Petra's homepage

 

Experiences of a Dutch Journalist

 

 

 

 
Gold mine, June 2000
Visiting a gold mine for an article on a European Union project in East Kazakhstan. Damp climate, thousands of mosquitos, no electricity and accommodation in tents. Real hardship...
Dozens of rivers and streams....

 

I wonder if they gave me a boot with a hole in it on purpose?

 

Even a Russian Jeep can't manage without the help of a tractor.

 

Former naval officer Vladimir is explaining Russian humour in front of the dining room.

 

Pretending to enjoy the soup and fermented cheese (but didn't succeed). Not very hungry anyway: two plates of Russian 'plov' (rice with lamb) I consumed for lunch came out straight after arrival...

 

This amphibian vehicle had to take us to the actual mining site. "Gold mining is only for adventururs" explained concession holder Igor Panshin, who showed me around.

 

Washing stones in the river. After fifteen minutes, a tiny bit of gold stays behind, or not...

 

Never too old for exploration.... This man makes a hundred dollars a month, working every day for three weeks in a row. "It's better than staying at home", he thinks.

 

Do you want to know more about gold mining in Kazakhstan? Read the following article: