and accommodation. Well, all the information of this place is behind that link, but I can just say that I didn't expect anything like how it was: AMAZING. Landscapes were very much like in Iceland, but that's all what is common... Just... didn't expect to find something this beautiful in Russia, even though I had expectations for Baikal. Got there by bus. The drive there takes like 6-7 hours, but be prepared for a couple of extra hours if your bus decides to break down as happened to us...
Second day there, went for a boat trip with other backpackers. We were 12 together, + 3 in a crew, including a CHEF! (he prepared meals to us all the time... elk, bread, vegetables, fishsoup... and tea for drink of course.) Landed to an island some 3 hours away, to see a buddhist holy place which was on the top on a small mountain. Here, I also SWAM in a Lake Baikal! (Oh yes, we got so lucky with the weather, +25 .. something both days, and it's still giving hot in Irkutsk. Can't believe this really. And can't believe that in a couple of months all of the lake is frozen up for it's so hot here.) Then the boat took us to another buddhist holy place, which was on the other side to Olkhon Island, in mainland. There we found a water spring also.
I got to know a Swedish couple there, Peter & Victoria. It was great to have a possibility to refresh my Swedish after a long time!

But now it's time to go again, to get tickets to Vladivostok! Hear you from there!