Top 2: On New years eve Tim arrived in Liman on the edge of the Astrakhan and Kalmikian steppe. His horses were looked after by Mikhail, a Cherkes national (a nationailty in the Caucasus) who was proud to show me his stud of Akaltikinski horses and traditional riding dress.
3rd: This village called Yandik made world headlines in August 2005. Chechens shot dead a local Kalmik girl, and after the funeral a group of Kalmiks rioted and burnt the Chechen homes in the village. The army was brought in to restore order and only left days before Tim arrived. Here is one of the burnt homes, taken from the saddle as he passed through.
4th and 5th: Anatoliy Khuldnev who put Tim up on new years day and eventually guided him through the stepnoi sanctuary- where wild herds of Saiga can be seen. Anatoliy is the director of the sanctuary and his main task is to protect the Saiga. Recently he caught a hunting inspector taking police on a hunting tour! Two saiga were found in the boot of the car but when the posecutors office sent the evidence to the relevant authorities in Kalmikia mysteriously diappeared in the mail.
Tigon rode with Anatoliy in the car through he sanctuary in case he was tempted to chase Saiga.
