Country Roads

Saturday morning Ben woke up really ill. We took it easy, walked around the park awhile and when he thought he could make it in the bumpy car ride again, we jumped in the Jeep and took off for Ulaanbaatar to drop Ben back at the apartment. But first I came face to face with my little friend I like to call S.S. Humpy.


She took me for a little ride:


Amanda got along with her as well:


After dropping Ben off in UB, we headed South on really bumpy, sometimes paved, sometimes not roads. We were headed to Hustai National Park.

The several hour drive was UNBELIEVABLE. Really, I've never seend so many shades of green and the horizon went on forever.



Amanda shows off the empty spaces:



We arrived at Hustain National Park, but there was no room for us at the inn.



We asked Tushig to drive us to some gers - these are the tents that nomadic people live in. I find it fascinating that first off, they move around multiple times a year, but I think it's equally fascinating that strangers show up at their door, and these people always offer what they have. I had read about it, but I wanted to experience it for myself.

The first ger that we stopped at, we were welcomed by an old woman, her son who is from the Gobi, but he was working as a hired helper in Steppe for a few days. He had two kids along for the ride. We sat with them and they offered us milk tea (filtered lake water, camel's milk and tea). They also offered us dried camel cheese -very salty and some bread:


The milk tea and camel cheese:


The camel got jealous and wanted to join us:

The kids wanted to show off ad drive around for awhile.

The camel cheese drying out:


This was a really amazing almost wordless experience.





We walked to the next ger and were (once again) welcomed to sit in their homes. They offered us airang - fermented horses milk - it tastes a lot like beer. I tried it, but I wasn't sure how my little tummy would take it. Amanda liked it though:


This old man was sitting in the corner drinking his vodka during the first part of the visit - but then he started passing the little tin cup - vodka for everyone!


They showed us their livestock


We took loads of pictures.


Their back yard:


We went to the Jeep and offered them what we had. Amanda gave the kids candy, chips, apples. I offered them a bottle of vodka I'd picked up in St. Petersburg.

And then we said goodbye:






Tushig offered to take three of the guys back to UB with us, so we all crowded in the car, after many, many good byes and drove back to the city.