Emergency buuz and other desperate measures
Buuz is one of Mongolia’s most favourite and common foods. These steamed mutton dumplings are common fare for all Mongolians, and probably the nando’s equivalent for Mongolians who live overseas.
Yet personally, I don’t really like buuz. It’s edible, in fact it’s a lot better than some of the other country-specific cuisines out there (namely assida in Sudan, still the worst food I have ever had the displeasure of eating!), but after one or two my stomach reminds me that this stodgy overload of dripping mutton fat is not so good for the system or the tastebuds.
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Real adventures can’t be blogged from an Iphone
see the whole flickr set here
I learned this week that cats really are smarter than dogs- you won’t get 6 cats to pull a sled through thick snow and ice with yours-truly lurching around on the back.
After spending two days sledding along the Terelj river with a group of friends I still can’t describe the thrill and sensation of being pulled by six of man’s best friends- their paws scratching for traction into the icey river bed, their tongues and tails wagging in the sub-zero air, and their eager yelps and howls when our convoy would halt for a snack stop.
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10 ‘must do’ experiences in Ulaanbaatar
While I’m dreaming of travel far far away to a sunny beach and fresh coconut in hand, travellers who intend on coming to Mongolia in 2009 should consider these ‘must do’ authentic experiences while in UB -
1. Pick up a bargain at Narantuul the black market only to have your savings pickpocketed 10 minutes later
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Good morning Ulaanbaatar
I took my camera with me on my way to work this morning…
see the whole set here on flickr
Fishing in Mongolia
Ok I dragged these photos out of archive (from October). I took my family on one of the most amazing holidays I’ve ever had. As well as 4×4 driving, hot springs, horseriding and general wandering through the splendid Mongolian countryside, our great guide and driver took us fishing as well. This was one of the few goals I had for my time here and now I can happily tick that box with some great memories, especially with my folks sharing the experience as well.
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Mongolian National Wrestling – grand final bout!
After 5 hours of wrestling the grand final feel like an anticlimax, especially as the crowd was moving towards the door as the final challenger was being thrown. I couldn’t help but think blacker would be awesome at this!
Also uploaded are better photos of the event with exclusive backstage access, check out the flickr set here (as usual, join flickr and comment/fav!)
From the family photo album
Looks like I’ll have to wait until i get home to scrap book them, but for now here are some photos from mr mumbles first bath in his new apartment…
Running from the evil plughole!!
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marmot smuggling
Even though a certain leafy ‘erb grows wild in certain (well known) areas of Mongolia, it’s interesting that Mongolia is facing the problem of the trade and smuggling of another type of illicit item – marmot meat.
I read this in the UB Post this morning…
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Introducing… Mr Mumbles!
Thanks for all the suggestions, they were all great! And the jury of one (aka me) has now settled on Mr Mumbles…
In other news it’s Health Worker’s Day in Mongolia so I’m heading to the countryside with work for a retreat. Fermented Horses Milk! Yay!
“Hey, where’d everyone go?”
Concerns are beginning to spread over the welfare of over 700 men, women and children that were imprisoned in the aftermath of last weeks deadly riots.
While information has been sketchy due to the enforced ‘media blackout’, I’ve heard reports of people being beaten, tortured and starved (how well this can be documented and certified is another thing considering the current situation). One friend who has worked in prisons here asked the question ‘Where would they put everyone?“, there simply isn’t enough room in the UB gaols to hold over 700 fresh prisoners.
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The training wheels are off in a fledgling democracy
Here are some final thoughts on the events of this week, tomorrow I should probably move onto more mundane things.
From my perspective it feels as though Mongolians are finally coming to terms with what it means to be a democratic country, and hopefully it will act as a counterweight to the rushing spiral to chaos that many older Mongolians feel the country is heading into. By this I mean the warnings that I’ve heard for the young people – the lack of rules and norms that govern the national character, the new definition of freedom, and the downside of democracy.
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New sets on flickr and update on the ‘state of emergency’
Uploaded and ready to go-
Ulaanbaatar Riots (July, 2008) photos of the recent riot and protest held in the aftermath of Sunday’s elections
State of Emergency in Mongolia (July, 200) the day after the riots, with full security measures including the armed forces in place
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And now, here’s Will with the weather
Sunday – Sunshine
Monday – Snow
Tuesday- Sunshine
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Mongolian Public Service Announcement #2
rough translation-
“Warning! In England, India and Australia, cars drive on the OTHER side of the road”
Mongolian Public Service Announcement
rough translation – “Don’t fall asleep on the street – someone could steal your kidneys!”
SOO today I’m wearing…
… a maroon tie I found in my apartment, because tonight is State of Origin! While the peeps back home are watching it, I’ve been given an early mark from work (“yeah, it’s a really auspicious day in Australia”) and will head to a pub somewhere with fellow QLDer graham and cheer on our team. Hooray for QLD! Hooray for Australia Network!
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10 things you may or may not have known about mongolia
inspired in some part by the burger i bought this afternoon, here are some 10 things that you may or may not have known about mongolia.
1. there are no international retail/food outlets: it’s true, there are no mcdonald’s, kfc, subway or pizza hut here, there are some good local rip-offs (like the Big Burger shop i visited this afternoon, it even smelled like a maccas). current competition ispretty much between ‘berlin burger’, ‘big burger’ and khaan buuz (a dumpling fast food shop that leaves a LOT to be desired, but is popular with mongolians). apparently the big chains did feasability studies and came up short. and what is worse – there’s no nandos!!!
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