I was born and raised in Omsk, Siberia. As a child, I was a competitive athlete but suffered spinal injuries that severely impacted my life. At the time, surgical solutions were unavailable, and I spent nearly 30 years enduring constant pain and limitations. At 40, I had enough and decided to rebuild my body. Battling through the pain, I began practicing yoga and Eastern martial arts. Within a year, I fully recovered, regained excellent physical condition, and was able to undertake a solo journey to the Himalayas.
With a friend, we traveled with tents and heavy backpacks, visited many inaccessible monasteries, crossed the great Himalayan range and its 5,200-meter-high passes multiple times, and conquered the summit of Stok Kangri (6,137 meters). My immersion in Buddhism profoundly influenced my worldview and values.
With a background in electronic engineering, I dedicated over 30 years to developing my business—a leading manufacturer of fire safety and LED lighting equipment. Yet, my passion for travel and photography has always played an important role in my life.
I have been in Spain for many years, and together with my team, we opened the CG Gallery Lloret, the only photo gallery on the Costa Brava.