You Can See The Preserved Remains of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov
Russia’s fascination with preserving the bodies of people who reflected its past glory is once again expressed in the case of the mummified body of Buddhist monk Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov. Though he died in 1927 during meditation, his body has remained in the same position as though he is still alive in some sense.
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via Wikipedia
The monk’s remains appear lifelike and have only slightly decayed. His many followers believe he is not yet dead but is just in hibernation. So, his body has been moved to a Siberian museum to allow monks and tourists to see him and even shake his hand. His body is also monitored by CCTV.
Located in the south of Moscow is an odd series of sculptures standing at Bolotnaya Square. The sculptures consist of two blindfolded children – one male and one female. Around them are thirteen strange-looking figures. The figures are said to represent adult vices such as drugs, alcohol, and prostitution, among others.
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via rusmania.com
Locals have expressed displeasure with the sculptures and worry that children will find them scary. However, the artist who made the installation explained that his intention was to protect future generations of children by scaring them in a good way.
Russia makes sure it preserves everything it treasures by placing things in dedicated museums for all to see. This is evidenced by an arcade museum that was designed by college graduates in 2007. Initially, their goal was to play a Battleship-like game called “Sea Battle” to pass the time.
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But when they realized that a lot of people also wanted to play, they collected more arcade machines. Eventually, they put up a museum in the dorm basement of their university, where 40 machines now stand. A second museum with 50 arcade machines was also built in St. Petersburg.
The coldest city on the planet is in Russia. Yakutsk is an industrial city and is also the coldest on Earth. Its average temperature clocks in at -34 degrees centigrade during the months of winter. But its lowest recorded temperature is -64.4 °C.
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via The Telegraph
Despite the cold climate, 270,000 people reside in the area. Basic commodities and needs are also available such as public transportation and schools. If you have plans to visit, it is advised that you not stay too long.
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Russia is open and welcoming of all types of beliefs and religions. Whether one is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or atheist, anyone and everyone can enter the Temple of All Religions. Built in 1992, the structure is at the center of Kazan and incorporates elements from the different religions of the world.
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via Wikipedia
Its architect, Ildar Khanov, plans to add 16 more domes or cupolas. His goal is to make the temple a place where people from any religious affiliation can freely visit in peace. Besides building temples, Khanov also helps people suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction.
If chess is your favorite game, Russia’s Elista city is the place to be. It features a spacious area where tons of tournaments and chess-related events take place. The city was converted to become a chess-friendly space by the president of the Republic of Kalmykia, who is an avid chess enthusiast. He is also the leader of the international chess organization.
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via slate.com
Oddly enough, locals criticized the decision to make the city a chess-friendly area. Approximately 300,000 of the country’s inhabitants believe that the city is too poor to afford such an unnecessary expense
Russia’s priorities seem bizarre sometimes. It is not enough that they’ve made museums to honor an alcoholic beverage or the preserved cadavers of historical figures – Russia also built a monument for enemas.
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A 2008 Reuters report featured a health spa located in Inozemtseva, Russia, that displayed cherubs carrying a plastic squeezy bulb-like object on their backs. A doctor from the health spa explained that the art installation was their way of expressing their sense of humor while also advertising the enemas they administer every day.
Russia isn’t only about strict Soviet rule or dictators. Believe it or not, the country also has its gentle side. As proof, Ulyanovsk, Russia, made a special holiday to encourage locals to make babies. But wait, there’s more!
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Locals not only get a day off, but they can also win prizes. Any woman who gives birth nine months after the baby-making holiday – September 12 – can win money, a refrigerator, or a car. The holiday was designed to encourage citizens to procreate as the region is one of the world’s most sparsely populated areas.
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Russia decided to create a museum dedicated to the practice of good hygiene. Why? Because it can. Russians are more than happy to think up creative ways to make you scratch your head, and this museum is one of their best inventions yet.
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It all started in 1877 when a health and hygiene exhibition was created. Fast forward four decades later, and the exhibition has morphed into a museum that features displays on infectious diseases, STDs, and a taxidermied version of Pavlov’s dog.
This drink is clearly not at par with vodka, but it fits the bill as a uniquely bizarre Russian beverage. Birch juice – “Beryozovy Sok” – comes from a birch tree’s sap and reportedly tastes like a diluted form of maple syrup.
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It is mildly sweet and has been traditionally used for centuries in pagan rituals. Nowadays, it is being packaged and sold as a bottled and pasteurized drink in many parts of the world. But Russians believe that this watered-down commercialized version does not come close to the authentic stuff that they draw straight from the tree.
