T. J. Hawkeswood at a local memorial (cannot remember its significance!) and near the monastery at Verkatouyre, approx. 200 km north of Ekaterinburg, Western Siberia, Russia, winter 2004. The monastery behind me is over 300 years old and was often frequented by Rasputin, the "mad monk of Russia" during the late 1890's and early 1900's. Verkatouyre was Rasputin's hiding-out place and the centre of his weird flagellation sect. The Russians have renovated all buildings in recent years but there were problems encountered with the main roof of the monastery behind me. Not sure if they have solved their engineering problems by now. The coat I am wearing cost $500US and was guaranteed to keep me warm (and alive) for temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius. Fortunately the temperature outside only got to -27 degrees Celsius! When wearing the coat I felt like the Michelin Man - all pumped up! (Photo: Alexandra).

(Photograph: T.J. Hawkeswood)