Mongolia pictures

Having arrived back from our stay in the Ger in Mongolia a few nights ago, we will update our pictures - by popular request. Note that I have updated the pictures in some of the previous entries too, so you might want to look at them too.
Actually we are in China now but just trying to catch up - if I missed your call last night while we were watching a Legend of Kungfu, please send me a text.

The trip out to the countryside was just 300kms but it took 7 hours as the road is not yet completed. Imagine you were driving across Ireland or the Netherlands and you had to drive over the fields and ditches just 100 metres parallel to the road - that was exactly what it was like. Once we arrived bumped and battered to the Ger camp it was completely worthwhile. We went for a bit of exercise and climbed the nearby mountain, and then went horse riding for an hour on some local Mongolian horses (Jonathan had to be led the whole way, and Seppy's horse was so sedate it wouldn't go faster than walking speed). After some Mongolian food we visited one of the local families in their tent - that was one of the highlights of the trip so far. Apparently families of up to 15 live in these tents which move 2 to 4 times a year depending on grazing. They look after their herds of goats and horses and live a pretty simple life. It is not easy however as winter temperatures can be as low as -45 degrees celcius, and summers in the +30 degrees range. We had some fermented mares milk and then some milky tea which is made with salt, and some sort of pancakes. Afterwards, they asked us to help herding their goats which was a laugh - great practise for a sidestep.

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