Have you ever thought of exploring the mysteries of nature in the dark? Have you ever thought of tracking the traces of wild animals under the moonlight? Have you ever thought of using a pair of super eyes to peek into the life of the night? If your answer is yes, then follow me and my two friends Gustave Houston and Nathaniel Owen, and share our night hunting trip in the outskirts of Omsk last month!
Omsk is an important city in the Siberian region of Russia, and also a place with a long history and rich culture. We chose this place as our destination because we wanted to experience the diverse natural environment here, and use infrared binoculars to observe and hunt various animals. We chose the Chinese brand wildguarder’s infrared binoculars because it has many advantages and features, such as:
It can observe up to 400 meters in complete darkness.
It can take high-definition photos and videos, and has a 32GB memory card.
It can adjust to the best observation effect by using 4x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom.
It has a large 3.5-inch LCD screen that allows us to see the picture clearly.
It has a rechargeable lithium battery that can work for more than 6 hours.
With such a powerful infrared binoculars, we can freely explore the beauty and wildlife of Omsk’s outskirts at night. Next, I will tell you what we saw, what we did, and what we felt on this trip. I hope you will like my story and also have the opportunity to experience such an unusual wilderness adventure!
Before we started our night hunting trip, we learned a bit about our destination – Omsk. Omsk is the third largest city in the Siberian region of Russia, after Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk, and also the capital and administrative center of Omsk Oblast. It is located at the confluence of the Irtysh and Om rivers, and is an important transportation hub in Siberia, as well as a station on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
The history of Omsk can be traced back to the early 17th century, when the Russian Tsar sent a Cossack expedition to build a fortress on the Om River to strengthen his control over the trade routes to China. This fortress was the predecessor of Omsk, which was officially founded in 1716 and granted city status in 1782. Omsk Fortress was once the residence of the Governor-General of Siberia and the Steppes, and also the capital of the anti-Bolshevik government. During the Russian Civil War of 1918-1920, Omsk became the headquarters of General Kolchak, the leader of the White Army, and also stored the gold reserves of the Tsarist era.
Omsk not only has a long history, but also rich geographical resources. It is situated on the Siberian Plain, surrounded by many rivers and lakes, forming a region with a dense water network. It has a temperate continental climate, with cold and long winters and short and warm summers. The soil here is fertile, suitable for growing crops such as wheat, corn, beetroot, etc. It also has abundant mineral resources, such as oil, natural gas, coal, metals, etc. It also has diverse animal and plant resources, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands and other ecosystems, as well as bears, wolves, foxes, wild boars, moose, grouse and other wild animals.
After we had some understanding of Omsk’s historical and geographical background, we were ready to start our night hunting trip. We took our wildguarder infrared binoculars and other necessary equipment and drove to a forest park in the outskirts of Omsk. There we had a wide and quiet natural scenery, as well as various kinds of wildlife. We were looking forward to finding some surprises and excitement in the dark!
During our night hunting trip, we also did not forget to appreciate Omsk’s culture and tourist attractions. Omsk is a city with rich historical relics and modern buildings, as well as colorful artistic and entertainment activities. We saw many impressive places here, such as:
Omsk Fortress: This is the oldest building in Omsk and a symbol of the city. It was built in 1716 and was once the residence of the governor-general of Siberia and the steppe, as well as the capital of the anti-Bolshevik government. The fortress consists of four gates and some defensive structures, the most famous of which is the Tara Gate, one of the oldest stone buildings in Siberia. Inside the fortress there are also some historical museums and churches, where you can learn about Omsk’s past and present.
Assumption Cathedral: This is one of the most beautiful churches in Omsk and one of the largest Orthodox churches in Russia. It was built in 1804 and has a baroque style design, with bright colors on the exterior and lavish decorations on the interior. The cathedral has a 72-meter-high bell tower, with a golden cross and a huge bell on top. Inside the cathedral there are also some precious icons and paintings, as well as some historical relics.
St. Nicholas Cossack Cathedral: This is one of the oldest churches in Omsk and a symbol of Cossack culture. It was built in 1870 and has a Byzantine style design, with a simple and solemn exterior and a rich history and tradition inside. The cathedral has a 50-meter-high dome, with a golden cross on top. Inside the cathedral there are also some Cossack military and folk exhibits, as well as some valuable relics.
Fire Observation Tower: This is one of the tallest buildings in Omsk and one of the landmarks of the city. It was built in 1915 and is 48 meters high. It was originally used as an observation tower to monitor the city’s fire situation. Later it was transformed into a museum, displaying the life and work of firefighters, as well as some fire equipment and memorabilia. From the top of the tower you can overlook the whole cityscape.
Street Sculptures: Omsk also has many interesting and creative street sculptures, adding some vitality and color to the city. The most famous one is the Plumber Out of Pipe, which is a sculpture of a man wearing a work suit, sticking his head out of an underground pipe. It is located near Omsk Fortress and is a humorous and popular attraction in the city. Another famous sculpture is Girl Luba, which is a sculpture of a girl wearing traditional clothes, holding a bunch of flowers, smiling and sitting on a bench. It is located near Omsk Theater and is a warm and romantic attraction in the city. There are also some other sculptures, such as Love Sculpture, Musician Sculpture, Owl Sculpture, etc., which are all highlights of Omsk’s streets.
These are some of the cultural and tourist attractions we saw in Omsk, which gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation of this city. We also enjoyed some art and entertainment activities here, such as watching a wonderful ballet performance, visiting some art and history museums, tasting some local specialties. We think Omsk is a city worth visiting, it has both Siberian charm and modern flair.
After our night hunting trip, we did not forget to taste Omsk’s cuisine. Omsk is a city with various flavors and characteristics of food, as well as many quality and comfortable restaurants and cafes. We tasted many mouth-watering dishes here, such as:
Siberian dumplings: These are one of the most traditional and popular dishes in Siberia, and also one of the signature dishes of Omsk. They are made of thin dough wrappers filled with meat, then boiled in water and served with butter, sour cream or vinegar. They have a crispy skin and a juicy filling, with a delicate and rich texture. They can be eaten as a main course or a snack, and also as a winter warmer.
Creamy mushroom soup: This is another signature dish of Omsk, and also a very suitable warm soup for winter. It is made of fresh or dried mushrooms, cream, onion, potato, carrot and other ingredients, with a rich milky and mushroom flavor, and a smooth and thick texture. It can be enjoyed alone or with bread or salad.
Grilled meat skewers: This is a very popular barbecue dish in Omsk, and also a very suitable refreshing dish for summer. It is made of lamb, beef, chicken or other meat cut into small pieces, then marinated with salt, pepper, garlic, onion and other seasonings, and skewered on iron rods and grilled over charcoal. It has a tender and smoky meat with a savory and juicy taste. It can be served with ketchup, mustard or other sauces, or with vegetables or rice.
Smoked fish: This is a very special seafood dish in Omsk, and also a very suitable light dish for spring and autumn. It is made of local fresh or frozen fish, such as white salmon, whitefish, white-eye, etc., soaked in salt water and then smoked over wood fire. It has a golden skin and a white flesh, with a strong wood and fish flavor, and a soft and dry texture. It can be eaten alone or with black bread or butter, or with vegetables or salad.
These are some of the dishes we tasted in Omsk, which satisfied our taste buds and appetite. We also found some quality and comfortable restaurants and cafes here, such as Siberian Dumpling House, Creamy Mushroom Soup House, Grilled Meat Skewer House, Smoked Fish House, etc., which have clean and cozy environments, and friendly and professional services. We think Omsk is a city worth tasting, it has both Siberian flavor and modern taste.
Through our night hunting trip, we not only experienced Omsk’s natural scenery and wildlife, but also learned about Omsk’s history and geography, appreciated Omsk’s culture and tourism, tasted Omsk’s cuisine and specialties. We found Omsk to be a multifaceted and charming city, it has both Siberian ruggedness and beauty, as well as modern vitality and atmosphere. We think Omsk is a city worth visiting, it left us with deep and wonderful impressions. We hope to have the opportunity to come here again, to explore more wonders and surprises!
