tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1251123200256580812024-03-05T11:26:00.802-08:00Bruno in MongoliaWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-19109488645865218192011-08-24T18:18:00.000-07:002011-08-24T18:25:39.478-07:00Finally, the final post...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pPRRwKrmvUnH2nq6jc_w6xgr4wybUrhEQqGysCfzVbbSsbLnR5sJSk2u4pbo85Ed9vBlcT_3TRl5PM5QcD7rCgfeV37zOlOixMQ0mNnObr-Ea4xebenzzfhpMBqaejk8c6ibpC1rkv8S/s1600/cows+in+street.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pPRRwKrmvUnH2nq6jc_w6xgr4wybUrhEQqGysCfzVbbSsbLnR5sJSk2u4pbo85Ed9vBlcT_3TRl5PM5QcD7rCgfeV37zOlOixMQ0mNnObr-Ea4xebenzzfhpMBqaejk8c6ibpC1rkv8S/s320/cows+in+street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586546996341602" /></a>Rush hour in Umnudelgaer soum
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wgTg8VjsAZuCkNWlfU8-0xAK9z7y6_gV8JlXeYHTEC0TxmZQAOC_RKmmAhEOv9cxdMTEcdEEOSxSqpkGEjkelrKY-Pl1BAwPiXqc4a8cu2q2-VUmW9tYH0_5mVHEvn7a351pT-6J4mNY/s1600/horse+at+gas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wgTg8VjsAZuCkNWlfU8-0xAK9z7y6_gV8JlXeYHTEC0TxmZQAOC_RKmmAhEOv9cxdMTEcdEEOSxSqpkGEjkelrKY-Pl1BAwPiXqc4a8cu2q2-VUmW9tYH0_5mVHEvn7a351pT-6J4mNY/s320/horse+at+gas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586450215351026" /></a>I guess even horses need to fill up here
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9ZX_Ow5eX7MSo-SPFt_neezC9LmJl3Z02ASxGL-3Ru4cDJf5YaoBY64h2EiGyrvBXto7NNtxPs_2-qrWFH6O1aDuDPXWHKFtEx1mAkCXqo-cM2l6XJR5lov34Lhob7ai_4HK4wz8OHo5/s1600/door+to+creditunion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9ZX_Ow5eX7MSo-SPFt_neezC9LmJl3Z02ASxGL-3Ru4cDJf5YaoBY64h2EiGyrvBXto7NNtxPs_2-qrWFH6O1aDuDPXWHKFtEx1mAkCXqo-cM2l6XJR5lov34Lhob7ai_4HK4wz8OHo5/s320/door+to+creditunion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586326816750946" /></a>The entrance to the Zoos Hurd credit union
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXobixrU5FKVBrSI3rs0fA1_WMv8D69kiSkrYI7ZCqItixRXmel-_Z2sJwJcEhF2w1OdxLa9WTc98PLjezziBPxb5FqSB-TMH_Nr_dQ-Qs1pyMYiBa9jMU-W6-yLzEbAbkUQEb6OxFaa02/s1600/sitting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXobixrU5FKVBrSI3rs0fA1_WMv8D69kiSkrYI7ZCqItixRXmel-_Z2sJwJcEhF2w1OdxLa9WTc98PLjezziBPxb5FqSB-TMH_Nr_dQ-Qs1pyMYiBa9jMU-W6-yLzEbAbkUQEb6OxFaa02/s320/sitting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586263116440642" /></a>Some of its members
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOECi1oM6M6iLWbWAquKdkA3Yqw7sa8KnzUv-E4yRdT6KlZD0leJRZ85uIDGwO8-rHH8YmNE82RXKyWXxIiOo0yiRSMO1NX9Ik2JEXvNvZ6EhFQK-OQK2b5pr_qH-9fjvkf4G5Ysbutixy/s1600/cc+staff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOECi1oM6M6iLWbWAquKdkA3Yqw7sa8KnzUv-E4yRdT6KlZD0leJRZ85uIDGwO8-rHH8YmNE82RXKyWXxIiOo0yiRSMO1NX9Ik2JEXvNvZ6EhFQK-OQK2b5pr_qH-9fjvkf4G5Ysbutixy/s320/cc+staff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586387621438450" /></a>Visiting the site of the new credit union building with some of the staff
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Uq_hep7VfpymTW4j77JCTekG_qzjjU9PFMUSU9Qn3qyK_ZXpOCVdG2VFARJvZfdasDlxloHtGxILrxZVf-cJNMMmlIpQpwmc8pL0qYDEsNk6KCb_trG1-r8jk_ntWANqpcjohIwsONhs/s1600/the+governor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Uq_hep7VfpymTW4j77JCTekG_qzjjU9PFMUSU9Qn3qyK_ZXpOCVdG2VFARJvZfdasDlxloHtGxILrxZVf-cJNMMmlIpQpwmc8pL0qYDEsNk6KCb_trG1-r8jk_ntWANqpcjohIwsONhs/s320/the+governor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586194970417122" /></a>Meeting the governor of Khentii aimag
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWB61CIcbT3Q5JEoDIQ5qaQ3ZHrA5a-eFxvnxCgJibIVhnw9H_bV4E7oSl7Cev2itC1UBQwVhjD7yqs1mN6ivK4J8fRVYTHnjFuvURvwhB6RdeS-i6i_qptR_KPADI4vheMtyfDi7XjkO/s1600/sewing+women.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWB61CIcbT3Q5JEoDIQ5qaQ3ZHrA5a-eFxvnxCgJibIVhnw9H_bV4E7oSl7Cev2itC1UBQwVhjD7yqs1mN6ivK4J8fRVYTHnjFuvURvwhB6RdeS-i6i_qptR_KPADI4vheMtyfDi7XjkO/s320/sewing+women.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586111150104450" /></a>B gets dressed up at a textile business the credit union helped get started. Apparently, these women can sew anything. They loved B's Icelandic sweater and examined it carefully...no doubt replicates will available all over Mongolia soon.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HhuBflICQfQXVcg1W-aAss8mBTW1RO-eZYHe02btrv0nE7vgrrsLaJfFzSlKKlIP-CuV9nPtRhT136tbmH22FVrvqwOZV3DnZZ4wZvZ9gb8c9XBAKza2V9ibrJ305DIaIhgptXv2bI-4/s1600/bgift.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HhuBflICQfQXVcg1W-aAss8mBTW1RO-eZYHe02btrv0nE7vgrrsLaJfFzSlKKlIP-CuV9nPtRhT136tbmH22FVrvqwOZV3DnZZ4wZvZ9gb8c9XBAKza2V9ibrJ305DIaIhgptXv2bI-4/s320/bgift.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644586031943852386" /></a>Bruno presents the credit union with a gift from Canada
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkuqdr67J2WBenY3eFIYtxNqVcEYrOURCdDU0-LSZdwcAs_ih4zm0IU7_cE-Ic8oO5UCeXvb_tm2m5Ls5ItEjcHqCgjr1W-ifWYhg17Y7V3EnS6DCjDC2QaBWLmx5r1WL-mWTEq0JuWBP/s1600/camels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkuqdr67J2WBenY3eFIYtxNqVcEYrOURCdDU0-LSZdwcAs_ih4zm0IU7_cE-Ic8oO5UCeXvb_tm2m5Ls5ItEjcHqCgjr1W-ifWYhg17Y7V3EnS6DCjDC2QaBWLmx5r1WL-mWTEq0JuWBP/s320/camels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585929415546706" /></a>At the meat market...yes, these camels are waiting to be sold, probably as food. Bruno said they had to make a stop here so that his host's son could sell two sheep skins in order to buy an IPod.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3LsrL1-3bLF7AC-9rPqtRwzI-2nO3mPZjW_YHD7DRvhVWJxaCGv0kHe7Oki9Y8APVbUarwZhwpGOlSRDfWXVm8DbCVIZxBwKDgN3JodKiGL7z8eqQgwyNhaT7IVZtNUXRcRsMxQveEKD/s1600/b+and+goats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3LsrL1-3bLF7AC-9rPqtRwzI-2nO3mPZjW_YHD7DRvhVWJxaCGv0kHe7Oki9Y8APVbUarwZhwpGOlSRDfWXVm8DbCVIZxBwKDgN3JodKiGL7z8eqQgwyNhaT7IVZtNUXRcRsMxQveEKD/s320/b+and+goats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585490886472498" /></a>B bids farewell to the goats
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-csU8btvbYhzX654Ho1BNUCitrF7e7KPV-5eugMuXjNJsN7C2xFmQsvL1Z7ZfTgk8v4ugBdtxiJX08Jj9DNDZ74bpVCm8IGFHyN5n7Sfx_pFdZLcrkm7rJkCLZ-DJegD-M9Isw4cZpL6/s1600/road+to+ub+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-csU8btvbYhzX654Ho1BNUCitrF7e7KPV-5eugMuXjNJsN7C2xFmQsvL1Z7ZfTgk8v4ugBdtxiJX08Jj9DNDZ74bpVCm8IGFHyN5n7Sfx_pFdZLcrkm7rJkCLZ-DJegD-M9Isw4cZpL6/s320/road+to+ub+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585418303909410" /></a>It's time to hit the road back to Ulaanbaator
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JsEEGlxIYA/TlWYXKcibWI/AAAAAAAAGRM/5TDcXQbVvIk/s1600/road%2Bto%2BUB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JsEEGlxIYA/TlWYXKcibWI/AAAAAAAAGRM/5TDcXQbVvIk/s320/road%2Bto%2BUB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585231687249250" /></a>Watch out for those marmot skins along the way...
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D1o-maUT4ufyOxgr_qacpNRL3zJaDfUlA5LiCxcLaeP-o0ey7gmhcgP2MnstQySgPA9N3b6fseO9c_c-ZsG-ETiCkUeiN5Chyvd7M_GXzexjJvW1uuOP-a0pDVnrJ8Xf4V0X9WwseN8x/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D1o-maUT4ufyOxgr_qacpNRL3zJaDfUlA5LiCxcLaeP-o0ey7gmhcgP2MnstQySgPA9N3b6fseO9c_c-ZsG-ETiCkUeiN5Chyvd7M_GXzexjJvW1uuOP-a0pDVnrJ8Xf4V0X9WwseN8x/s320/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585746426431474" /></a>The last meal in Mongolia...deep fried bools (dumplings filled with fat). Note the sheep bones on the table...a fun game! B has brought one home.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruDr62f3tdcHpIlrs-Y_LPxvq_sRfyTD45UH5e_yYGGSBhEfvnu9ha6FXqUyIZmbWK62KVV6rYH5WCgnUHFzgd5pNT2AUBjh7LYjbwWPxmYBDCtGpdkEqhQAfLJhT-HJuZ7mNSqzgTXmw/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruDr62f3tdcHpIlrs-Y_LPxvq_sRfyTD45UH5e_yYGGSBhEfvnu9ha6FXqUyIZmbWK62KVV6rYH5WCgnUHFzgd5pNT2AUBjh7LYjbwWPxmYBDCtGpdkEqhQAfLJhT-HJuZ7mNSqzgTXmw/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644585620496485634" /></a>The final entertainment
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<br />If you want to follow the further adventures of Bruno (his volunteer work is now finished so it's time for vacation) ...check out <a href="http://wendyontheroadtobali.blogspot.com/"></a><a href="http://www.wendyontheroadtobali.blogspot.com"></a> "wendyontheroadtobali.blogspot.com' where B meets Wendy in Korea, continues on to Singapore and ends up in Bali.Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-73736061826258367202011-08-19T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-19T13:56:16.937-07:00Aug 14th ... Make Your Own Road Day…
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKHqnRVHi2m9tBcQx7wYUgLu12NL1XXpERJYJFczNFL36kEtSUtMppi-BtR0o9x-TM6WYI3B7DTr_RPlOi6bXZMkfAWkZGLN0jIWAFVxDuUQYE6vxJQ3nOjbcSMb5x8NQSKk1RSfprTZH/s1600/goats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKHqnRVHi2m9tBcQx7wYUgLu12NL1XXpERJYJFczNFL36kEtSUtMppi-BtR0o9x-TM6WYI3B7DTr_RPlOi6bXZMkfAWkZGLN0jIWAFVxDuUQYE6vxJQ3nOjbcSMb5x8NQSKk1RSfprTZH/s320/goats.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642667613787420146" /></a>grazing goats
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<br />We sleep on the top floor of the two-story cabin... once again all three of us have to share a room. We grimace ... and I can tell my travel mates are as sick of sharing a room as I am. The outhouse is a real gem. It’s a bit of a walk from the cabin in the dark. We have to walk past the dogs, the sheep that follows and keeps nudging at us, and we have to make sure we don’t fall into the hole at the front of the outhouse. The owners appear to be putting in a new hole and haven’t had time to move the outhouse so it’s just a large open pit that we have to jump over to get into the actual outhouse. Yes...and no seat... just like that last one. Plank and hole, what comfort!
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<br /> When I get out of bed the next day, I realize that I haven’t been able to shave for three days, and other than swimming in the river I can’t remember the last time I had a shower. My clothes are all dusty and I have nothing left that’s clean. I haven’t been able to wash any clothes as we have had no time or water.
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<br />Before we leave I go for a breakfast of bread and cream. I’m a bit leery of the bag of cream but give it a try. I put the cream on the bread and add some white sugar on top. It’s actually really good so I have two helpings and then gave the sheep my third. Bugs are eating us alive as we step out of the cabin so I am glad to be moving on again.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02IuLvpo2_xDsCBC7Nmdp2qDpC-YbBWlTiPMrAVitdaToEU498lBVjRp8lWYplDf1N2bw1j_IdE6IA3g7qnQ9RY_UuebLzlWCHBcF11pBuS4h_O9ypxaQllXKcmXCNrnRuJ7gwoO5kxR8/s1600/tea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02IuLvpo2_xDsCBC7Nmdp2qDpC-YbBWlTiPMrAVitdaToEU498lBVjRp8lWYplDf1N2bw1j_IdE6IA3g7qnQ9RY_UuebLzlWCHBcF11pBuS4h_O9ypxaQllXKcmXCNrnRuJ7gwoO5kxR8/s320/tea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642667721116105874" /></a>pouring tea
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaebjFUdV_Y9qeNRVVyXv4e2tBa-jsrc77xtm87_NsDicPoJPNj8hABM2VKAACAzmdFKC3vCvFQAkJucM4j_6o-zO1UmU1KdQ0rad8xNCUL9AwGlxdFCaO5jeirsIKfrnORGmx-_gRjaQ5/s1600/cream.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaebjFUdV_Y9qeNRVVyXv4e2tBa-jsrc77xtm87_NsDicPoJPNj8hABM2VKAACAzmdFKC3vCvFQAkJucM4j_6o-zO1UmU1KdQ0rad8xNCUL9AwGlxdFCaO5jeirsIKfrnORGmx-_gRjaQ5/s320/cream.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642667871052884802" /></a>Breakfast cream...or milk tea?
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gczUA31m90i6bALyunru1Ee-qL0Xa4Jd-RTJXoOhxMgOcjExwM-a51OBrQ9a-sIvILsWEdgwwLoctBTGfDpcjcbCLC84WNVJNeeRdAWfdEEkX1UQDPsrMk6sxpfOMCaUtqfm-MZpUqxa/s1600/lady+drinking+tea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gczUA31m90i6bALyunru1Ee-qL0Xa4Jd-RTJXoOhxMgOcjExwM-a51OBrQ9a-sIvILsWEdgwwLoctBTGfDpcjcbCLC84WNVJNeeRdAWfdEEkX1UQDPsrMk6sxpfOMCaUtqfm-MZpUqxa/s320/lady+drinking+tea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642668033735976850" /></a>good tea!
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<br />On the way to our new site Undurkhan Kentii...which is still about 220km away from Ulaanbaatar. It doesn’t seem like a far distance yet it’s another world in the back country. The dirt road system is so bad that it could take days to get back to UB. On the way to Undurkhan we stop and visit a few members' Gers and are treated with the traditional milk tea which is one speck of black tea in warm milk. Yuk… I take a few sips and decide that I have become lactose intolerant for the rest of my stay in Mongolia.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqIwEjBhLCzoxZJia73Bt0Vjd2EdFfnL40mIZMqWo3YAAZIWnLskmhgkiSb2QEb6JKr0aNjbk6zbjK12sNvdGbZJDjok32PRS0anfiULLehDd9TpyuIBA7ULn-msjLMAOBNyb0fslgd7m/s1600/prayerwheelandchildren.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqIwEjBhLCzoxZJia73Bt0Vjd2EdFfnL40mIZMqWo3YAAZIWnLskmhgkiSb2QEb6JKr0aNjbk6zbjK12sNvdGbZJDjok32PRS0anfiULLehDd9TpyuIBA7ULn-msjLMAOBNyb0fslgd7m/s320/prayerwheelandchildren.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642668283629758546" /></a>...spinning a prayer wheel, not generating power
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<br /> The Ger’s are really cool. All of the ones I have been to have flat screen TV’s, satellite dishes and generators or power that they take directly from a power pole. They all have computers and cell phones. It’s so weird as they seem to still do so many things in the traditional way and prefer their Ger’s over wooded structures. Cow dung is stacked and drying next to the Ger as it will be used as a heat source by burning it in the winter.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_7xFNpbtnnMhC1Wut7MyMk-L1dTUzHxhtx0rSNWPO43FKei-FlIAUz9t4qie8HbD-k32wuFDv1tWPwbmWiS_fypypEhxHg0n59CCVavlqsHSO_dCIwTYkmviIQZIuVV_uLNLVNB2hyphenhyphenjL/s1600/saddle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_7xFNpbtnnMhC1Wut7MyMk-L1dTUzHxhtx0rSNWPO43FKei-FlIAUz9t4qie8HbD-k32wuFDv1tWPwbmWiS_fypypEhxHg0n59CCVavlqsHSO_dCIwTYkmviIQZIuVV_uLNLVNB2hyphenhyphenjL/s320/saddle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642668496097781538" /></a>Mongolian saddle
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6xvpgUrJqQAQO4Zv9sU7ceGXhdLRIhaBG3hieihSK790LNfBJ_m1Q9m6d1DPZVLiA-AxyRZUbhyphenhyphenwxtaKYZ5fH-emUMHJy0k2B2huz0enb_j_FvA37EvWM4IkheZeT0l9cG-a_sW0D8Dg/s1600/briding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6xvpgUrJqQAQO4Zv9sU7ceGXhdLRIhaBG3hieihSK790LNfBJ_m1Q9m6d1DPZVLiA-AxyRZUbhyphenhyphenwxtaKYZ5fH-emUMHJy0k2B2huz0enb_j_FvA37EvWM4IkheZeT0l9cG-a_sW0D8Dg/s320/briding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642668670719751778" /></a>Bruno in the saddle
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<br />We make our way to the next Ger and this time I get to ride the owner's horse. This horse seems really small when you are on it. They are really nice to ride and have a smooth gait. Now I have ridden a horse in Mongolia. Not many people can say that.
<br />I’m also treated to some of the social programs this Credit Union is doing. One is water conservation. We stop at a corral-like structure surrounding a small amount of water. It’s a natural spring and the water comes up from the ground in a small amount. It provides a water source to all the herder families in the area. It has to be protected from the animals as they will trample it down to a mud pit.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaAZru9DifXFQg0krCbXfVMoVHUX-9oWGl28oJ_oiRrywSWVRTEIBAZGlOqk1tXq_e3Li3R0vOjkd5Z-83uaHHvNTdCI-HfTTefRhIIYmfrsK93rYOuOyWXLYkG_zP-v76EzrUoOC-M5D/s1600/watersupply.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaAZru9DifXFQg0krCbXfVMoVHUX-9oWGl28oJ_oiRrywSWVRTEIBAZGlOqk1tXq_e3Li3R0vOjkd5Z-83uaHHvNTdCI-HfTTefRhIIYmfrsK93rYOuOyWXLYkG_zP-v76EzrUoOC-M5D/s320/watersupply.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642668867164535234" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcTfOmgKYH1TmDHQdNlmEkgA8Rnbr_H3G92NBCVJ4F58xLJ8PVzjeBklvgp3lDq-botaFXlY3RdbBisZbSbqlupdBYUFJtNgs80oTGc4fUErfK2qt7q9u5rLY6WBSH-ZjlAiFdzTuXDl5/s1600/drinking+water.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcTfOmgKYH1TmDHQdNlmEkgA8Rnbr_H3G92NBCVJ4F58xLJ8PVzjeBklvgp3lDq-botaFXlY3RdbBisZbSbqlupdBYUFJtNgs80oTGc4fUErfK2qt7q9u5rLY6WBSH-ZjlAiFdzTuXDl5/s320/drinking+water.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642669074035429842" /></a>This is the only source of water...no wonder B has been sick!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTvqnEFhR7C1Og1QpZ5lT-CVRuilv0LT95I9HJ-eJT8B8prmZVtfbr2La1craACrxt5oG5NsCbijJ7Gra50C14xDav8GWqZPCnsyAP-8AP_8UYOwn15msO2KAI8JnfykW6EiPfwVQNrow/s1600/going+to+river.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTvqnEFhR7C1Og1QpZ5lT-CVRuilv0LT95I9HJ-eJT8B8prmZVtfbr2La1craACrxt5oG5NsCbijJ7Gra50C14xDav8GWqZPCnsyAP-8AP_8UYOwn15msO2KAI8JnfykW6EiPfwVQNrow/s320/going+to+river.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642669259665959426" /></a>heading to the spring
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<br />We arrive in Undurkhan and see an actual 'hotel' sign. We check into our adjoining rooms with a shared toilet. Ken and I still have to share a room but at least we have a room for Mongo. However a shower is only available at the public shower house. The shower room turns out to be a real treat. It’s absolutely spotless and disinfected after each use. It’s the best hot shower I can remember having.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO7oV6PDKENNnQg4Oe1SRw8Nqqt_hubl6kO362yXkt6m262oKPL9lLSdSWXjaGriR-Ebxkwr_ixBm0MuJkvs2T8wlxIx0-YFgEm2sKbdpj5bV7_4NF29UWSdi3-aaWW8vSKytQAtTJZpJ/s1600/five+star+hotel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRO7oV6PDKENNnQg4Oe1SRw8Nqqt_hubl6kO362yXkt6m262oKPL9lLSdSWXjaGriR-Ebxkwr_ixBm0MuJkvs2T8wlxIx0-YFgEm2sKbdpj5bV7_4NF29UWSdi3-aaWW8vSKytQAtTJZpJ/s320/five+star+hotel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642669736003133234" /></a>Is this hotel five-star??
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3T9GWNsHSyu0dbx9p_KqI3gXti71U1XYkIYWGZ3dvZHKSu3BaC92jVC96_QzXn8wDHuJmMlZ3Su3-iPFnTW4FTjUCcISjT5QMQx8-gBkdypKwQO9AAw2i38q11y-rd5tRUsbaQDWfdnR/s1600/bedroom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3T9GWNsHSyu0dbx9p_KqI3gXti71U1XYkIYWGZ3dvZHKSu3BaC92jVC96_QzXn8wDHuJmMlZ3Su3-iPFnTW4FTjUCcISjT5QMQx8-gBkdypKwQO9AAw2i38q11y-rd5tRUsbaQDWfdnR/s320/bedroom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642669888464640226" /></a>Hmmm...maybe not
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<br /> Clean and fed, we return to our room and people keep poking their heads in. I try to lock it but there's no lock on the exterior door. Later the housekeeper comes by and lets us know that the hotel is full and our water closet is the main one for the hotel. She then hands us a padlock key for the toilet and locks our bedroom doors. All night long and all morning it was a steady parade of people using our so-called sink. I finally get out of bed, open the door between our adjoining rooms to get to the water closet and find her outside my door. I’m just in my undershorts, but she had no issues with that and takes my hand leading me to the sink to show me how clean and shiny she has kept it. So I wash my face and then go over to the toilet room. She unlocks it for me, throws a bucket of water into the toilet and flushes. Then she lets me in and points to how clean it is. She then shows me the incense and matches and shuts the door. I then realize she must have been outside my door all night guiding each person through the same ritual and cleaning after each one. That’s why it was so noisy.
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-82448993301863006312011-08-18T08:13:00.001-07:002011-08-18T14:37:58.960-07:00Travelling in Mongolian Time
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrIukmIfhKRmcpF6dHe1m_gVs5aO7AsMK9hqfwBaEMWYQfKFT25SLGUNXXN22di0v-n6nWwRMc3AYRwc438AWgdRdEYZVTTEScze5-7jgzNS9bsRY2rX3fJwa2fZvg8YQ1e_JqGa3x3ua/s1600/bluehut.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrIukmIfhKRmcpF6dHe1m_gVs5aO7AsMK9hqfwBaEMWYQfKFT25SLGUNXXN22di0v-n6nWwRMc3AYRwc438AWgdRdEYZVTTEScze5-7jgzNS9bsRY2rX3fJwa2fZvg8YQ1e_JqGa3x3ua/s320/bluehut.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642310389895596578" /></a>
<br /> We are up at 7am as we have to pack and have our last meal with Nassa. Of course we have to have a final toast and he pulls out the Vodka at 8:30 am. I keep telling myself that it’s medicine and necessary after each meal…
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<br />I’m really excited to leave as our work set the Credit Union up well, and although I really like my coaching partner and interpreter, we have spent way too much time in the same room. At 9 we would be off to our new location and then have a fun day to relax. That’s what the plan is supposed to be. At noon we are still in our room waiting. No call from the host picking us up and no sign of her. I’m not surprised. One wrong turn on the unmarked dirt roads and you could end up in Siberia. We decide to go for a last swim in the river and cool off. We get the call that the car got stuck in the mud and they would be collecting us after lunch. I was hoping to avoid another meal in Binder Soum or having to use the washroom facilities again, it’s torturous.
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<br />We finally get picked up and pack our stuff into a luxury Toyota SUV. Things are looking up... No hold on...No sooner do we leave the village than we have to turn back as our new host Narra has to purchase something at the store. Its now close to 4 and we are finally leaving. We drive like crazy in the dirt, avoiding potholes and multiple dirt paths. At one point our driver decides it’s time to get off the road and drive through a field of grass straight towards the mountains.
<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl7IgSA9SZgIc-WoKcSu4EDBQL_rsLKps9855JnSaadDiCDmydkDbAx5ZyDvG6pMfxC4ZjDa_ATVlZlq0yDt3KkkFWvHT-t7fDGHyscwpYNdB-24scINXlUA2zVCyzETwlZkhDtIbjd2g/s1600/make+your+road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcl7IgSA9SZgIc-WoKcSu4EDBQL_rsLKps9855JnSaadDiCDmydkDbAx5ZyDvG6pMfxC4ZjDa_ATVlZlq0yDt3KkkFWvHT-t7fDGHyscwpYNdB-24scINXlUA2zVCyzETwlZkhDtIbjd2g/s320/make+your+road.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642304201830551826" /></a>
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<br /> Now we are making our own road. It’s a lot smoother then the dirt road however we do have to drive through rivers and bogs. Not sure what we will do if we get stuck. I asked Narra how they managed to get out of the mud. She said they waited for a herder to come along on his motor bike to get a push by hand...however, Narra looks impeccably dressed and is wearing high-end glasses, matching purse and high-heeled shoes. She said she was covered in mud and had to stop and clean by the river and then dry her clothes. That’s why she was late. I guess that’s what we will do also. Just then, a clear plastic bag filled with cream falls on my lap. It’s breakfast Narra says and then holds it on her lap for the rest of the trip.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagheogtSF-AwykDsigyHTW3fx5j48f9unvWC4gkwIEMSryWRt2oiX3xkMyKNtZ9oFrM1p6HUidsml190oPiHKEciQi7-t4sjFBi5ClaysB4sHBLg67qvCz0xmrQHpDfNRQQnImnv9QZ0i/s1600/deer+stones+day.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagheogtSF-AwykDsigyHTW3fx5j48f9unvWC4gkwIEMSryWRt2oiX3xkMyKNtZ9oFrM1p6HUidsml190oPiHKEciQi7-t4sjFBi5ClaysB4sHBLg67qvCz0xmrQHpDfNRQQnImnv9QZ0i/s320/deer+stones+day.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642304579993826818" /></a>
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<br /> We come across some unusual stone carvings that stick straight out of the land. Narra explains that they are Deer Stones from the Ottoman Empire. Very cool ... you can barely make out the dear carvings.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKr4IA3mj8nJfZ8cwogEZoBaK2v6bLD8wIPWZuRHEVabpFX8BjseH_8S_2K3kt7lg4tUt7m6QOiwc1lkrM686AbV4ZyacnEdUb2DNnNj5TWLUfC1xYlk8IVWh63mSLjUnoX7JR_OTglre/s1600/deer+stones+night.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKr4IA3mj8nJfZ8cwogEZoBaK2v6bLD8wIPWZuRHEVabpFX8BjseH_8S_2K3kt7lg4tUt7m6QOiwc1lkrM686AbV4ZyacnEdUb2DNnNj5TWLUfC1xYlk8IVWh63mSLjUnoX7JR_OTglre/s320/deer+stones+night.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642304753484073666" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rI6FZln-xerVBQflPY3cKpn6SUCSLZJFNZGyo8NIygwBme7tH0pE4dI1-rJ0yo_LTdz3-j5tBIUV29-jb7CdAocVq-rlNBTiOfxsgI89Yb7y5_k_jArAAYISA959vFXTWH0tpTauPGm5/s1600/stoney+hills.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rI6FZln-xerVBQflPY3cKpn6SUCSLZJFNZGyo8NIygwBme7tH0pE4dI1-rJ0yo_LTdz3-j5tBIUV29-jb7CdAocVq-rlNBTiOfxsgI89Yb7y5_k_jArAAYISA959vFXTWH0tpTauPGm5/s320/stoney+hills.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642305194905519106" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBPjVSzkvVV6pSJO8z6M0Qp7zCXILrqKYhNJTZkbvBs_Zx59p9MMdWL3IovSsjVe2Wo9nI3SJYrDJ3CeDk7mklxm3_VXr1biyAd2dtBOoftv-86-OiB2j9Mhbhnr7k2wyMXzR6cxwzbWn/s1600/cattle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBPjVSzkvVV6pSJO8z6M0Qp7zCXILrqKYhNJTZkbvBs_Zx59p9MMdWL3IovSsjVe2Wo9nI3SJYrDJ3CeDk7mklxm3_VXr1biyAd2dtBOoftv-86-OiB2j9Mhbhnr7k2wyMXzR6cxwzbWn/s320/cattle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642305877136554866" /></a>
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<br /> The mountains are really just large hills with some larger rocks and at a high elevation. We get to our first destination... dinner at a herder’s summer home. Narra says as we arrive “There are many members here to greet us and hot pot is on the stove... You will be expected to make some speeches and possibly sing karaoke please enjoy.”
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzol0P6ZYH30pd7Ya0Mhvtu7dNNhvdCc6jF067OYn2tWZlgRpErbB-3JCUYzp9P0qC5DDDrsSUkeYMq1e3fj5U0LrukmhuZAr9jbH-VLtRmIT8o0P4Nn0H_2VXwyG8wz2AzToMCB99FGZ/s1600/inside+the+yurt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzol0P6ZYH30pd7Ya0Mhvtu7dNNhvdCc6jF067OYn2tWZlgRpErbB-3JCUYzp9P0qC5DDDrsSUkeYMq1e3fj5U0LrukmhuZAr9jbH-VLtRmIT8o0P4Nn0H_2VXwyG8wz2AzToMCB99FGZ/s320/inside+the+yurt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642305467520777426" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLd4Htep6QCrcsVMSAYcwZgbtCvPN4pMMytpc4aXZ8RxTEU-icb7TkLxwOfEXs45hh2gZS-Ph_88NsH1MK59TJQ6GUerdk1oecvQBJFKDasNwkGGaXCxIYc89oCoVYcwM0miWKJ4D-2mu/s1600/meat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLd4Htep6QCrcsVMSAYcwZgbtCvPN4pMMytpc4aXZ8RxTEU-icb7TkLxwOfEXs45hh2gZS-Ph_88NsH1MK59TJQ6GUerdk1oecvQBJFKDasNwkGGaXCxIYc89oCoVYcwM0miWKJ4D-2mu/s320/meat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642306189558736450" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt0A3fKvj9SSCXOLNJlmIK4unFa_CB-FSb0KtQtAuPqN7Mv8bMGfQL88V95nviR2kQBV1gt881cowancx9eOFzsm4RqGOWhOf2eVaUgU3P-etZ9w4dxmaN50qg04YXqrcz5H_QB6RiX0a/s1600/eating.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgt0A3fKvj9SSCXOLNJlmIK4unFa_CB-FSb0KtQtAuPqN7Mv8bMGfQL88V95nviR2kQBV1gt881cowancx9eOFzsm4RqGOWhOf2eVaUgU3P-etZ9w4dxmaN50qg04YXqrcz5H_QB6RiX0a/s320/eating.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642306624014185074" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpnA5ig4YfNZDp0ATxCcoz5K83vbT0M9Tx4sPnDIXNEhfK4afpHQJ5CFnZPXPRuW9bYrOnGnTVq6YDFYcPObFXYk2PCAbCrBM2kUdyb2PD-g9Eq_6Gy0O8hvqb20AkyaJkAwlYyhMrI8N/s1600/deep+fried.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpnA5ig4YfNZDp0ATxCcoz5K83vbT0M9Tx4sPnDIXNEhfK4afpHQJ5CFnZPXPRuW9bYrOnGnTVq6YDFYcPObFXYk2PCAbCrBM2kUdyb2PD-g9Eq_6Gy0O8hvqb20AkyaJkAwlYyhMrI8N/s320/deep+fried.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642306833393983506" /></a>
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<br /> I was able to sit in the Ger and get in a few formal toasts and make my introduction while my interpreter restated everything in Mongolian. I actually see the hot pot before it comes off the stove and they let me photograph the cooking and preparation. The stones help regulate the heat. Once cooked you take the stones out, let them cool briefly and then try to hold them... moving them from hand to hand before they burn through your skin. They are all greasy and slimy from the lamb fat. The hot fat and rocks make your hands super soft. It’s actually disinfecting as well as we are about to eat with our hands, no utensils.
<br />After a delicious dinner (it was!) we start up a generator and turn on the computer and speakers and get the microphones going. People begin to pick the songs and I get myself out of it by being a so-called judge. Close call, not sure if I can avoid singing for the next week
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpk2Mo7mhkStu0iKJUVEfl0LmQlSENXtPi_nttL9FnxbJ8XiKJwl8pcJkZ6daRHAVw-MfhHQtC-_pqvIgiQzANOt11gGaiVNmgVUgTVmKxykuJ0QCCI6qaqFjUpSGUiRmrj1MCSp-TX01/s1600/dressed+for+K.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpk2Mo7mhkStu0iKJUVEfl0LmQlSENXtPi_nttL9FnxbJ8XiKJwl8pcJkZ6daRHAVw-MfhHQtC-_pqvIgiQzANOt11gGaiVNmgVUgTVmKxykuJ0QCCI6qaqFjUpSGUiRmrj1MCSp-TX01/s320/dressed+for+K.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642307087801554722" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIBK3raz_bVv-zO5W2xTA0W8EJFVD2wbRo2aQif1PnStipsnjvNwEwxhsUjAyZcODjZRfkcKQbfeNyrloBVgPVge_td7akYcAGUDtsZjTQpcEDLxWbn-g4Bk8ZmYHh_sXdWLB-VzMx45H/s1600/girl+and+yurt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHIBK3raz_bVv-zO5W2xTA0W8EJFVD2wbRo2aQif1PnStipsnjvNwEwxhsUjAyZcODjZRfkcKQbfeNyrloBVgPVge_td7akYcAGUDtsZjTQpcEDLxWbn-g4Bk8ZmYHh_sXdWLB-VzMx45H/s320/girl+and+yurt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642310501316465122" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9-dmrykr-ScOSPtpsr6HuBRG7bSjuipT6yxwVBP2tzkw7FjuDi2-T-kOCetT0l_-acYqUJ8H4OZRORoZNtEDZ-18a4SLPYq5irVvpNByxB5wJ-oG2v73JQw6YcicyM6ilozzjg5BjiC5/s1600/computer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9-dmrykr-ScOSPtpsr6HuBRG7bSjuipT6yxwVBP2tzkw7FjuDi2-T-kOCetT0l_-acYqUJ8H4OZRORoZNtEDZ-18a4SLPYq5irVvpNByxB5wJ-oG2v73JQw6YcicyM6ilozzjg5BjiC5/s320/computer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642307319175165826" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBvdpZmz5LsJP2FFrS3tKkiLeoGaiJ5MCoN9UHJYpkTC8UGGsEfCwBObMidlN9ee1Zhb5VqWVVRyqYWro5R6J7JMPfs7CLsh4QjXf0GGLzfxCf6gI8k2AOWZyGREqxUHfwIMmHeNZcH51/s1600/waiting+to+sing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBvdpZmz5LsJP2FFrS3tKkiLeoGaiJ5MCoN9UHJYpkTC8UGGsEfCwBObMidlN9ee1Zhb5VqWVVRyqYWro5R6J7JMPfs7CLsh4QjXf0GGLzfxCf6gI8k2AOWZyGREqxUHfwIMmHeNZcH51/s320/waiting+to+sing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642307653911587074" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-841-9nuAZ6bSWU4AdyIHZU6NMxyG11UliZfLY0A6yBIOBPwgAUo0IkEAVhhFb2cn60mQ4ls-rh9wXp6XdX9487nlQXZP_ioF5nBNjMinV-vdyo2frrbEKxhMHUMBp-_sYni_O9XiqIyO/s1600/ladies+singing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-841-9nuAZ6bSWU4AdyIHZU6NMxyG11UliZfLY0A6yBIOBPwgAUo0IkEAVhhFb2cn60mQ4ls-rh9wXp6XdX9487nlQXZP_ioF5nBNjMinV-vdyo2frrbEKxhMHUMBp-_sYni_O9XiqIyO/s320/ladies+singing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642307904237542386" /></a>
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<br /> The Mongolians are very persistent when it comes to telling your story through song. First up the young herder and his wife... he begins to sing and the cows all look up and begin to come towards the Ger. It seems that a stampede is about to run through our camp any second. The cattle stop about 100 yards away and listen to the singing and appear to be enjoying the show.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHeeGaPXsu4SactOl8WYia0EeRTlaLFQwDGOZcqlwnKqbmWK4qUZFOzLu2F-S_Y1GIzkHkxcxCmKsO7UAJnqeOTqu6dd2JsD8Lrkj67SJDJaTRA3OjnKDNVgVXxCndabAh3cTmvyxsfDX/s1600/cow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHeeGaPXsu4SactOl8WYia0EeRTlaLFQwDGOZcqlwnKqbmWK4qUZFOzLu2F-S_Y1GIzkHkxcxCmKsO7UAJnqeOTqu6dd2JsD8Lrkj67SJDJaTRA3OjnKDNVgVXxCndabAh3cTmvyxsfDX/s320/cow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642309375326978290" /></a>
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<br /> It ends after a short time and then we are rushed off to a convoy of 4 cars and a motorbike. We are now headed to a camp in the mountains, but first the monastery... one the largest in Mongolia, home to some 1500 lamas. It was destroyed by fire in the 70’s and they have been restoring the main building. I was lucky to find a old photo of the entire site in the 20’s and photographed it. Today it’s just two buildings. This was an important training ground for lamas up until the communists started to kill them off. The lamas eventually all left for Tibet. It’s a sacred area well known around the world and they get many visitors. Very cool! The sun sets and the monastery closes .
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X-DTqDpUAZqDppeyUCyRxQfExrpz22XAQIYcrt4xvA8cEYA4zbpni95XyHODRx0Ua0xRY092yGVAwKkBRPSwNRSNPyy3zdv_6Yj4gkk_SuwYTo1D53nxb1XAcIsjyzeo8b7jOVZzQ-8I/s1600/temple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5X-DTqDpUAZqDppeyUCyRxQfExrpz22XAQIYcrt4xvA8cEYA4zbpni95XyHODRx0Ua0xRY092yGVAwKkBRPSwNRSNPyy3zdv_6Yj4gkk_SuwYTo1D53nxb1XAcIsjyzeo8b7jOVZzQ-8I/s320/temple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642308186825908546" /></a>
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<br /> The next part of our trip is in darkness through rivers and on dirt mountain roads. We get stuck going up a high mountain road and decide that the road is just too much for the SUV we have. I was a bit shocked as we had done so well in the other areas. Then I find out it’s not an SUV it’s a front wheel drive made to look like an SUV. Its fine the driver says, we can try another road. There's always a road or you can make one. We get to the cabin in the woods, set up and settle in for more hot pot and vodka, and yes more singing. I have an excellent sleep but wake to what I think is a cold coming on.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS5bcDVrZvMWpnp8YIFoBhnwBQUVD2ktI-FXIFlMpfCtEqs0nswa5yREwXk0bUQOAX1-2DMkRVUDn5W39AW5a7blW0YoJfbTMvHvG5TBMXKnOWIR3qa69x9tFL85P8C4XEXCOO8AgL3du/s1600/yurt+camp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWS5bcDVrZvMWpnp8YIFoBhnwBQUVD2ktI-FXIFlMpfCtEqs0nswa5yREwXk0bUQOAX1-2DMkRVUDn5W39AW5a7blW0YoJfbTMvHvG5TBMXKnOWIR3qa69x9tFL85P8C4XEXCOO8AgL3du/s320/yurt+camp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642309217148403458" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhIT6Rtrv5Mv6HIichEouh-90WL3jVMNbZroFwIGTMiguDK63WqbmaaO6EcuDcZmoQiunYr1zQ77pU43P__f_Pr0anDQZD9eHn2ATS3SLP5hQFaPKBQDqy9xShf1GyAK0Hoe6FMLnk-LM/s1600/sheep.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhIT6Rtrv5Mv6HIichEouh-90WL3jVMNbZroFwIGTMiguDK63WqbmaaO6EcuDcZmoQiunYr1zQ77pU43P__f_Pr0anDQZD9eHn2ATS3SLP5hQFaPKBQDqy9xShf1GyAK0Hoe6FMLnk-LM/s320/sheep.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642309007326831554" /></a>
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-80011948207974969262011-08-16T15:29:00.000-07:002011-08-16T16:08:08.270-07:00Photos!!I'm just going to post these one after the other...they go with the last posting below, so click on "Lost in Mongolia" to understand their context.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArFNiXxDyKwPMAapUrARRiqUQeVFv7eEVOBw2ThsmyeEHK2Nw6Jwd9jgRUTnR6nniq7e9yg-aAIHEhN3HANJN3aBJ8ttUCCWWC_hT2Z9-jWRsCYpvhhPJVzrTcb_QRslqsBlPrfsFjJCO/s1600/the+road2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArFNiXxDyKwPMAapUrARRiqUQeVFv7eEVOBw2ThsmyeEHK2Nw6Jwd9jgRUTnR6nniq7e9yg-aAIHEhN3HANJN3aBJ8ttUCCWWC_hT2Z9-jWRsCYpvhhPJVzrTcb_QRslqsBlPrfsFjJCO/s320/the+road2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641591499041075346" /></a>The road to Binder Soum
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKVpeMaoJ9wwJW3hOEthHN3O6CUOFeSPN0nwpTzkx68uyJ5XIDnDQEy8ZIkyxbncZmYoqBz4Ios6tntfmqWisuC_JXcye_Ihh9VQN_36aTOOPVnC5M9cGeI6AtUp1xEfI9pcRKNTRQlmm/s1600/trucks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKVpeMaoJ9wwJW3hOEthHN3O6CUOFeSPN0nwpTzkx68uyJ5XIDnDQEy8ZIkyxbncZmYoqBz4Ios6tntfmqWisuC_JXcye_Ihh9VQN_36aTOOPVnC5M9cGeI6AtUp1xEfI9pcRKNTRQlmm/s320/trucks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641591379236405666" /></a>Scenes along the way
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL4KQCk9zvtfNqATMAjxdOWtEOblS-b70QwNKEcWtC46PaGvCtnFawk1sB6wKFa3oaQlK3GBWl3NGHtUgCHPAw2N6foRekgMCoyOhrCB2EyqKfmKwOoUjK3HEvWFPDUar2E1BfooSB5dN/s1600/plainsandyurts.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRL4KQCk9zvtfNqATMAjxdOWtEOblS-b70QwNKEcWtC46PaGvCtnFawk1sB6wKFa3oaQlK3GBWl3NGHtUgCHPAw2N6foRekgMCoyOhrCB2EyqKfmKwOoUjK3HEvWFPDUar2E1BfooSB5dN/s320/plainsandyurts.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641591258893926658" /></a>Yurtville
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uYF_w4EL-8b3NjbImgJg7TCYawlRSZ9xNVk3T2Z2HurtjOLjTz_H_FkAuZftHl2iOuwzBYQlJz8v9ZyEKAmff4NkezLk__aa2HecGeS833FLCUXiZCfu3_ns08TYrLQBhJntTw29FOX/s1600/bathing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3uYF_w4EL-8b3NjbImgJg7TCYawlRSZ9xNVk3T2Z2HurtjOLjTz_H_FkAuZftHl2iOuwzBYQlJz8v9ZyEKAmff4NkezLk__aa2HecGeS833FLCUXiZCfu3_ns08TYrLQBhJntTw29FOX/s320/bathing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641591091487262850" /></a>Bathing in the river after a long, hot day at the office
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuz7HZhJ1fOzhA4h07b3DtYoO_JxiAk4K9EAMJLczcZ_ktWDTrVYXCoRsapxTcRiRrOgXMmJvSyjxPCprXw_l5KDMOz6Cl-KAkx_PvGc6UKMI78pAgw99h2Ol0T1ty-GhCXyC_Y07fmH1/s1600/the+office.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuz7HZhJ1fOzhA4h07b3DtYoO_JxiAk4K9EAMJLczcZ_ktWDTrVYXCoRsapxTcRiRrOgXMmJvSyjxPCprXw_l5KDMOz6Cl-KAkx_PvGc6UKMI78pAgw99h2Ol0T1ty-GhCXyC_Y07fmH1/s320/the+office.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590243225215778" /></a>The office
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqk4CZkS77LR4ZLir3oQej6xiPqC3_H6WgZoEVzmuqO0LRrErhCH14Y6P8KYunYAh9EuUbPKTercPd1Xr1eLbYQLyDAl7GZo1ox3aEuRmdIPbox0A70oBX8ObqHB_-BzmYUHpPJO7B1e4/s1600/over+the+river.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqk4CZkS77LR4ZLir3oQej6xiPqC3_H6WgZoEVzmuqO0LRrErhCH14Y6P8KYunYAh9EuUbPKTercPd1Xr1eLbYQLyDAl7GZo1ox3aEuRmdIPbox0A70oBX8ObqHB_-BzmYUHpPJO7B1e4/s320/over+the+river.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590929274192946" /></a>No Bridge!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTSOfpmDGGVBQ9RzJWd5N9AGUvmoz0YEYBP_H9a14S8bUoR6zxDWKvwCrV7EFLDxO_P7C4lDUjzP9wslKn7wWPly9YZAWO27zXxs9ehw_EEe5mOep7UlPBpQxHxCU1EAcWwmNdkgDiqg4/s1600/over+the+river+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTSOfpmDGGVBQ9RzJWd5N9AGUvmoz0YEYBP_H9a14S8bUoR6zxDWKvwCrV7EFLDxO_P7C4lDUjzP9wslKn7wWPly9YZAWO27zXxs9ehw_EEe5mOep7UlPBpQxHxCU1EAcWwmNdkgDiqg4/s320/over+the+river+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590834393320066" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qY5V7sMsf9_nJMmmNkArVaSe5hAn7U6eDBCw3xw9D28OSpigtaEkM3zdgmGFkNe-puGcz-syk_f1EkCuiW90k8yuleHIIOeVa0pWEf3E_UtwknCjn5Zj1BADyBioCUWYQbN4rNInOiGg/s1600/ghengis.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qY5V7sMsf9_nJMmmNkArVaSe5hAn7U6eDBCw3xw9D28OSpigtaEkM3zdgmGFkNe-puGcz-syk_f1EkCuiW90k8yuleHIIOeVa0pWEf3E_UtwknCjn5Zj1BADyBioCUWYQbN4rNInOiGg/s320/ghengis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590636936321106" /></a> Chinggis monument
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwS-gjbASqnWciYZ2ALTbvFMyKYSGOYPNg2PAwDMxoG3lDs1OnvIGM0BIC71RPxxLa9luEBAA7jAWT32n9x2Nh2I8uOoO8fzdVJSxKZ1dYCHOL3HW8d3dc8YbfM-p7m4NA5nOdJwxxJJV/s1600/arm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwS-gjbASqnWciYZ2ALTbvFMyKYSGOYPNg2PAwDMxoG3lDs1OnvIGM0BIC71RPxxLa9luEBAA7jAWT32n9x2Nh2I8uOoO8fzdVJSxKZ1dYCHOL3HW8d3dc8YbfM-p7m4NA5nOdJwxxJJV/s320/arm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590536769883986" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4laEZ9cpQKyBDsJ_wcPFHyEvGxibl089gb7JMcZRxPhqd56HezRM8KvxPSwGgt8XQ6Osi5y5DcpmNJzuNImKv9DtOcB5IdXLhG8S5Jt-i8YqNfqEZI043fxydSxsq-o2dFBdiejPh4qT/s1600/ghengisandB.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4laEZ9cpQKyBDsJ_wcPFHyEvGxibl089gb7JMcZRxPhqd56HezRM8KvxPSwGgt8XQ6Osi5y5DcpmNJzuNImKv9DtOcB5IdXLhG8S5Jt-i8YqNfqEZI043fxydSxsq-o2dFBdiejPh4qT/s320/ghengisandB.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590427649945362" /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpcXCSPkHaD2oksVx2VjmyWDV801aGQc8PfasC-oaCwjTy58HLm3E5_VvYX7p3AMKA32711Dm15suVL_t8A91RfDJBDLR6nAmRdGEyp3X1BseEp3GSTgVNn0LQSHL2OFyGPQ_uaxEYMDK/s1600/the+room.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpcXCSPkHaD2oksVx2VjmyWDV801aGQc8PfasC-oaCwjTy58HLm3E5_VvYX7p3AMKA32711Dm15suVL_t8A91RfDJBDLR6nAmRdGEyp3X1BseEp3GSTgVNn0LQSHL2OFyGPQ_uaxEYMDK/s320/the+room.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641590119430814450" /></a>The bedroom
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoaP-HLoCn6P9s1uD1-71jichhBau35WBNSwEfygHUfIkRtTpk2Fbs8rzE7TraD_RpDZNsWx2tfEfk6PTJ_ywKdDgFDOEin5CsrADgvDDrZqU2AFLFGE2tmTuTlvqCrlA-So0I3y9-JqR/s1600/thehall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoaP-HLoCn6P9s1uD1-71jichhBau35WBNSwEfygHUfIkRtTpk2Fbs8rzE7TraD_RpDZNsWx2tfEfk6PTJ_ywKdDgFDOEin5CsrADgvDDrZqU2AFLFGE2tmTuTlvqCrlA-So0I3y9-JqR/s320/thehall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641589938882305218" /></a>The Hallway
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8SNjy2FoO2vOQquH2ezIHmhDLODvaKzOOp6O8gV1ZuWMb7AIScEm73FFcZDgdsFqE0XTWFOh_aa0GtdXFoUG96Eq3zoDZ0v8jXbbVPm5h83C6cr3aeK6DsCA9HOsKtspv34G6t-aucwp/s1600/the+hotpot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8SNjy2FoO2vOQquH2ezIHmhDLODvaKzOOp6O8gV1ZuWMb7AIScEm73FFcZDgdsFqE0XTWFOh_aa0GtdXFoUG96Eq3zoDZ0v8jXbbVPm5h83C6cr3aeK6DsCA9HOsKtspv34G6t-aucwp/s320/the+hotpot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641589669697005586" /></a>Meat for dinner...
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-54339813436301097332011-08-16T14:31:00.000-07:002011-08-16T16:36:51.429-07:00Aug 12th ...Our last day in Binder Soum.Just before this, I posted some other photos, so scroll down/click on the right.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fCLo_yjCTsPetxA0bpkWta7XWL8s7Gi9mzMGPEZFJHkg6c0PT9RfvZ7K1BcXIV-gkUagZJQSKHLuTMeKETYLoUwGviyTKm5rr498n1f_63NVkDaZB4faAHAsIcX7IQPCY7d0qwnCZwIm/s1600/the+thing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fCLo_yjCTsPetxA0bpkWta7XWL8s7Gi9mzMGPEZFJHkg6c0PT9RfvZ7K1BcXIV-gkUagZJQSKHLuTMeKETYLoUwGviyTKm5rr498n1f_63NVkDaZB4faAHAsIcX7IQPCY7d0qwnCZwIm/s320/the+thing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641600657491012738" /></a>I don't know what these are, but Bruno has taken dozens of photos of them!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7NFdC5I8LBE3gLF_wYtmNtex-ce_qiBo0hCs1FASDvliTBMKzWSV3iDgGQ9silVg7IarezfOCPL4OHHtjRmQfGHDoAhM4DMfrJDIV5QU0eTo2BbwMSjttrbo0x0CmZCRrxRo3uNd9xlL/s1600/sunset.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7NFdC5I8LBE3gLF_wYtmNtex-ce_qiBo0hCs1FASDvliTBMKzWSV3iDgGQ9silVg7IarezfOCPL4OHHtjRmQfGHDoAhM4DMfrJDIV5QU0eTo2BbwMSjttrbo0x0CmZCRrxRo3uNd9xlL/s320/sunset.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641600585560350834" /></a>
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<br />The village is filled with excitement as today the credit union will be having its 5th anniversary celebration. Members have been entering a contest all year and they have been anticipating the big draw for some time. In fact, the credit union delayed the draw so that we could be the dignitaries to award the grand prizes: a fully loaded 150cc motor cycle and a satellite dish with all the goodies. They also have a series of cash prizes. Ken and I are asked to make speeches to encourage members to move savings deposits to the credit union and attract more memberships. The event is going to start at 3pm sharp and it might last an hour. Then we are off to camp overnight and cook “hotpot”. As usual Mongolian time dictates the start of our event. So we are at the town hall at 3 only to find it empty with the prizes all set up on stage. The building starts to fill up at 4 and we get going at 4:30 or 5.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV0mVx5jqpk-Q08aW_znJn78-nBtaXVdotE_sjgvbsCpTZH7b-mFTusO3B4JjEJF8cj_Wc4kB6VuNzy6ORk0q_4E0aLnAT-u6LKXj-fJFASbSDJN27w4gjcpsISsOyqYceh66dqFGzriK/s1600/couple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV0mVx5jqpk-Q08aW_znJn78-nBtaXVdotE_sjgvbsCpTZH7b-mFTusO3B4JjEJF8cj_Wc4kB6VuNzy6ORk0q_4E0aLnAT-u6LKXj-fJFASbSDJN27w4gjcpsISsOyqYceh66dqFGzriK/s320/couple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641600076878243474" /></a>Many of the elders are dressed in traditional Mongolian clothing.
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<br />Speeches, a power point presentation, and then <span style="font-style:italic;">our</span> speeches. Both Ken and I present a gift from our respective credit unions to Nassa, the Chair and Executive Director. Neither Ken nor I talked about giving and yet we both brought something small from local artists to present so they could remember us. Interestingly, we both chose carvings of birds. His was a rock carving of an eagle and mine a wood carving of a humming bird. Both artists were aboriginals from our areas. After Ken and I are done our speeches, the draw begins and it goes on for at least 2 hours as they start with the equivalent of $1.00 Canadian and work their way up to the Grand prizes. I get to pull the name for the winner of the satellite dish which happens to be one of the shop owners who is thrilled. Ken gets to pick the winner of the motor bike. He picks one of the elders who can barely walk or hear. Later he joins us for dinner and presents Ken with Chocolates and Vodka. He keeps thanking Ken and I’m sure if he could package him up and keep him as a luck charm, he would.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc_IvN29Twrxo4Led5oBjJqtHiI2iZ_HN-DpLbLEup0NbH1ujjtza_KAAUpUc9eMsma2CmlQ5W8SeS3vlJOBPl0JMt3ITnveePqUFlTwLydic3hBHegr6-XgBOKSua2O0otCDr-hqhT6j/s1600/bike+winner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYc_IvN29Twrxo4Led5oBjJqtHiI2iZ_HN-DpLbLEup0NbH1ujjtza_KAAUpUc9eMsma2CmlQ5W8SeS3vlJOBPl0JMt3ITnveePqUFlTwLydic3hBHegr6-XgBOKSua2O0otCDr-hqhT6j/s320/bike+winner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641599579753456242" /></a>winner of the motorcycle!
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<br />By the time we leave the hall it's beginning to rain and Nassa suggests not camping. Good thing as the bugs would have eaten us alive. We get back to our one room cell in which all three of have been sleeping, eating and working for the last 3 days and are told we will be collected at 8ish. Dinner would be ‘Hot Pot” in the kitchen/pub/nightclub/whatever you want it to be room next door. Hot pot is lamb shanks and other sheep parts with carrots, potatoes and l<span style="font-weight:bold;">arge rock</span>s all cooked on an open fire in a cast iron pot. I never got to see it made, but I am told that it’s a local favorite for Mongolians so it’s likely I will see it when we visit another area. They could use the help of Iron Chefs, as the presentation needs some work. Its heaped into a large mound of meat and fat with a few vegetables and then placed in plates for two to three people to eat from. Yikes... utensils aren’t necessary and I begin to dig in with my hands. Surprisingly it’s also my fav. It’s cooked perfectly and the meat falls off the bone. Probably the best lamb shank I have ever had. Here they call all the meat we are eating mutton, but I keep correcting my Mongolian friends that it must be lamb because it’s so tender and tasty. It also sounds better to me… I going to write in and get the next Hell’s Kitchen to be filmed from Binder Soum. It’s shocking that something so unappetizing can be so good to eat.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KQG4nymB0C6mx9N_kj9_y25p13bo7SYdNM3614JFWyVlEmE_wfxmeL6FkS1bzy1eVQyAqGceVk5Dj0FpKrDMMUpWj72LLlOyM50EVivjdU7lpDgAJA8XEm1CRsmjzxQNqG6Q1IDcUsA_/s1600/hotpot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KQG4nymB0C6mx9N_kj9_y25p13bo7SYdNM3614JFWyVlEmE_wfxmeL6FkS1bzy1eVQyAqGceVk5Dj0FpKrDMMUpWj72LLlOyM50EVivjdU7lpDgAJA8XEm1CRsmjzxQNqG6Q1IDcUsA_/s320/hotpot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641600329101914770" /></a>Hotpot with Rocks!!
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<br />The dinner is basically a private function, but people keep coming in and looking at what’s going on. At about 10, I realize they want us to get out as the place needs to transition into a night club. By this time we have had so many toasts and words of kindness that a night club sounds good to me. We begin dancing and enjoying all the new people who join the party. That lasts until 1pm and then off to the credit union to finish the night with rounds of Mongolian signing. They should really have a Mongolian’s Got talent show as they can all sing so confidently. This lasts until 2am and our host sends us to bed. I can hear them still going well after I settle in to a good nights sleep. Nassa tells me the next day that they left at 4am.
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-71823700937072285752011-08-14T20:02:00.000-07:002011-08-14T20:15:04.292-07:00Lost in MongoliaThe following excepts are from an email I received from Bruno who now has no Internet access at all, but managed to borrow a cell modem to send this to me. He is not able to download photos at this time but assures me that when he can, they will be fantastic
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Aug 9th to the Country side
<br /></span>Our day started at 9am and four of us got into a mini SUV. After we loaded the bags we barely fit into the car. Then off to the market for water and snacks. Not sure where we would put that??
<br />Our ride was mainly on pavement for the first 6 hours and that was the half way mark. Only 200 km in 6 hours. Then onto a dirt road for the next 6 and half hours. The amazing driving skills of our host Nassa took us through the gigantic potholes and gullies with great safety. We arrived in Binder Soum in darkness and checked into our one room hotel. We had dumplings and settled in. Our room has four beds and Ken, Mongo (our young female interpreter), and me all went to sleep. My internal clock has still not been reset so in the middle of the night I had to get up and find the outdoor toilet. Our plank style toilet was not a great site… more about that another time.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Aug 10th Binder Soum
<br /></span>We got up to an amazing sunny hot day and attempted to get ready. No towels and a small basin with a trickle of water was all we had to work with. No problem, we made it work and still dressed up in our near best work duty clothes. I was told that later in the day Nassa will take us men to the river for a bath..maybe we did’t do as well as we thought in cleaning ourselves up. I have resorted to using my t shirts as a towel so hopefully he can supply one or I’m going to run out of clothes fast. Interesting how we take the simple things in life for granted.
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<br />It is blistering hot outside all day and we basically worked most of the day in a small office space with 7 people. No fan, no air conditioning, just a small window circulating the hot air. I was really looking forward to the river. It takes a long time to get the history of the credit union and to clarify the financial statements. Every question we ask has to be repeated back through our interpreter. Then a discussion occurs between the employees and then our interpreter responds. This went on until about 2pm. We stopped for lunch and I was looking forward to getting outside. No chance, our lunch was served in our room. Interestingly the hotel and credit union are in the same building so we never have to go very far. On the back side is the kitchen and small Bar. No running water!!!
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<br />Lunch was good but plain, probably not a bad thing as I was avoiding the “PLANK and Hole”. I asked to have a tour of Binder Soum after lunch. Many of the Gers are not in town at this time of year, so the village looks a bit sparse with wooden huts and large left over Soviet concrete box buildings. The horses and cows roam freely through town and roads are made by driving through any passable area. It looks like a small organized town center is developing in the area of the credit union. Some new structures are getting built. The village acts as an outpost for supplies for the surrounding country side and in winter the herders come in with their Gers and fill up the village.
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<br />We end our day around 6ish and go to the river. The Onon shores are now filled with people swimming, washing clothes and just socializing. We find our spot and go in for a cool swim. The current actually moves pretty well so you have to try to keep yourself from drifting down steam. I tractor pulls trucks across the river as no bridge has ever been build on the river in any direction. It costs about $3 to get your motorbike across and $15 for your car. It’s deep enough to make a small truck float away so it’s quite the site to see the river driving in action.
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<br />Nassa later takes us into the grasslands to see the monument identifying the place where Temuujin becomes Chinggis Kahn. We also go and see another monument close by that is said to be Chinggis’s his birth place. It’s still undetermined where that location is as other locations in Mongolia also make claim to it. We drink vodka and toast Chingis. The photographing is amazing. The big wide expanse, horses running past us and another spectacular sunset. By the time we get back our small local pub has turned into a nightclub so we had to join the fun. The herdsmen are all decked out in their best disco attire and glued to their cells and blackberry’s. The women are all dressed up and drinking like no tomorrow. I’m still in my swimming shorts so we only make a short visit…. The custom here is beer and vodka. Just a few shots and I can’t remember the rest of the night or how I got back to our room. Lesson learned !!
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Aug 11th
<br /></span>I get up at 8 with the worst head pounding pain I have ever had. For breakfast we get oatmeal with lamb… more meat. I ate some of it and it helped my headache. I’m getting a bit sick of the food now and I really need a change. It’s always meat….Today was all about work as I took them through a SWOT analysis and worked towards setting four specific goals. There was a lot of silent time as I think they wanted me to come up with the goals. I asked my interpreter, Mongo, what was happening and she said they are thinking. I had challenged them to make decisions and choices. In the end we did it, four goals assigned to specific individuals or committees, identified what success would look like for each and set a measurement to determine when they would be achieved. The group thought the exercise was very helpful and they were pleased with the direction they took. A coaching day complete! Now off to the river for a bath and then more meat.
<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-41092327367802554152011-08-11T16:12:00.000-07:002011-08-11T17:57:06.407-07:00The Canadian Cooperative AssociationThis is what Bruno is doing in Mongolia...a three-week stint mentoring/advising rural credit unions. I promised him I'd include a blurb about what the CCA is about so here it is:
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<br />· The mandate of the Canadian Cooperative Association has both a domestic and international theme.
<br />· Canadians have 18 million memberships in co-ops, and co-ops today promote and develop more jobs than any other organization.
<br />· There are over 9000 co-ops in Canada representing 330 billion in assets
<br />· The purpose of CCA's international work is to promote the reduction of poverty.
<br />· Poverty can only be dealt with by dealing with conflict.
<br />· Cooperative development is considered a way to help conflict in developing nations, as cooperatives are not seen as bringing competition into an area
<br />· Sustainability livelihood can be expressed in 5 points of view. Human assets, financial assets, natural assets, physical assets and social assets. The cooperative structure attempts to provide support in the development of each of these required assets. If anyone of these becomes vulnerable, poverty can become a reality.
<br />· Areas that CCA is doing work: Africa- Malawi, Ghana, Uganda, Asia- Vietnam, Cambodia, Americas- Columbia and Peru.
<br />· 2012 has been declared the year of the cooperative by the UN, and Mongolia brought the motion forward to the UN.
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<br /> Here's the CCA's blog for more info:
<br /><a href="http://theviewfromhere-mongolia2011.blogspot.com
<br />">http://theviewfromhere-mongolia2011.blogspot.com
<br /></a>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVisJWRzpbvh_ecptTqIGp_eCYdKW_4Ttx7Ksh0NxINTOR0oZvn6t44aD348ACBWA5J-fyoSSF5yQubioYBPBttwdbzk1LnVpcHVWWDriO6RnYVJN1XMEAPSyapQimOWGLEh8tuR4-4TK/s1600/group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVisJWRzpbvh_ecptTqIGp_eCYdKW_4Ttx7Ksh0NxINTOR0oZvn6t44aD348ACBWA5J-fyoSSF5yQubioYBPBttwdbzk1LnVpcHVWWDriO6RnYVJN1XMEAPSyapQimOWGLEh8tuR4-4TK/s320/group.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639741539423204514" /></a>B enjoys a glass of wine with his team in Ulaanbaator. Hmmm...looks suspiciously like France to me.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG2loCF-j1K45BNlwpuNt4oaiUtKefZYv8-y__sPbZuIuXAF9CRqQaXDoBN52CCCxhLVyAZJijP9CfcVwvquclKTJ1oe88XDjaLF8u2AFGA6jr-GbUpUd6yRFpwQWVFwXvcuDl7Dj0VEU/s1600/bruno.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBG2loCF-j1K45BNlwpuNt4oaiUtKefZYv8-y__sPbZuIuXAF9CRqQaXDoBN52CCCxhLVyAZJijP9CfcVwvquclKTJ1oe88XDjaLF8u2AFGA6jr-GbUpUd6yRFpwQWVFwXvcuDl7Dj0VEU/s320/bruno.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639741421682971730" /></a>Today Bruno meets the interpreters and is given a briefing on the Cooperative Credit Union system challenges and successes. Here he is working hard… They learn what they might expect on their travels. Some will leave by plane, others by train and B by car. When he asks how long it will take, he is politely corrected that he is now on Mongolian time and advised to relax and enjoy the journey. The actual time of the drive depends on how many 'horses they stop to see'... a polite way to say 'bathroom breaks'.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMtE14i5v72P3kUVvIeOcZ-nEmJu0-x2ol2tDH93X7Or5DKcFw233yq3xw9Sbe-JgBk-SnxEge8sHE0D79X6qRgBf46QgmQOpCJRdc4iJ71qn9GlRsJJgaYsi4eUOC1hyzy5TE_rCXRic/s1600/instructions.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMtE14i5v72P3kUVvIeOcZ-nEmJu0-x2ol2tDH93X7Or5DKcFw233yq3xw9Sbe-JgBk-SnxEge8sHE0D79X6qRgBf46QgmQOpCJRdc4iJ71qn9GlRsJJgaYsi4eUOC1hyzy5TE_rCXRic/s320/instructions.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639741332701853458" /></a>These instructions look pretty clear
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex88xLVgq2O3fSPzGsl7X31PaNL6VSJrqOBrJF7cU6AkvoWb-B5Sme0UkfWYSfFqvTN2yhyphenhyphenCrZWzZUcNwmBeG44O5hSS4cNV9ykPY_Vz94KviPiINIZDdk6Bzh2Iimk-aTpENFEgW6S4P/s1600/pharm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex88xLVgq2O3fSPzGsl7X31PaNL6VSJrqOBrJF7cU6AkvoWb-B5Sme0UkfWYSfFqvTN2yhyphenhyphenCrZWzZUcNwmBeG44O5hSS4cNV9ykPY_Vz94KviPiINIZDdk6Bzh2Iimk-aTpENFEgW6S4P/s320/pharm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639741200175354818" /></a>
<br />B meets some credit union members. One - a pharmacist who went from a one room shop and no employees, to owning the entire building, expanding into groceries, and renting out the extra spaces. She now employs 15 people. She has very low employee turnover and guarantees the employees loans when they want to borrow to achieve personal goals.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs__ybME42p3_It0qm4bUlTFlUuCgsh_dZP881n8s1JCP5JYmtuX7P7CIctFp3bluGSMkExFYxtZfH5nVqK4OhmfdeQ1s4RmJXaN5pNooD2LfzXMGDINe36l4SszaO-1eQUTFT_qqUddir/s1600/store.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs__ybME42p3_It0qm4bUlTFlUuCgsh_dZP881n8s1JCP5JYmtuX7P7CIctFp3bluGSMkExFYxtZfH5nVqK4OhmfdeQ1s4RmJXaN5pNooD2LfzXMGDINe36l4SszaO-1eQUTFT_qqUddir/s320/store.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639741070084948978" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdm1JrXuRt2vVmgz2l1HYJSFVYRel5asj8bw6d-ZdGXtZ2NISlCl1hA1lPejv57MCFFLWPiAjXiTCgBRcvmBXi7KJXDE0jNab2wx6UJ-T3qBpMXSVXjBncXTBtDfaaJkK6-oSuY-9j3db/s1600/mayo+maker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdm1JrXuRt2vVmgz2l1HYJSFVYRel5asj8bw6d-ZdGXtZ2NISlCl1hA1lPejv57MCFFLWPiAjXiTCgBRcvmBXi7KJXDE0jNab2wx6UJ-T3qBpMXSVXjBncXTBtDfaaJkK6-oSuY-9j3db/s320/mayo+maker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639740846258064178" /></a>
<br /> Another member who produces mayonnaise and ketchup in a very small industrial kitchen and sells about $14,000 to $16,000 US worth a month to food markets. That’s a lot condiments!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFzexOpd604WajtP6AFqBFRDRxT4_5T1lizjiuIWmPZxLgqkGQqd1l6WNbQaxGeNKNMu_thbtVyE-6BTMGGPWXdTxe4-lP0uUz9irJqR995glsUYRTjb0KVxj0HNq6Q0Vs8VCReQ-KmHc/s1600/ketchup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFzexOpd604WajtP6AFqBFRDRxT4_5T1lizjiuIWmPZxLgqkGQqd1l6WNbQaxGeNKNMu_thbtVyE-6BTMGGPWXdTxe4-lP0uUz9irJqR995glsUYRTjb0KVxj0HNq6Q0Vs8VCReQ-KmHc/s320/ketchup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639740753561967522" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkClF-_Q6mH2IqVg4FO8x2WmEiKtxUARhMhHDZx_h0-7SNQUSfTSpFVelj2Eg9zFMvOh5VT5BTT0rXrMdKfIbRJcK8h23uTMh-BH5PEfxZRd7JYyOOa3-POmeScQd3O-Z3PTJpobVWLi6/s1600/beef+bbq.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkClF-_Q6mH2IqVg4FO8x2WmEiKtxUARhMhHDZx_h0-7SNQUSfTSpFVelj2Eg9zFMvOh5VT5BTT0rXrMdKfIbRJcK8h23uTMh-BH5PEfxZRd7JYyOOa3-POmeScQd3O-Z3PTJpobVWLi6/s320/beef+bbq.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639740640295844946" /></a
<br />After a concert and show -the Grand Orchestra of the Mongolian National Song and Dance - which includes 30 or so singers, 70 musicians (playing ancient traditional instruments), 40 dancers, unbelievable contortionists, and throat singers that leave him speechless, Bruno digs into a memorable meal of beef, lamb and vegetables cooked at the table (that Mongolian beer looks pretty good too!). He is advised - for medicinal purposes- to have vodka after every dinner while in the countryside to ensure against stomach ailments. Hmmm... B may have to check into detox when he's finished there...
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<br />B does not know when he will have internet access next so the next week or so may be a bit lean on posts.
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<br />Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-85426620299757549582011-08-07T11:03:00.000-07:002011-08-07T12:34:11.747-07:00THE 5th and 7th...Aug. 6th got lost going over the International Date Line...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FRj3be1DEy1mC7h1Vo4LhAUO4dbnzF5MCeN4C-dSZMbCNFPkcBkLI_FMrJqlGmz1UH5TR4wohv4PzzJj0LhFY9F0WyEj7Xs1PAx7NR9il4eFWyTKoxQq9D3rYSBXHHyCOtClEM6lRwsB/s1600/korean+air.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FRj3be1DEy1mC7h1Vo4LhAUO4dbnzF5MCeN4C-dSZMbCNFPkcBkLI_FMrJqlGmz1UH5TR4wohv4PzzJj0LhFY9F0WyEj7Xs1PAx7NR9il4eFWyTKoxQq9D3rYSBXHHyCOtClEM6lRwsB/s320/korean+air.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638188445611802786" /></a> Ottawa to Seoul... 13.5 hours, two full meals and at least 5 movies. While waiting for his flight to Ulaanbaatar, B says he had a bowl of Korean soup so spicy he sweated chili peppers for hours after.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J_ifLulZGa3LMyeN5FUbfagBPsV0U_Pl5QZ_3RPMzM3SIqWv_mvWhskjHTcmfQ7QV6114HslFtPIkU42yIJZQCgX_UU25QgiNK-KNZTjd8m8u9uH8XiVX6fs8TnNrCUmHGIIwbINYbQQ/s1600/ghengi+airport.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J_ifLulZGa3LMyeN5FUbfagBPsV0U_Pl5QZ_3RPMzM3SIqWv_mvWhskjHTcmfQ7QV6114HslFtPIkU42yIJZQCgX_UU25QgiNK-KNZTjd8m8u9uH8XiVX6fs8TnNrCUmHGIIwbINYbQQ/s320/ghengi+airport.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638188270269890930" /></a> After a 5-hour stopover in Korea, a three-hour flight and one more meal (at least he's not going hungry...yet!) Bruno finally arrives in Ulaanbaatar at... what else would it be called... Chinggus Khan International Airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD8F1TaPpD6nVgp0NXYWNY1Eyhb6ECb-XrLKa9Ljb7iCKUlpIG-NBAyVOXbUUwS1m77Nkn1owlBfGWurAto1RHJ06PHgJwyzGECSid-yTj2m_G8SRgMJ3hJn5D0iyLtuyTMtJ0bmYf66t/s1600/ghengis.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD8F1TaPpD6nVgp0NXYWNY1Eyhb6ECb-XrLKa9Ljb7iCKUlpIG-NBAyVOXbUUwS1m77Nkn1owlBfGWurAto1RHJ06PHgJwyzGECSid-yTj2m_G8SRgMJ3hJn5D0iyLtuyTMtJ0bmYf66t/s320/ghengis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638188169074281090" /></a>B meets the rest of the team and takes a walk to Chinggus Khan square to see statues of ...well… guess who...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1gyyUjBlm1Wp3Msx4zJUMc1VGL7PJYVW60XSyX9tDK-qdM0E0EPjVnU4GnBvCDUVrjuOMfr_XNPNT29nSGCRgJCi6b52l6ExsdtesRA6rPvi0x5rUF-vo2bLuKFliwthmmLOB9qbo7cv/s1600/arc+bldg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1gyyUjBlm1Wp3Msx4zJUMc1VGL7PJYVW60XSyX9tDK-qdM0E0EPjVnU4GnBvCDUVrjuOMfr_XNPNT29nSGCRgJCi6b52l6ExsdtesRA6rPvi0x5rUF-vo2bLuKFliwthmmLOB9qbo7cv/s320/arc+bldg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638188006342050562" /></a> All looks, no function…an interesting new building that never met any building codes as it went up. It’s completely empty as it's not considered safe. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIbOs5FXUA4NkjSW9NxWF__c-6PACFFfYXkvOLCSs7l_diTH1aeybbGjdyzbieEhOaLa87fvBC4uMM204_8IfjPBjHaSruwtcGShyh6_27rYfkjrm3GHuOUOyXvC7QZspJhdeJaColnon/s1600/horse+light.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIbOs5FXUA4NkjSW9NxWF__c-6PACFFfYXkvOLCSs7l_diTH1aeybbGjdyzbieEhOaLa87fvBC4uMM204_8IfjPBjHaSruwtcGShyh6_27rYfkjrm3GHuOUOyXvC7QZspJhdeJaColnon/s320/horse+light.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638187858905561602" /></a>Apparently driving there is very similar to what we experienced in any of the stans when we were in Central Asia. Russian influence in buildings and large above-ground hot and cold water pipes can be seen around the city. B says the roads are full of pot holes that would kill his car if it were here. Check out the horse stop lights... Green is trot across.... Red means hold the horse back or it will become dinner!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz6eVhmsVfrJrX1f4x4nsSsN45Y3OSpIPX8QLlYEndB6P7rZCgr6FFJQq1_u8cc3dHwPgk9rLH-HX1g6Pes8isb8RKm2PNLgny2FsIOdtGC-ExJG_e378hUKEz5srwqR6OTqKSgwbwdK7/s1600/roof+details.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz6eVhmsVfrJrX1f4x4nsSsN45Y3OSpIPX8QLlYEndB6P7rZCgr6FFJQq1_u8cc3dHwPgk9rLH-HX1g6Pes8isb8RKm2PNLgny2FsIOdtGC-ExJG_e378hUKEz5srwqR6OTqKSgwbwdK7/s320/roof+details.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638187740497950754" /></a>roof details<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWmnXM33IHo49J2SqWVvAhbbHrWTmI_sC5dPapqsb9-k4NACxoJn0kv6BvqP7Ou3_C7olrFenf-JPT4qcbYpAYJt4XtlmmUKNPtC3FxCeabiqcVsDbQlGA6gkjZ73qeGV8mrP8d311pY/s1600/temple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpWmnXM33IHo49J2SqWVvAhbbHrWTmI_sC5dPapqsb9-k4NACxoJn0kv6BvqP7Ou3_C7olrFenf-JPT4qcbYpAYJt4XtlmmUKNPtC3FxCeabiqcVsDbQlGA6gkjZ73qeGV8mrP8d311pY/s320/temple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638187543042135266" /></a> Off to see a Buddhist temple and the Imperial Winter Palace which is now a museum and cashmere store. Bruno almost buys a cashmere winter coat but it turns out to be as expensive as what he could buy at home. He's told the supply of product is very low as China has been buying it all up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrotwjVUNTvPJ9lHFB8D76PlIsz1nwrJlq2zvpsu3xQfjGne6pj_ty-ektrg4JcENbBVsIuJzx2Tfk7adktU5D3K9VlUaGWJ4-q-YVoNr5GUT195sMZpnztUO_ZBE7HN9xmJiZadXXK_xx/s1600/roof+details2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrotwjVUNTvPJ9lHFB8D76PlIsz1nwrJlq2zvpsu3xQfjGne6pj_ty-ektrg4JcENbBVsIuJzx2Tfk7adktU5D3K9VlUaGWJ4-q-YVoNr5GUT195sMZpnztUO_ZBE7HN9xmJiZadXXK_xx/s320/roof+details2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638187346063017330" /></a>more details<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r45gMsooK_UVm_HXgCwNTADzWUxn-imAKLpzLijwx1KX3h0sQV5Dlyy-d3QEYqe1Bu-K2tF7WKRa2gJh-OmwZt86o5LpQQ5mRhRlJQBbivG9Nx4hB2jI5MMNIIvU1IjNbEQBwFUhi5EE/s1600/waterbag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6r45gMsooK_UVm_HXgCwNTADzWUxn-imAKLpzLijwx1KX3h0sQV5Dlyy-d3QEYqe1Bu-K2tF7WKRa2gJh-OmwZt86o5LpQQ5mRhRlJQBbivG9Nx4hB2jI5MMNIIvU1IjNbEQBwFUhi5EE/s320/waterbag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638187183721919138" /></a> Bags of water in restaurant windows keep the flies away. It actually works... but how? Bruno figures it could be a new trend to cash in on in Canada. Decorative water bags in open windows... cheaper than screens....<br /><br />Bruno and his group enjoy a great Chateaubriand dinner at a French restaurant with fantastic French wine and outstanding dessert. About $35.00 Canadian for all and no tipping required. So far food doesn't seem to be a problem in UB, but what can he expect outside of the city...!?!<br /><br />Next post...I promise...Why is Bruno here?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-125112320025658081.post-3800700825085573362011-08-05T16:04:00.000-07:002011-08-06T00:16:35.352-07:00Is this a yurt?Actually in Mongolia a <span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">yurt</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> is a <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">ger</span><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>...rhymes with <span style="font-weight:bold;">hair<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoucVF8dSJqjiRyMzLDmfDYyp_5aCtozq6vMDNYJVy3SyJV8G30x5ZYKPowTlR9xRayRKTyThSbGpGnNTKo1uBu2E5lvs3TZxbvpOQfp72FgFKIqFrq-YjZvkCtdmLRnIK-qLSUSSCmId/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoucVF8dSJqjiRyMzLDmfDYyp_5aCtozq6vMDNYJVy3SyJV8G30x5ZYKPowTlR9xRayRKTyThSbGpGnNTKo1uBu2E5lvs3TZxbvpOQfp72FgFKIqFrq-YjZvkCtdmLRnIK-qLSUSSCmId/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637515541158442642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygORbluDP8nRaW0zN2_UA1EQ4qjfFIf6lgACofwwprKw5YB0SGThlV0zS_5oOfBwEfWtegZrCMEC8Ozb3xauBWCx5WnS3dbFgnm3aeek_D8-UHg00eeGkFnv5sHpQR-EPwT1IxHL4GDzb/s1600/DSC_0033.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiygORbluDP8nRaW0zN2_UA1EQ4qjfFIf6lgACofwwprKw5YB0SGThlV0zS_5oOfBwEfWtegZrCMEC8Ozb3xauBWCx5WnS3dbFgnm3aeek_D8-UHg00eeGkFnv5sHpQR-EPwT1IxHL4GDzb/s320/DSC_0033.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637515436811903266" /></a><br />You may be wondering why Mongolia looks suspiciously like Ottawa, but Bruno begins his expedition here with an orientation. Good thing, too, because after learning that a typical breakfast in the stix of Mongolia will most likely consist of warm milk (mare's?) with floating chunks of meat (mare's?), he has time to rush out and stock up on instant oatmeal. He also makes sure he has a good supply of instant noodles in case dinner ends up being 'horse intestines' - a local delicacy. Bruno's first assignment upon arriving in Ulaanbaator will be to drive 420 kilometers towards the Russian border in a 4x4, which will take an entire day. I can just imagine how much he's going to love that, especially as I'm sure there will not be much in the way of actual roads...Ah well , there's always dinner to look forward to at the end of the day...!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRatVbR6Vs3mHU5etOwM8Z7YhhhhZTLZALPInfcYBElzdKPfJX1UwPiPjxlCmuxB1Tk0XtbuA7FhgsYzKC0R4Mj7CRmzWSdsr8N7iuMAfsaynFw4R_w6Qh_tt9qHp5Xl96e6eNDumwiOqD/s1600/DSC_0018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRatVbR6Vs3mHU5etOwM8Z7YhhhhZTLZALPInfcYBElzdKPfJX1UwPiPjxlCmuxB1Tk0XtbuA7FhgsYzKC0R4Mj7CRmzWSdsr8N7iuMAfsaynFw4R_w6Qh_tt9qHp5Xl96e6eNDumwiOqD/s320/DSC_0018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637515317979453442" /></a>So what does Bruno do first when he manages to get time to wander around Ottawa... check out the cats of Parliament Hill! Apparently volunteers take care of them but for some reason don't want any donations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC5hFH9ftntVU7g9mamIyPjIbJLh3NAUmOpeAyBeZLyPruW8lLut6Rgmw-ygcrOZig-KVoJWZQ-G_1OH6BqE183vJX9mK8qfVohCBE_yZRNF1LB06AhTMSaIiy2kr6SIMoxc03bSHjSuX/s1600/DSC_0023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEC5hFH9ftntVU7g9mamIyPjIbJLh3NAUmOpeAyBeZLyPruW8lLut6Rgmw-ygcrOZig-KVoJWZQ-G_1OH6BqE183vJX9mK8qfVohCBE_yZRNF1LB06AhTMSaIiy2kr6SIMoxc03bSHjSuX/s320/DSC_0023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637515233012635666" /></a>There are over a 100 bilingual cats living in these 'condos', generously sharing their food with squirrels.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG6aZQCI_KFRjdGDUgOkcW6R2WOxdKH8vjtQHXP91RQm31pdHOHLNQXDVLQyAzbwHTch5ioFsYILoVJlGusnuAtpeIKQt-Og2d2h6GgWfsonqh11-aYnUMzJSpnqIiC8e_PMlIM8-OWGX/s1600/DSC_0030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCG6aZQCI_KFRjdGDUgOkcW6R2WOxdKH8vjtQHXP91RQm31pdHOHLNQXDVLQyAzbwHTch5ioFsYILoVJlGusnuAtpeIKQt-Og2d2h6GgWfsonqh11-aYnUMzJSpnqIiC8e_PMlIM8-OWGX/s320/DSC_0030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637515123639980706" /></a><br />I haven't been to Ottawa myself in a very long time (30 years?) but I think this may be a shot of Hull, Quebec, just over the river. I'll have to double check this with B...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1az1V5Fv44oc8FAmgpZImmYSYzecrLBs1L6qXbkWDkJxxFtqFH03S_HzkcT7qODVQStrHqYkJY7toelP0DE8W-jF3Iii7Gj6KIhgQT0wPOOSZjL-qet3H_rgP8Qdu_hRwj8yTA8T-NZV/s1600/DSC_0036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1az1V5Fv44oc8FAmgpZImmYSYzecrLBs1L6qXbkWDkJxxFtqFH03S_HzkcT7qODVQStrHqYkJY7toelP0DE8W-jF3Iii7Gj6KIhgQT0wPOOSZjL-qet3H_rgP8Qdu_hRwj8yTA8T-NZV/s320/DSC_0036.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637514931865628482" /></a>Locks on the Ottawa River...it takes one hour to move a boat 24 meters through here...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-F5MrBJYm4vUxtDoJerKhKM7-CcahUc4BYikjU1VlxU0uE0pGA0c-eawCjV66WGRwDmZwUAqllV_KuEt0zWH7jhTLvKLK0gWx5VAgA7OhW6oWPdh-9UIA_QAQWuiqOUDRQqe1QrL_uYJ/s1600/DSC_0037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-F5MrBJYm4vUxtDoJerKhKM7-CcahUc4BYikjU1VlxU0uE0pGA0c-eawCjV66WGRwDmZwUAqllV_KuEt0zWH7jhTLvKLK0gWx5VAgA7OhW6oWPdh-9UIA_QAQWuiqOUDRQqe1QrL_uYJ/s320/DSC_0037.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637514792991557762" /></a>...because the gears are cranked <span style="font-style:italic;">by hand</span>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ck-CbdQuBc7FARnViv2Y2v0KF_3uYm6L65UQA50s7eW00HFPhQ7fnYpYEKWFegcElcT-4eHbjGYWIy-EuaAwXGpZKsLtjIIcsK0JxR8HNO8SAuTXOlHqst7d_0gLj0WL1If1e7o12XAA/s1600/DSC_0051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ck-CbdQuBc7FARnViv2Y2v0KF_3uYm6L65UQA50s7eW00HFPhQ7fnYpYEKWFegcElcT-4eHbjGYWIy-EuaAwXGpZKsLtjIIcsK0JxR8HNO8SAuTXOlHqst7d_0gLj0WL1If1e7o12XAA/s320/DSC_0051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637514659403415634" /></a>B in front of the National Art Gallery, clutching the leg of a giant spider.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay_9HF7XEd0vzfSlXzcKFv0CNRFIQmFp8dN6UkjoKl5HFgiqna5FPj-yXe8Ls-BphsBMwQ4Mbxz8ULY0bAYlx37tTAAxlsitrpku_amvH0x-lmpe8LKFGJ_1DjVw54h3xfcGxPlbQBj9D/s1600/DSC_0056.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay_9HF7XEd0vzfSlXzcKFv0CNRFIQmFp8dN6UkjoKl5HFgiqna5FPj-yXe8Ls-BphsBMwQ4Mbxz8ULY0bAYlx37tTAAxlsitrpku_amvH0x-lmpe8LKFGJ_1DjVw54h3xfcGxPlbQBj9D/s320/DSC_0056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637514535198894658" /></a>The interior of the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica of Ottawa. There was also a picture of the Canadian Mint, but it was pretty boring, which is also what Bruno said of <span style="font-style:italic;">visiting</span> the Mint (and he calls himself a banker), except that while he was hanging around outside, he ran into his former boss who was on vacation. Good thing B wasn't playing hookey from work!<br /><br />Next post...why is Bruno doing this? and why is his wife writing the blog?Wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07170224681916436644noreply@blogger.com0