Looking at the topics for this weekend engagement challenge, it was an easy decision to choose the best holiday that I had as my topic. Coincidentally this also happened to be my favorite moment with nature. Choosing a single photo, however, required more thought and care. I eventually settled for a picture of me with the iconic Shaman Rock and the crystal clear waters of Lake Baikal in the background. The Shaman Rock, located near Khuzhir is one of the holy sites on the Island of Olkhon.

Located in the heart of Siberia, Lake Baikal is the oldest, biggest and deepest lake in the whole world. My visit to Lake Baikal was part of my TransMongolian Rail Adventure where I traveled by train from Beijing to St Petersburg over a period of 25 days. In fact, my wife Roselind and I purposely made a stop at Irkutsk, Siberia so that we can visit Lake Baikal.

I can still recall sailing on the calm waters of Lake Baikal from the mainland to the Island of Olkhon situated in the middle of the lake. With a gentle breeze caressing my face, I could see seagulls flying in a distance. I felt that I was in a sea, not a lake, with the water stretching endlessly into the horizon.

The indigenous people of the island known as the Buryats practice shamanism. As I explore the island, I witness elements of shamanism from the Shaman Rock, the burial poles to the pieces of clothes tied to big trees perching precariously over cliffs.

What I cherished the most from this trip is the hikes around the island. Unlike Borneo where it is hot and humid, the cool and pleasant climate is ideal for hiking. During one of the hikes, the guide build an open fire and cooked lunch for us. It was a surreal experience to be cooking and eating in the wild.

While I was here looking at the spectacular scenery, civilization seem so far away and the human race including myself seem insignificant. I was truly present in the moment, soaking in the beauty that nature has to offer. I asked for nothing more than the peace and tranquility that I am experiencing. As rays of sunlight hit the sparkling waters, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for being given the opportunity to be here. The snow-capped mountains in the distance reminded me that more adventures await me. To me, it was a magical moment where I feel truly one with nature.

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The Weekend Engagement

The weekend engagement is a challenge created by @galenkp. It is a fun contest where you can write about a range of topics with a prompt provided. I like to take part because I get a lot of interactions with other hive members and you don't have to crack your head to think of what to write. @galenkp is also the founder of the Weekend Community.

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Hive Blog Posting Month

The Hive Blog Posting Month is a challenge where you post an article every day for the month of April. I have started posting daily since the middle of March and so I was very happy when I came across this challenge and I hope that it will help me to maintain my momentum.

A big thank you to the fabulous @traciyork for organizing the #hiveblopomo initiative. This is my second entry for 24vApril 2022.