Lost In Kalmykia | Europe's Weirdest Republic
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- 🇷🇺 Just over 400 years ago a tribe left their homeland in western Mongolia and made their way to Europe. They settled on the windy steppe lands of southern Russia and continued their way of life. I went in search of them and discovered a Buddhist republic living in the heart of Europe. Oh and it is VERY windy there.
100 Euros!!!
50 Euros!
Okay 70 cents would be enough.
"This could be an actual gulag."
"It was an actual gulag."
Kalmyks are Mongols and you have heard language in the concert, thats Kalmyk language. I am a Mongolian lives in Ulaanbaatar and i still understand their language even we were apart for almost 400 years.
I do hope you realize just how vitally important it is to make records of these precious small cultures. In 200 years, ethnologists will probably know your name.
I am a Kalmyk, and our Republic is very beautiful, come in the spring, there will be a flowering of tulips
"on the horizon, I see watchtowers and barbwire. let's get closer!"
what could possibly go wrong
You and i would have turned back.. Bald goes to danger.. Brave, Dumb or Crazy ? Thats why we watch..
Turns out the friendly dog was actually supposed to guard the gulag.
best GPS = Russian babushkas
My russian Babushka passed away in March and I miss her so much. Sometimes when you film russian Babushkas I see her - the way they dress, the way they talk. She was the kindest woman ever
Mr Bald: Let's see inside a real gulag...
THIRTY years later exiting: Well, folks.....that was a real gulag. I hope you enjoyed the video...
-Give me 100 euro!
-100 euro???
- ok give me 50 euro!
- 50 euro?!? Euro or rubel?
- ok rubel...
How much 50 rube?????
@@oneof134 is nothing. under $1
These guys have got no dignity left lmao
Perfect negotiation tactic implemented by Bald
@@oneof134 80 cents
Soviet wind is trying to ruin the video.
ps. i want to reach the 1ksubs and 4kwatchhours on youtube.
need help🙏
@@MsEccentric begging for subs isn't the way to accomplish that my friend. Make interesting content. Subs, Views, and Likes will follow.
@@MsEccentric no
Soviet winds 😂😂😂😂 classic.
@@TruthIsTheNewHate84 ok thanks
Soviet era: Get forced into gulag
Modern day: Get forced out of gulag
Better out than in, I always say.
I cannot believe the guts you have to just go in the middle of nowhere, with absolutely no pre-planning, and give us an experience that we will never have. One of the best videos.
This is the most interesting youtube channel i have ever stumbled on to, keep up the good work!
Hes alive! Good!
Everything that could possibly go wrong whilst making this film did go wrong. The weather, lack of people on the street, accidentally stumbling into one of Russia’s worst prisons and being kicked out the town. All a total disaster! Well at least there was some decent Kalmyk music. Skip to the end if the wind is too intense for your ear drums. Cheers bratans!
Good shit as always. Keep it up.
would love to see you go to Mongolia
Bald looks more bald
DAMN IM HYPED TO WATCH THIS NOW
Still great stuff!!!!!!
I just have so much respect for the effort you put into these videos and your channel. The fact they are so raw is why I watch them.
Haha Haha! That guy wanted 100 Euro's! The look of shock on your face is hilarious Bald! The second he heard you were not Russian, he wanted some of that tourist cash!
If the bald was Russian but from Moscow or St. Petersburg it would be the same, only a different "price".
Should have said: You can have some ruble if you speak some Kalmyk language."
Huge difference between euros and rubles. 100 euros = 7000 rubles.
He would’ve asked that from a Russian person too. Unfortunately people in those villages drink a lot and they would ask for money from any non-local who would’ve approached them.
That guy politely mugged you, haha.
Enjoy your rest Mr. Bald. So glad to know that you're OK. We care about you and worry about you. Take all the time off that you need. TH-camr burn out is a real thing.
Cheers AE. Back soon I hope
Accidentally wandering into a gulag is the most Soviet thing you can do
Very Buddhist of that man to ask for money straight off the bat.
Hey Mate, Thanks to you I had never heard of Kalmykia. But when You first said you were heading that way out of Dagestan, I did some historical research. Super interesting tribe and situation from antiquity as well as the soviet disruption of there culture. If you did not dare to go there I would never have known about such interesting people. So this video is not a failure in any sense, but a huge launchpad to understanding remote cultures to the fog of knowing the easternmost part of the European western world. I applaud your daring and efforts, carry on!
That's good enough for me Steven 👍🏻
This is one of the best travel shows, not only on TH-cam but generally. I really want to go on a road trip across Russia. So little known, yet so many different things to see and explore.
Russia is a large country and has many places that are different from each other. Definitely worth visiting it.
Oh, I got goosebumps when the Kalmyk Throat Singing started 12:40! LOVE it. Thanks for sharing another incredible experience
2:38 Mr Baldy sees a Renault and a Volvo:
- American truck here in Russia
Everything in the world is either Soviet or American :D
Bald: “It could be, an actual Gulag”
*Bald approaches the actual Gulag*
Primark what is a gulag?
@@gingerleegirl6697 It is a Russian prison
@@gingerleegirl6697 a prison for ginger girls.
@@gingerleegirl6697 Soviet Labor Camp.
@@gingerleegirl6697 a forced labor camp
Weird bald guy sneaking around with video camera: "She wasn't the friendliest"
American truck haha. One was french and the other Swedish.
11:23 the sweetest thing, poor doggy just wants some food probably
Bald asks the taxi driver to drop in the middle of nowhere
Also bald: Oh no I am in the middle of bloody nowhere
Never had a desire to travel to Russia. I’ve watched most of your videos and am planning now to visit in 2020. Thanks my Bald brother
You need to visit old German tribes in Russia.
Wow! I grew up in Kalmykia, so nice to see familiar sights and this bloody wind :3
I have a feeling that something missing in this video about kalmyks...oh, it's locust)
recently found this channel, bingewatched lot of the videos and came to the conclusion that you have to be the guy to meet the first aliens to represent us :D
I like how that dude just straight up asked u for cash lmao
"Nobody gives detailed directions quite like Russian babushkas"
WD40 needed in Kalmykia!!!
Kalmykian here. Come there in the end of April to witness tulip blossom, fascinating thing to do!
He sounded so English when he said "Brighton" haha
Ever since discovering these videos I have found myself looking into Russian language courses, researching and reading about Russian culture, and wistfully looking at entry visa requirements. This guy is truly living my dream. Makes me jealous.
Great! Hope you make it here one day
The best travel blog type video on youtube. Very honest, interested in the local population & their lives. Always feel like I'm there with you & enjoying what the people have to offer/ and what simple happiness you bring to their day. People are people, no matter what different culture
TH-cam just randomly recommended me one of your videos. I’ve been binge watching you for hours!!!
There is something about your nature, that is so pleasing. Thank you for being a breath of fresh air here on this channel. Can’t wait for more
The Kalmyk writing in the house of culture says ‘Jangar’, the name of a great hero of the Kalmyk/Oirat people.
You should travel to Russia’s coldest city Yakutsk it’s the coldest region in Russia
"can i have 100€? "
i should try that too
he kept his hood on so the wind wouldn’t mess up his hair
The cut to your room was legendary. Nearly pissed my pants.
It’s so eerie how everything is completely deserted. This is such a fascinating channel!
What a dismal looking, deserted village, but the Kalmyk music! Fabulous. You keep amazing your viewers with vlogs from fascinating places off the beaten track.
Absolutely love your videos Bald! Ill immediately stop what I'm doing to watch as soon as they're uploaded!! Fantastic content.
Thank you Bald for showing us part of our nationality,sending lots of love from Mongolia
This doesn't look so different from some of the plains states in the US. You won't find Soviet style apartment buildings in such areas, but you will encounter the lone gas stations and small roadside stores. Also, I don't think American authorities would appreciate someone approaching their prisons on foot. I love these videos, but what impresses me most is the human interaction between Ben and the locals. I really feel, that except for the language and some of the cultural barriers, the people he meets could be my friends too.
you guys ever get jealous of people that haven't discovered bald yet? They can binge watch so many Russian episodes now.
Kalmykia is like the wind power house of the world :-)
So much wind energy potential :-)
Makes me so happy every time i watch Your adventure. Dont know why but just do. Thanks for sharing and Greetings from WW2HistoryHunter.
Nobody:
Bald getting out of a car: UWAGGH
Haha made me chuckle
I just saw a band in Philadelphia, Pa here in the states called “The Hu”. They are a traditional throat singing metal band from Mongolia. I highly recommend them. Listen to their songs “Wolf Totem” and “The Great Chinggis Khaan”.
Evil EgoBrain that’s pretty cool!
Absolutely incredible! So glad you weren't detained for a lengthy amount of time! Thanks for sharing your adventures, don't be so discouraged! Wow that singing at the end was superb, it must take years to get your voice to sound like that! Wow! Thanks brother!
It was very cool! Thank you for this video. I am Russian but never visited Kalmykia.
By the way, may be one day you can go to Karachaevo-Cherkessia region. Beautiful place! There are mountains covered with the snow, old forests, cable road running through the forest. My childhood memories! Also, we have a lot of wonderful places on the Black sea: Sochi, Gelendzhik, Novorossijsk. Well, one can travel all his life through Russia. Hope one day to visit England. But Montreal, where I live, is also interesting city.
Beautiful Buddhist temple..lots of love frm Tibet 😘😘
These videos of bald in the middle of nowhere is everything
It's amazing to see how much hard work and efforts you put in to make video. You research about history, language, origin of people and a lot of Soviet Humor. Unlike most of the others who just walk around with a GoPro. Never forget to like the video even before watching. Content has to be good.
You are the Bethoven of vlogging. Your videos are authentic, frank and honest, No bullshit. Looking forward each time for a new video to be released. Please don't stop.
I like it when the videos don’t quite work out, it feels like we’re travelling and discovering things with you, and sometimes not much happens and we just hang out
I had to rewind like 10 times when the dog ran up to him. That was such a good doggo
I learn more from you about Kalmykia in 14 minutes than my lifetime in school
you are the only travel vlogger that I watch and will ever watch...
How i love all of his videos. After a long day. A cold milk and a chocolate and his videos. Perfect.
Hey Mr. Bald!
Nice Content!
One Question:
Can you go to German Villages in Russia, where the people speak the German language?
I think you can find them in the near of the River Wolga and i think also in the national Rajons Asowo and Halbstadt.
everybody: man this place is depressing
People from the rural midwestern united states: this looks like where I'm from
Bolivia is more
depressing
@@shanegrimes3455 yeah it is atleast i dont worry about getting burned alive
LoL :|) but with no cops'
"well what do you know, it actually was a gulag"
lmao
Bald comes in with the late-night TH-cam clutch!
ps. i want to reach the 1ksubs and 4kwatchhours on youtube.
need help🙏
Felt weird watching at night haha I always watch in the afternoon
Hah here its 6 am and i Go to Work in 20 min
*morning
8AM now
Nobody:
Bald: *look at these soviet mosaics in front of a wooden shithouse*
I have been watching you for some time and your hilarious. You have uplifted many of my down days, thank you
Thank you for sharing all the amazing places you have visited in the former Sovjet Union. Great videos and great experience, I can't tell with words how cool your adventures are. I'm literally jalous and man, you have balls!
Have you seen the movie Genghis Blues yet? If not you'll enjoy it. That was some interesting exploring despite the setbacks. I kind of like those weird abandoned places myself. Good thing they didn't find your camera or that could have been bad.
Will you go to Volgograd( former Stalingrad) Mr Bald? It's one of the most Soviet places in the Universe.
The dog part was the best!!!!! i love dogs. that dog was so happy to meet u!!!
You don't disappoint me bc I don't know a lot about the places you visit in Russia or anywhere. I'm just grateful to you for taking us on your journeys. I'm watching you on my huge tv screen. I feel like I'm there with you holding the camera lol
Mr.100rupees has a long lost brother mr.50rubles 🤣😂
It’s all part of the adventure! Just hearing the wind caused me me to snuggle deeper in the blankets!!☺️😂☺️
Vote for Baldy as Time Magazine's Person of the Year!
Your channel is amazing. I'am so glad I've discovered it.
I actually lived 260km from Elista for half of my life and never even considered visiting it. Now rediscovering folklore and culture of different regions of Russia through your videos.
Love from Moscow. Thank you for your work
Dude I'm hooked on your videos! I never thought, as an American, that I would be interested to in seeing any parts of Russia but you make it so interesting. Thank you much, be careful and enjoy your travels!
Man, I love this channel.
Very interesting. I stayed many years in Mongolia and would love to visit Kalmykia! Looks like the language is the same!
This is so fascinating. I continue to be amazed by your adventures. Thank you for teaching us about this part of the world I would've never known existed otherwise.
Thank you very much! That was freaking cosy to be able to indulge in a stroll along this beautiful town of Yashkul without getting out of my sofa..... this was the best one. And these nice looking local dudes who actually heard of Manchester! I'm impressed
This is surely the most extraordinary video you have ever filmed. I am in awe of you, Benjamin.
There is no other TH-camr better than this man
He has an equal - Harald Balder...
They're same-same..... but different!!!
I've started presenting things in everyday life using Bald's hand gesture..
"American truck": Pointing at a French and a Swedish truck. :D
yeah but the nose of the truck is American
in Europe it would be flat
He had in mind that volvo truck has a vehicle body of standart american truck
Yup, Volvo and Renault, though the Volvo did look a bit Amerikanski
Dávid Molnár The Volvo VNL 670 in the video is exclusive to the American market only. Produced and sold only in America so yeah it is technically an american truck
I'm sure what he meant was that the cab is behind the engine, like most American trucks.
it's so important that you are doing this and recording these travels and adventures. i wish our American youth and actually ppl of all ages here in the "west" should see this.
That's great! I'm Kalmyk. Are you still in Elista? I would like to meet you! Is it possible?
This guy is so respectful of others people's cultures. Cultures I have never heard about.
Man I seriously love your videos, the way you communicate with strangers and how openminded you are, is very inspiring. I for sure know I’d feel so uncomfortable just walking around in those places.. so much respect, keep it up!
“Wind muffler” sounds like something Mr Harald Baldr would purchase! Fantastic videos as usual dude!!
This is truly inspiring how you are trying to shed light on what is probably parts of the world that go unheard of or disregarded.
Makes me think back to my childhood, I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere is Mexico. My family moved to America and I have small recollection of how life was back then and I was happy as a kid there but you truly don’t know anything else about life of the world until you get out of such places.