Mongolia and beyond!

COMING SOON HOUSE ADVERTISING ads_leader

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Trat
August 25th 2011

Saved: January 16th 2024

Hello everyone! This is going to be a surprisingly short post considering how much has happened in the last month, but its precisely because so much has happened that I am going to let the pictures and accompanying text do all the talking, Mongolia was simply amazing, but not easy. It was a rapid process of readjustment. A few weeks before Mongolia I would have gawped at the prospect of not ha... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 86, Displayed: 21

COMING SOON HOUSE ADVERTISING ads_leader_blog_bottom

0047

Standard issue cute Mongolian baby picture. But they really are the cutest babies in the world, I am sure of it.

0048

The Facilities. Ok, you get the point, no more Toilet pictures.

0049

Stop for a wee break and a chap like this rides up to discuss directions, it really does happen like this.

0050

Horses everywhere.

0051

The ancient Capital of Mongolia in Karakorum

0052

The Mongolians had the same attitude to work as the Laotians. Not to take it too seriously and to try and have fun in the process. I like this approach. They also had the same approach to time and time keeping, which I also love. As Dashkar described it “We take serious thing seriously”, which means petty stuff is ignored.

0053

Me and Adjua. I built up a huge affection for this chap even though we shared almost no common language apart from an interest in machinery and having a laugh. I was sad to leave him, he invited me to a party back in UB but flight times didn’t allow.

0054

Dashkar learning to use the binoculars, an essential skill for any trainee guide. Dashkar was a lovely young chap who was hugely intelligent. One of those chaps you feel will be successful in what ever he does in life.

0055

Just another scene that made you pinch yourself to remind yourself you weren’t dreaming. How utterly and gloriously bizarre.

0056

Another evening, another stunning sunset. What an amazing amazing Country.

0057

Tolerable at first, mind numbingly boring after a few weeks. Honestly, the only real complaint about Mongolia was the relentlessly monotonous, bland and unappealing diet. Its understandable given the choice of food available but to a Westerner it can be tough to cope with. Its tough food for tough people.

0058

A Volcano! Extinct now though.

0059

Sky sky sky, its all about sky in Mongolia.

0060

Tolerable at first, back breakingly punishing after a few weeks. Honestly, the second real complaint about Mongolia was the relentlessly hard, uneven and unpadded beds. Its understandable given the materials available and the need to transport everything, but to a Westerner it can be tough to cope with. It’s a tough bed for tough people.

0061

Almost everyday Baysa would sharpen his knife, I never actually saw him use it but I am sure when it is needed it will be sharp. I joined in one day to sharpen my knife, its quite therapeutic.

0062

Baysa playing pool. Naturally being Mongolian he was very good. Mongolian men seem to have an inherent confidence when it comes to doing stuff, be it playing Pool, playing Basketball, fixing a broken petrol pump or replacing all the brakes on the van.

0063

0065

Ok sorry, I couldn’t resist, one more facilities picture. You may notice that in addition to the usual hole in the ground surrounded by planks of wood, we were lucky to have a sink. Of sorts.

0066

The great white lake. The white signifies purity, not the colour.

0067

Baysa doing what he did best, chatting up the lovely Mongolian ladies. He could have been explaining the effect of Greece’s lack of fiscal control on the current crisis in the Euro Zone and they would still have gone all weak and the knees and giggly.

0068

Another night, another Sunset….

Comments only available on published blogs

Tot: 0.048s; Tpl: 0.018s; cc: 10; qc: 21; dbt: 0.0215s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.1mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact John Calwell (JohnCalwell) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

Mongolia and beyond!

Comments only available on published blogs

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved