Sunday, September 12, 2010

Xinaliq, like Hinalug

A few weeks ago we went on a weekend trip to Xinaliq with some Norwegian friends of ours and their two year old son. Ryan and I have been there two times before, and I've been wanting to post about it for a while now.

Xinaliq is an ancient and remote Caucasian village located high up in the mountains. It is the highest village in Azerbaijan and is nestled in the middle of the greater mountains that divide Russia and the South Caucasus. (says Wikipedia)

We absolutely love this village and it's people. The passage up the mountain to the village will be blocked during the winter months, but Ryan and I hope to travel there sometime before or after to host an English Camp. During this last visit we helped a young boy with his English homework and found out that the village just recently had a school built. They are trying to get incorporate English into their curriculum, but it is difficult because the only teachers available to teach English speak it as their 4th language.

I could say so many things, but I'd rather just fill this space with beautiful Xinaly faces and mountains and adventures.






I didn't take this picture. I'm glad I didn't take this picture. It's from the internet. These dogs are all throughout the mountains guarding sheep. They clip their ears and their tails so that when they fight off wolves the wolves won't have anything to grab onto. We got chased by 6 of them one day. 6.






this little boy just finished dyeing his chickens. because the chickens run free, each family picks a different color to dye their chickens. they just color a few feathers on each one, but this helps to tell them apart.


he couldn't find his mom. or he didn't want some strange pale lady holding him. probably the latter.




4 comments:

  1. AHHHHHHH!!!! Noelle! Those pictures are BREATHTAKING! oh man, i can't wait to see more pics and hear stories from you guys in person! Those faces are amazing! I bet they have some awesome stories of life. I laughed really hard about the 6 wolf fighting, sheep herding dogs chasing you. I'm glad you survived. Miss you Noellski :)

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  2. Lindy told me that I have to check out your blog to see the new photos you put up. I am glad that I did. BEAUTIFUL pics. Miss you guys. Tell Ryan I said hello.
    Jake

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