tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44950240392927166272024-02-21T05:41:39.781-08:00Mongolia Expedition 2009Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-7622787724669059012009-08-21T06:48:00.000-07:002009-08-22T06:12:00.115-07:00JUNE 27, 2009: SATURDAY<div style="text-align: left;">GOODBYE MY FRIEND</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxG9NsttGiOsKQBSK8kNsQPRkQxWY6w5JfY0izN89JnME5YGsIDnjDcaJlu1-MqGkzHl1APLU_iRsiqswj7nz_pIK7CwB-5d4dkSE0oV2fgOaJW64nduHQCw9qByV6exHehcCFkck5z0/s1600-h/IMG_3287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxG9NsttGiOsKQBSK8kNsQPRkQxWY6w5JfY0izN89JnME5YGsIDnjDcaJlu1-MqGkzHl1APLU_iRsiqswj7nz_pIK7CwB-5d4dkSE0oV2fgOaJW64nduHQCw9qByV6exHehcCFkck5z0/s320/IMG_3287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372421606590821522" border="0" /></a><br /><br />...but before we leave, I want to pay ommage to the "Ger". I have been waiting for this post because I find the Ger to be most fascinating!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS89z-zGodFVDxDQhOV9EXjSfFdoGviHnulI1C4Rb_RUVM2cGJsCwqdjw-665ScOtHbBiBlbVnV7gmLS7Wm-Oh6VIq5A5fuIsCMpjOLpBCWH35iliXzlabmy73la7CokVKBkWvUEAllU/s1600-h/IMG_3276.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheS89z-zGodFVDxDQhOV9EXjSfFdoGviHnulI1C4Rb_RUVM2cGJsCwqdjw-665ScOtHbBiBlbVnV7gmLS7Wm-Oh6VIq5A5fuIsCMpjOLpBCWH35iliXzlabmy73la7CokVKBkWvUEAllU/s320/IMG_3276.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372419758001373810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneEXjDUefVrasCwApousNwLwLnxdIhyR2NeAJEcWTy7s4meE8IhwK1RZjjH_1-zvHJwUrIwDRhH8ZL0oAAbgx-n3cfsjlrNTyHTbOEQSf_SnxyY9bKSoFLbqqdHA-QFFK59tZm_pvUAM/s1600-h/IMG_3450.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneEXjDUefVrasCwApousNwLwLnxdIhyR2NeAJEcWTy7s4meE8IhwK1RZjjH_1-zvHJwUrIwDRhH8ZL0oAAbgx-n3cfsjlrNTyHTbOEQSf_SnxyY9bKSoFLbqqdHA-QFFK59tZm_pvUAM/s320/IMG_3450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372423544312347826" border="0" /></a>The Ger is the traditional Mongolian dwelling, most of us in the west know it as a Yurt (or maybe you didn't know that either ;) but this is the term the Russian nomads of southeastern Siberia use for their similar structures. On our trip, Melanie S. from Montana explained their shape best; Like an American Indian Teepee but in the shape of a Grain Bin. The outermost layer is type of canvas (usually dyed white) and underneath that there are several blankets of wool. One Mongolian explained that this is usually sheep wool that is put into vats of water, mixed together, pressed out in "blankets" and dried (they felt much like a saddle blanket). This layer provides cool in the summer and warmth in the winter.<br /><br /><br /><br />The structure that supports this unusual shape is a series of foldable, accordian-like walls that are stretched out and shaped around in a circle. A center support is raised in the middle of the circle and then supports (wood sticks) are tied to the center and the exterior "lattice" wall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemKQV7yskOppQWYPgtUKy7Op7-sGtP3wrkisqLZJpirns4S_VJOtUF761ZdykdYaoK9xCnUlVXD9-kTaocImd4FTOH-vOGRGcKWymiALnelmcTeaBjb6UJcw2PowYV2R1_-6W0mqucms/s1600-h/IMG_3453.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiemKQV7yskOppQWYPgtUKy7Op7-sGtP3wrkisqLZJpirns4S_VJOtUF761ZdykdYaoK9xCnUlVXD9-kTaocImd4FTOH-vOGRGcKWymiALnelmcTeaBjb6UJcw2PowYV2R1_-6W0mqucms/s320/IMG_3453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372421615226359602" border="0" /></a><br />They are incredibly ornate and beautiful. I was continually mesmerized with the ger from both the outside and the inside. They are practical in every sense and in every season and they are ingenousely simple. Most families can set up a ger in 1 hour and tear it down in 30 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_FWnNskGhSOwCr1Iog4K_Rld0ADCdLuVppw2-hH9kWV6IjJDLLhoXdjH_NY_DjKcs2ICaj20eN4Ks6HJiH5qclyOGdl-AiTH1GB0zRu7pnJkU1ASM65ssWt5omNsYCPtNiw08cUA8IY/s1600-h/IMG_3274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_FWnNskGhSOwCr1Iog4K_Rld0ADCdLuVppw2-hH9kWV6IjJDLLhoXdjH_NY_DjKcs2ICaj20eN4Ks6HJiH5qclyOGdl-AiTH1GB0zRu7pnJkU1ASM65ssWt5omNsYCPtNiw08cUA8IY/s320/IMG_3274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372419750877398610" border="0" /></a><br />The ger came to be out of necessity and it is not a novelty today, it is just as usefull as it was 2000 years ago. Over half of Mongolians are still nomadic and move their herds as many as 6 times a year. When the herd needs to be moved, the ger must be moved too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEzblPLmAs0YFCpkwch4s1kQ1XdeF5W2zNUlMTeBrKYQM87QCQELW5_Z7aXk_5e3h9T32WGBV3qEmm4DCkPvdO9CB5ySjiTmClNIseDyJfokiD9vVECesfdGY6SE2Z_HGFBR-KWjOCwA/s1600-h/IMG_3273.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEzblPLmAs0YFCpkwch4s1kQ1XdeF5W2zNUlMTeBrKYQM87QCQELW5_Z7aXk_5e3h9T32WGBV3qEmm4DCkPvdO9CB5ySjiTmClNIseDyJfokiD9vVECesfdGY6SE2Z_HGFBR-KWjOCwA/s320/IMG_3273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372419742226681938" border="0" /></a><br />The Ger is the defining symbol of Mongolia for me. Much like the people who live in them, they are strong, practical, simple, mobile and they are inviting and peaceful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACjN1LIdWqeoy2-eiYNwB521bKcYNQ1vIeuHuU8_d6OQxz2v2fFq8AXa8Q23C1T5KjTneMDrolFu-Er4cKpjX4SVTlZIu_vWRsP-zCS6J0vTxlBzLXP9AzhkrpCzCodxyXKQYe1DKFs/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+373.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACjN1LIdWqeoy2-eiYNwB521bKcYNQ1vIeuHuU8_d6OQxz2v2fFq8AXa8Q23C1T5KjTneMDrolFu-Er4cKpjX4SVTlZIu_vWRsP-zCS6J0vTxlBzLXP9AzhkrpCzCodxyXKQYe1DKFs/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+373.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372426117909460482" border="0" /></a><br />________________________________<br /><br />HOME, SWEET HOME...after 27 hours of airplanes and airports...<br /><br />We boarded our plane at 6am at Chinggis Khan Airport in Ulaanbaatar and were off to Beijing, China.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoiUZAbHBT4gX5LHi_Z6k89JlUQ3yn4iwFcqS8jpgRHCE5hqNuhEbOokuRjHJTEgAaWjWMR07IJKBJZ-1HmMajJ2dj8eAkp_ZqvrjfwKMzKtR5RgvJotH0xSqV-hLCn-mUJ-b021vwlo/s1600-h/IMG_3492.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoiUZAbHBT4gX5LHi_Z6k89JlUQ3yn4iwFcqS8jpgRHCE5hqNuhEbOokuRjHJTEgAaWjWMR07IJKBJZ-1HmMajJ2dj8eAkp_ZqvrjfwKMzKtR5RgvJotH0xSqV-hLCn-mUJ-b021vwlo/s320/IMG_3492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372426126601130274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Thankfully we had a 3 hour layover in Beijing because we had to go<br />through 5 passport checkpoints and a few medical checkpoints. Then, we<br />couldn't find our luggage...hence the "luggage inquiries" sign above my head!<br /><br /></span></span></div>From there we flew to Seoul, South Korea, then to Seattle, Washington, then to Helena, Montana and finally to Billings, Montana.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqY4yhjofyhNcgu5nPxP9vl5dexmUgY0mu5U10d8_6An2aR_0-lGC32YeeO8pWaqkaEhaGDmPOckVEQAgESX8NJuFmGnhqrdO2GCT76sV6ul3agIUKP690a_JB0c08BkkK9RLD-OvRs/s1600-h/IMG_3493.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxqY4yhjofyhNcgu5nPxP9vl5dexmUgY0mu5U10d8_6An2aR_0-lGC32YeeO8pWaqkaEhaGDmPOckVEQAgESX8NJuFmGnhqrdO2GCT76sV6ul3agIUKP690a_JB0c08BkkK9RLD-OvRs/s320/IMG_3493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372427289207717138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Seoul Airport had "arts and crafts" for weary travelers<br />like us with a 6 hour layover.<br />Christi and I painted Korean hand fans for Rigley.<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWuyY-NZP6X60X8kTckgGJws2tHk4wRQnJ4RlZcM2Widaq_Eof3YbdlzuIiFU4yPvnS9H6lifgVdpeX009F4NM8Wv_t2TjJmgWmwAKcbUk6VbaflGLmC_ss_n4j5xF3gNhKWCaUThgao/s1600-h/IMG_3495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWuyY-NZP6X60X8kTckgGJws2tHk4wRQnJ4RlZcM2Widaq_Eof3YbdlzuIiFU4yPvnS9H6lifgVdpeX009F4NM8Wv_t2TjJmgWmwAKcbUk6VbaflGLmC_ss_n4j5xF3gNhKWCaUThgao/s320/IMG_3495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372426140375228290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">After weeks of great Mongolian food, we<br />decided it was time to reintroduce our bellies<br />to fine American Cuisine! Hello to the King!<br /><br /></span></span></div>Because we crossed the international Date Line going back to the US, we arrived home 12 hours after we boarded our first plane but were really flying for 25 hours!<br /><br /><br />As stepped down the stairs at the airport toward baggage claim, we were greeted by my parents and Rigley; Danger was frantically wagging his tail outside...<br /><br />as you can imagine...<br /><br />the rest is too personal to write...<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">the end.</span>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-37850314089577593912009-08-21T06:23:00.000-07:002009-08-21T06:47:59.590-07:00JUNE 26, 2009: FRIDAYLAST FULL DAY IN MONGOLIA<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCDlxpKEll8pba1kpCEDd8lOVPzwE0g3RtlaXTNqseOEVkpMgnhaFbFK-9O69N6HF5_v1lZuowQ_Rsj0PRAi4-ADM8irG-q8B2-1kvy49JWOug4xpINbsrfPScEre1lYh3Z1MuTvXmRE/s1600-h/IMG_3488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCDlxpKEll8pba1kpCEDd8lOVPzwE0g3RtlaXTNqseOEVkpMgnhaFbFK-9O69N6HF5_v1lZuowQ_Rsj0PRAi4-ADM8irG-q8B2-1kvy49JWOug4xpINbsrfPScEre1lYh3Z1MuTvXmRE/s320/IMG_3488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372409924195442946" border="0" /></a><br />We lazed around camp through the morning. We went for a hike up a nearby mountain to get one last look at the amazing landscape of Mongolia. We were to board a Sherman for Ulaanbaatar after lunch and we were beginning to realize that our adventure was quickly coming to an end.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGls4Up8R0HeD_M5sXdMKgEeJyzNwQIb-epklAZ7N32Og_6RqIImbjO7HIGnuEd5H5Gkzqy5_vnEcb9eMvvw2_538VRRMjGWimDx9WeMRaadSoDa7CXluKSSzrKnjmPq25PR6IZMhEBI/s1600-h/IMG_3483.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGls4Up8R0HeD_M5sXdMKgEeJyzNwQIb-epklAZ7N32Og_6RqIImbjO7HIGnuEd5H5Gkzqy5_vnEcb9eMvvw2_538VRRMjGWimDx9WeMRaadSoDa7CXluKSSzrKnjmPq25PR6IZMhEBI/s320/IMG_3483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372409935185729394" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At 2pm we piled in the Sherman for what would be our last chance to be "Sherminated" (shaken) in the Russian vans we had grown to love so much. They are slow and lumbering, noisy, and smell of gas; Yet they are practical in this landscape and in all of my travels, I never saw one stuck. Sure, they ran out of gas many times, but with only a stick to push into the gas tank to "feel" how much gas is left, this is bound to happen. Anyway, it added to the adventure.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWxmuS4YVDMJplq972WVeIjbdKBlTW5ptdKHstA0NatY_RwIf6aNs0vgmSoPFXiGRpgzfDHel_htF_qBLSi5S0mTSGUNempdUx2DxQ1HAlMKZkCkCPFrZZ55t5eZ4nC9gaTjnJT2NBh0/s1600-h/IMG_3452.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWxmuS4YVDMJplq972WVeIjbdKBlTW5ptdKHstA0NatY_RwIf6aNs0vgmSoPFXiGRpgzfDHel_htF_qBLSi5S0mTSGUNempdUx2DxQ1HAlMKZkCkCPFrZZ55t5eZ4nC9gaTjnJT2NBh0/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372409950580677330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We worked our way back into the sprawling city of UB, jockeying for road space with all the other insane drivers and finally made it safely back to the Michelle Hotel (which had become a second home for me).<br /><br />For dinner we set out to find a world renowned Indian restaurant and after getting side tracked at the Cashmere shops (Mongolia is the Cashmere capital of the world! Oh...which reminds me, the goat we ate several days back at the Pallas Cat Camp, that was a "Cashmere" goat! Whoda thought Cashmere tasted so good!) As we followed our Lonely Planet map we began to notice police on every corner, soon we realized that there was a wrestling match at the Wrestling Palace and that they bring extra security for these events. Wrestling is one of Mongolia's "National Sports" along with archery and horse racing). We could compare this wrestling event to a soccer (football) event anywhere else in the world; Excited and rowdy fans, crazed over their favorite wrestler! Oh, and the food at the Indian restaurant? There is a reason it is world famous...nom, nom, nom!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuXwzrLECx9b3fZa1UjKLol23Mo4fQu8aGQUwVOu8LJdo09YkYCecpkN2OoqHxvZ6rd9yjkHOr0t9KteyiyC65zFB6wUV_MJ9DysVLhAW3-CVghoLr8523YNxiUjjPukOHcz0poP6vfI/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+469.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuXwzrLECx9b3fZa1UjKLol23Mo4fQu8aGQUwVOu8LJdo09YkYCecpkN2OoqHxvZ6rd9yjkHOr0t9KteyiyC65zFB6wUV_MJ9DysVLhAW3-CVghoLr8523YNxiUjjPukOHcz0poP6vfI/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+469.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372412677834314514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Cashmere Goat of Mongolia<br /></span></span></div><br /><br />6am tomorrow, we will be on the first leg of our journey back home...Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-46694373272127334372009-08-19T21:05:00.000-07:002009-08-21T06:22:30.536-07:00JUNE 25, 2009: THURSDAYA PICTURE BLOG (...a plog?!)<br /><br />It was an eventful day, and because a picture is worth a thousand words, I will let them do most of the talking...<br /><br />Got up and had a big Mongolian breakfast then put on our swim gear for a rafting trip. The rafts were loaded on a yak cart and we walked with the yak (actually more of an ox) upstream for a couple hours. When we arrived at a good place to put in, we stopped, blew up the rafts and headed leisurely downstream toward camp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwn1whlkomItgSHf4lWhmBOLsa5lZ8yV4fHeYqRb6odQnuk237yxfakG8ieCEqOWQuVPXsrXY9r-JcN-qrsjCFChDQ0OK15qEst47QnJJoHiyuMR_5xE6nVCx1-D6X05yzdVA6er03CA/s1600-h/IMG_3457.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwn1whlkomItgSHf4lWhmBOLsa5lZ8yV4fHeYqRb6odQnuk237yxfakG8ieCEqOWQuVPXsrXY9r-JcN-qrsjCFChDQ0OK15qEst47QnJJoHiyuMR_5xE6nVCx1-D6X05yzdVA6er03CA/s320/IMG_3457.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371894504816087522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ184XHI71vWTM8THmqudEZg8MJYeR1mVdyRRYw8BnUAx2KBKWnSOSnXx1mOX9Ye8sCRnDmVqY_kZW9fdMtxO03i2cgl4Cgz5bMPB4qQTQlnvwMuCIIIc-i1RWYt3n_K-oDYxdrhFdUNI/s1600-h/IMG_3460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ184XHI71vWTM8THmqudEZg8MJYeR1mVdyRRYw8BnUAx2KBKWnSOSnXx1mOX9Ye8sCRnDmVqY_kZW9fdMtxO03i2cgl4Cgz5bMPB4qQTQlnvwMuCIIIc-i1RWYt3n_K-oDYxdrhFdUNI/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371894515840414818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1Gd-3Tx2_llS306ybWIHeDe68UpVuix0D5goBR2ZqMIeYVuf0KoKO8C21Mwd8mdKCKkDJC9f9QC1y_Wew9RXj5NxkgrZrRrXAtT2ZkuLcAbHPcPalmg1u5_XFaXz6IMOezgfHfGW9Z8/s1600-h/IMG_3461.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1Gd-3Tx2_llS306ybWIHeDe68UpVuix0D5goBR2ZqMIeYVuf0KoKO8C21Mwd8mdKCKkDJC9f9QC1y_Wew9RXj5NxkgrZrRrXAtT2ZkuLcAbHPcPalmg1u5_XFaXz6IMOezgfHfGW9Z8/s320/IMG_3461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371894528041871682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmLaFuAm_plEzp3z9a0OvHb8-gND0Oip1tQBLopHSui4z51-fuBVbCYlEUv2bqyz3WZCptT2QN9lL-4mJbdHh8gDbtwxlvfyvTnRgPfKnWYDvQ5WSGIw7lMbLs_2qBjVIHfUn5Smmn5U/s1600-h/IMG_3462.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmLaFuAm_plEzp3z9a0OvHb8-gND0Oip1tQBLopHSui4z51-fuBVbCYlEUv2bqyz3WZCptT2QN9lL-4mJbdHh8gDbtwxlvfyvTnRgPfKnWYDvQ5WSGIw7lMbLs_2qBjVIHfUn5Smmn5U/s320/IMG_3462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371894538281655842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Back at camp we dined on another oversized lunch (it seems that lunch at this camp is a 5 course meal every day!). After lunch we saddled up the horses and set out to explore Mongolia. With no fences in the entire country (not entirely though, some fences exist near Ulaanbaatar, but, most of the country has absolutely NO FENCES!) we were able to ride in any direction for as long as we pleased. The scenery was unexplainable; it was peaceful and relaxing. The only major scare was when Christi's horse when down right in front of me, but she held on like a seasoned bull rider and we were back on the trail before we could catch our breath!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6Av0Xwbsd6yD-wozqG-1h1vvTXVvXsX14dgCrzUOUwQQ13OCz3xmsRcBW9EqDXIeof6CqVN5KkoxSEyU20v0mrQEQFs4PBA8nLkSgqogwlxD4Udw79fradV6f0V4tYaRMj1LL8x9wSU/s1600-h/IMG_3468.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6Av0Xwbsd6yD-wozqG-1h1vvTXVvXsX14dgCrzUOUwQQ13OCz3xmsRcBW9EqDXIeof6CqVN5KkoxSEyU20v0mrQEQFs4PBA8nLkSgqogwlxD4Udw79fradV6f0V4tYaRMj1LL8x9wSU/s320/IMG_3468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371896216246422802" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4tJesMpgaLaECTuWBvuQKTkbDpcKadge6RbVvleBr-Wi8Qmc-bCS_SEjAzvBk_jgJhdchv1zjgAY9nm8J60gS_DqLK_OHG49HJB8LJlh4vF2Ndr2-E7gQWJ4mEffTjuO3iQFHCAzLfA/s1600-h/IMG_3478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4tJesMpgaLaECTuWBvuQKTkbDpcKadge6RbVvleBr-Wi8Qmc-bCS_SEjAzvBk_jgJhdchv1zjgAY9nm8J60gS_DqLK_OHG49HJB8LJlh4vF2Ndr2-E7gQWJ4mEffTjuO3iQFHCAzLfA/s320/IMG_3478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371896227667270402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGBTPrTEXL-VFOhGbYd_P0RnbY2I-D0S-66KwBrVlK4RHDJuQ1CodwUNqkRcH9RN9PDUNBsY4AF01favP3ui2jxiMVlY3goVVcZHGwKI_KUIHE4VshDWrIUxRM41f8tTawAyUlchzhu0/s1600-h/IMG_3484.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGBTPrTEXL-VFOhGbYd_P0RnbY2I-D0S-66KwBrVlK4RHDJuQ1CodwUNqkRcH9RN9PDUNBsY4AF01favP3ui2jxiMVlY3goVVcZHGwKI_KUIHE4VshDWrIUxRM41f8tTawAyUlchzhu0/s320/IMG_3484.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371896238873178738" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOVda1wb373pP-39sh-pgDSI7iHApYzge8xXW8om8KhohSs0nnMXccyHUixZ77-BhIaLDjyE4_6qiu2g35M0xoEfJzDQqqihUqSA09wRQXkKiBrPebWEYYjG_FQWLiZG_QcVCjo6r8IA/s1600-h/IMG_3476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOVda1wb373pP-39sh-pgDSI7iHApYzge8xXW8om8KhohSs0nnMXccyHUixZ77-BhIaLDjyE4_6qiu2g35M0xoEfJzDQqqihUqSA09wRQXkKiBrPebWEYYjG_FQWLiZG_QcVCjo6r8IA/s400/IMG_3476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371896671287841586" border="0" /></a><br />...and they rode away, happily ever after...<br /><br />Next: sleep. Tomorrow: back to UlaanbaatarCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-49562061016092164622009-08-17T09:57:00.001-07:002009-08-19T06:51:50.164-07:00JUNE 24, 2009: WEDNESDAYOFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER<br /><br />We boarded another "Sherman" for our trip out to Jalman Meadows (150 km northeast of UB) where we would be staying at an Eco Ger Camp for the next several days. We were accompanied by a group from Germany who were traveling to the camp to ride Mongolian horses across the vast countryside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqjYbgelsFXmPulM2gKQjq3cTUESB0jRcqMluNtNon9QCtnVnIFlU8tKQrJ3r2nfyJ5W1PoHw80w5L97bWjDFKGDYOdx5OUzDWjCCGDCzRcpVeeqGhiwYPW8ezcc8QsPcTL4ftoKdWQM/s1600-h/IMG_3439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqjYbgelsFXmPulM2gKQjq3cTUESB0jRcqMluNtNon9QCtnVnIFlU8tKQrJ3r2nfyJ5W1PoHw80w5L97bWjDFKGDYOdx5OUzDWjCCGDCzRcpVeeqGhiwYPW8ezcc8QsPcTL4ftoKdWQM/s320/IMG_3439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988245874062946" border="0" /></a><br />As we lumbered along, we began to notice an ENORMOUS silver statue appearing on the horizon. A private group is in the process of building a statue/tribute/tourist stop celebrating the life of Chinggis (Ghenggis) Khan. It was impressively large and in a country where most things are very basic this statue stands out quite clearly as something that would only be visited by the wealthiest few or by tourists.<br /><br />Jalman Meadows is located in a Highly Protected Region of Eastern Mongolia. It would be comparable to our National Forests and grazing is limited so this area looked much different from most areas I had seen. The grass was long and green, the river was clean and garbage was scarce. This is what my vision of Mongolia initially was.<br /><br />The camp is an Eco Camp, so, there is a minimal footprint on the landscape. Local people are hired to work and run the operation so money stays in the local economy. The food is supplied by locals whenever possible. The only source of power is from solar panels or the small wind turbine. It is as peaceful and serene a place as anyone could imagine!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4X1OyQT8jwYgslcnuoWMnrAvjYgR0NqdAyzrVlj6Wt0xNUlUJdvkFuJ7BKwd7t1TQhybT5RbZb-63_Q2kulDmnGObyUzmlpGhk0JOFST7iiSsOeZOATxVtFa3M5zC-HYnB8Eh7kkqek/s1600-h/IMG_3440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4X1OyQT8jwYgslcnuoWMnrAvjYgR0NqdAyzrVlj6Wt0xNUlUJdvkFuJ7BKwd7t1TQhybT5RbZb-63_Q2kulDmnGObyUzmlpGhk0JOFST7iiSsOeZOATxVtFa3M5zC-HYnB8Eh7kkqek/s320/IMG_3440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988254804653074" border="0" /></a><br />Upon arrival, a man with a yak and cart piled up our luggage and set off toward our gers. No vehicles allowed anywhere near the camp!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxicnrYqNgJ3peiWzycE4klN3m3ZfOsNFjozUbWLBBk5m5UT3vBmML9KpvOotQ01bZDOt3OkkF10FhYwcLjFRlVWvGbNeYLAuSt6o5P0902895rFz4ZmlW_JsLdBL4iZixzrf7fU5zVI/s1600-h/IMG_3442.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxicnrYqNgJ3peiWzycE4klN3m3ZfOsNFjozUbWLBBk5m5UT3vBmML9KpvOotQ01bZDOt3OkkF10FhYwcLjFRlVWvGbNeYLAuSt6o5P0902895rFz4ZmlW_JsLdBL4iZixzrf7fU5zVI/s320/IMG_3442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988261940367234" border="0" /></a><br />We found our ger and relaxed...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4aGHvGCaq5AVF6b1XCXXyf0b-EidcBhZoUJ37JcKs7L1dYl7000_35sBGgWB_GtTVh39wk2kQ9tz4v34bJOEMZeguefJO0niXQF26f3fqsF7FQHn1kLYurBR9rvFDHsgt1XX0qBgtyQ/s1600-h/IMG_3449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4aGHvGCaq5AVF6b1XCXXyf0b-EidcBhZoUJ37JcKs7L1dYl7000_35sBGgWB_GtTVh39wk2kQ9tz4v34bJOEMZeguefJO0niXQF26f3fqsF7FQHn1kLYurBR9rvFDHsgt1XX0qBgtyQ/s320/IMG_3449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370988276649008530" border="0" /></a><br />Tomorrow, we would turn this vacation into an adventure!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-yT2s6ngCUUBzoNSJjS6T-e3t1YE6I-3fPZ-AU9WR7WrNSHaUXZhRxJmL_biX6JIaSIwEipVISkWEobAXZw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-25250100605758866712009-08-17T09:27:00.000-07:002009-08-18T07:13:51.005-07:00JUNE 23, 2009: TUESDAYIT'S NOT A VACATION, IT'S AN ADVENTURE!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Christi would define a vacation as laying on a beach somewhere and relaxing for days on end. So, prior to either of us leaving home, I continually reminded her that "It's not a vacation, it's an adventure!"<br /><br /></span>Most of the group boarded planes for home this morning but those of us who remained planned to spend the day exploring Ulaanbaatar.<br /><br />Bayaraa, Muntsog's son, would be our guide through the city and one of his friends joined us. We set off to the Black Market first but it turns our this is the only day of the week it isn't open. So, we loaded into another taxi and headed off to another market on the other side of town. Cabs are extremely affordable. For trips under 4 miles or so, it seemed that it only costs us $2-4 US. Longer trips (10 miles) were $8 at the most.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_mbdb3z-oTDEsBjxFGZnkGZqV6zdiMkbyxHV-OprAoj-h4FDxY8QCGYbKGW1obY93-xoKHxu1MerTN9ZommYwJkRWQ_M6FzqkW6T2BZLzSWfbN8WawGWYUKF_iI04jvi8fgsBF78MO0/s1600-h/IMG_3420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_mbdb3z-oTDEsBjxFGZnkGZqV6zdiMkbyxHV-OprAoj-h4FDxY8QCGYbKGW1obY93-xoKHxu1MerTN9ZommYwJkRWQ_M6FzqkW6T2BZLzSWfbN8WawGWYUKF_iI04jvi8fgsBF78MO0/s320/IMG_3420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370974235004344994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View of Ulaanbaatar from our window at the Michelle Hotel<br /></span></span></div><br />The market is where the locals shop for their goods. We had planned to find interesting things to take home with us but most of this expansive outdoor market sold only living necessities, not tourist trinkets.<br /><br />On the way out of the market, we found a lady selling "Airag" which is the traditional Mongolian drink of Fermented Mares milk. We had her fill an empty water bottle for 1000 Tugrik (Mongolian money) which converts to $0.75 US. It tasted like Elmer's Glue with Turpentine mixed in. I don't think my American digestive tract was suited to digesting this concoction so I drank very little before I was forced to dispose of it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0r-PpfVjigGErA1rVIL6v8vWe7a5a_PW2E2Hli4eFZfjF864tedFjJhdYDkDFA8ARd_xKsjM0RdT5elcJsLpSG3UjoKGa21z3sWXD1bxKiAUaQpyzUCjLdqtgPXtOlUDLIJW9KFDjYA/s1600-h/IMG_3428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0r-PpfVjigGErA1rVIL6v8vWe7a5a_PW2E2Hli4eFZfjF864tedFjJhdYDkDFA8ARd_xKsjM0RdT5elcJsLpSG3UjoKGa21z3sWXD1bxKiAUaQpyzUCjLdqtgPXtOlUDLIJW9KFDjYA/s320/IMG_3428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370975269772556642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Later we visited the largest Buddhist Monestary in UB. I expected the place to be very quiet and stale. It was anything but. People wandered around feeding pigeons and praying in various places. Christi and I thought we should really learn more about this religion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hv8FNRd1qSIuurcIkieubkT5vQxdpiaha6JiythqBfV8e138yqfY-9xiSaAmnqcxK3YEgvAjMqAw5Blaxlr6JPJpryvbyWecm8LI7qS6-F5SjnoDK9pxfGQE-kPjErpOcMv3VBfZv7w/s1600-h/IMG_3427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hv8FNRd1qSIuurcIkieubkT5vQxdpiaha6JiythqBfV8e138yqfY-9xiSaAmnqcxK3YEgvAjMqAw5Blaxlr6JPJpryvbyWecm8LI7qS6-F5SjnoDK9pxfGQE-kPjErpOcMv3VBfZv7w/s320/IMG_3427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370974226232645778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For dinner we went to an Italian restaurant (seems odd doesn't it) and then it was off to the Hotel. Christi and I had to prepare for our departure to the wilderness the next day.Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-53861491291657676992009-08-17T07:50:00.000-07:002009-08-17T09:26:29.363-07:00JUNE 22, 2009: MONDAYLast Chance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIPZnnMxTzk0nMYNs3epF6xPJrH1KNAaLWvj-Q2vPNexwq-IowGYOey2290UvNCrLU_FosIwB3IH8VusBLY5QyG9-R7-l1w_9dj14TCut3dqikcgK9lBJCHxYz_oYs0voh-OU0VrDIas/s1600-h/overheated+van.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIPZnnMxTzk0nMYNs3epF6xPJrH1KNAaLWvj-Q2vPNexwq-IowGYOey2290UvNCrLU_FosIwB3IH8VusBLY5QyG9-R7-l1w_9dj14TCut3dqikcgK9lBJCHxYz_oYs0voh-OU0VrDIas/s400/overheated+van.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370958461505344706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: I turned my journal over to Caitlyn at this point, so the last 8 or so blogs will mostly be pictures.<br /><br />Today was our last full day in Mongolia. We got up, ate breakfast, and packed our things to head back to Ulaanbaatar. Not far from camp, one of the "Sherman" vans overheated, so once again, we were sitting and waiting for a Sherman to revive itself. It did, and we were on our way again. <br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7lODtDChOChZBTG5q5cHj5b_6NQ5mD15gaQmS5VhKYk8gN2C8ynUl6QTXdQEPLF0aA2hhDhzJnWIJARdNT9Zpl8YiMfC74Y4YR1z1mfSgVImgn4k951YQGG04wxBytmqPzmHa-x7HE4/s1600-h/IMG_3413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7lODtDChOChZBTG5q5cHj5b_6NQ5mD15gaQmS5VhKYk8gN2C8ynUl6QTXdQEPLF0aA2hhDhzJnWIJARdNT9Zpl8YiMfC74Y4YR1z1mfSgVImgn4k951YQGG04wxBytmqPzmHa-x7HE4/s320/IMG_3413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370948201226273938" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived in the capital several hours later and I was in a rush to get to the Michelle Hotel to see if Christi had made it safely! She had, and was exhausted from the 2 days of flying, but we were both elated to see each other.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzFBa1Lf5wIFKEbophMHmMf5TWqKwtwBKzXd8ThR0dBC47GdrJfBAquXBt3m9x26d_whkl2vwdweeYKqrtiljuWEp8_ASRrNZHTkm44sRMXLMGTnelDhp_YJMzEIw4Cp8Yxb3xgvT1Qg/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzFBa1Lf5wIFKEbophMHmMf5TWqKwtwBKzXd8ThR0dBC47GdrJfBAquXBt3m9x26d_whkl2vwdweeYKqrtiljuWEp8_ASRrNZHTkm44sRMXLMGTnelDhp_YJMzEIw4Cp8Yxb3xgvT1Qg/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370948191425906370" border="0" /></a>After settling in at the Hotel and taking cold showers, we set out in small groups to explore the city. Christi joined us and we decided to go to the "State Store" which is the Mongolian version of Macy's. We purchased souvenirs for family and Christi picked out 10 pairs of Mongolian shoes for Rigley. She finally whittled it down to 3 pairs.<br /><br />We all regrouped and walked to dinner at a Mongolian theater that showcases traditional Mongolian songs, garb and customs. On the way, one of our group was pickpocketed (this is a growing problem in UB) and Ghana, our guide, raced after the guy and came back with the wallet. We are not sure what transpired once he caught up to the guy, but it sounded like the other gentlemen may not have fared so well when Ghana caught up to him (he may have gotten pummeled...we're not sure).<br /><br />The theater was interesting and the clothing was incredible. They played traditional instruments and the men sang Long Songs with their very low guttural throat singing. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHD_kefRDUfdHfSI1GHZKtxlifvKXBq8k8REtwF9TA8Rk9Rch18tfA2A8MYCcdfK8mBZNXPkvZ6wHqRiIz316087Gv1pwq3IF8S5OnNDn4eNqODACswI5OW-uR10xpGWvhGeYe4XWafM/s1600-h/IMG_3415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHD_kefRDUfdHfSI1GHZKtxlifvKXBq8k8REtwF9TA8Rk9Rch18tfA2A8MYCcdfK8mBZNXPkvZ6wHqRiIz316087Gv1pwq3IF8S5OnNDn4eNqODACswI5OW-uR10xpGWvhGeYe4XWafM/s320/IMG_3415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370948181109699826" border="0" /></a>After theater we went to MONGOLIAN BARBEQUE! I am sure that this place was built for tourists because it looked just like the Mongolian BBQ's in Montana but this was the only one we saw in a city of 1 million. We were excited to eat there though because we know everybody back home was going to ask if we had Mongolian Barbeque!<br /><br />I tried horse meat for the first time. It remined me of moist jerky slabs or stringy roast beef, it was actually quite good. I samples Intesting filled with Beef and Stomach. The only way I can think to describe the flavor and texture comparing it to Meat flavored Jello with chunks of slimy tapioca thrown in. It looked like a tube of intestine (not stretched out like a sausage, just an intesting laying on the table) with pieces of dark meat with cubed white gewey stomach pieces stuffed inside. I enjoyed trying it, but I would never need to "try" it again!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjJfQ2kZHUBRjH1bvjMJd8_mlsj7y-2BkJ5vyHddXMApywUwwZhPauxmq9bF319rRRZOPg3mOqNvFeI9VXk3uLLKL3upzGtZVcgSxFVxCTxoK_LoFI2F02pU7tM4dXHq-K6jPQRS9LqE/s1600-h/IMG_3417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjJfQ2kZHUBRjH1bvjMJd8_mlsj7y-2BkJ5vyHddXMApywUwwZhPauxmq9bF319rRRZOPg3mOqNvFeI9VXk3uLLKL3upzGtZVcgSxFVxCTxoK_LoFI2F02pU7tM4dXHq-K6jPQRS9LqE/s320/IMG_3417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370948210514088946" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow, most people would be flying out. Some are spending time in China on their way through. Christi and I will start our adventure tomorrow.Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-46773875674746988642009-08-14T08:47:00.000-07:002009-08-14T10:57:46.327-07:00JUNE 21, 2009: SUNDAY<div align="right"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" face="arial">Land of the Blue Skies<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369847826459314130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKBXzajAa_iKIb26Hi09eo6BcX325zjafM4r6ZyXFMhrPaTBJDWrddkbRUZrmHZBgMzQEs3IW1Vf0FPneeoQQ5y48H3Bt1KRF6sMLt0Xhbirm2f3VCN_qAKAhnzjFcQxMQOfr2iL5Sls/s320/IMG_3399.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">Five Mongolian students spent time with us at camp yesterday and today.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>They have traveled from the other side of Mongolia (the mountainous region to the West, very near Kazakhstan).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Some of them took public busses for many days to be able to spend time in the capital of Ulaanbaatar and then be shuttled out to camp to meet us.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The mission for the day was to produce radio show spots with the children for Mongolian Public Radio.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We might refer to these short, scripted audio broadcasts as Podcasts.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The children were to be the producers and recorders; we were to be their “interns” and help as needed.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Due to language barriers, I am not entirely sure what transpired over the course of the day, but the kids seemed to have fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmuYbZmdWBZ_Xwu7LbVggvpBgj3xO4TUytueGiCpqhp4FkgiQpKjlKL6cXhiEqtBpmoP35A2k-9ibCrmIBh-JHwD9r0iCpqXCR9uCcBZscQuJe0XVdBS92Y5zMGegwU5wRzieTqZEvlA/s1600-h/IMG_3412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369848424254931106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmuYbZmdWBZ_Xwu7LbVggvpBgj3xO4TUytueGiCpqhp4FkgiQpKjlKL6cXhiEqtBpmoP35A2k-9ibCrmIBh-JHwD9r0iCpqXCR9uCcBZscQuJe0XVdBS92Y5zMGegwU5wRzieTqZEvlA/s320/IMG_3412.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;">After recording our radio spots, we were asked to write something about what we appreciate in nature.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I chose to write about: Clean, Cool, Fresh air.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Below are the ramblings that spewed forth from my head and landed on my paper in blue ink.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><i>Clean, cool, fresh air is a luxury in much of the world.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But in the Mongolian countryside it is plentiful.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The scent of the flowers on the Mongolian steppe is carried long distances and enjoyed by natives and travelers.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Life giving seeds dance on the breeze and spread out across the landscape.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The blue sky is dotted with ever-changing white as a kaleidoscope of clouds waft overhead.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></i></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><i>Mongolia is the “Land of the Blue Skies” and Mongolians seem to embrace this slogan.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>They are proud of the wide-open spaces and cool, clean, fresh air.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>There is a real concern among them about the increased industrial pollution of the cities and an urgency to fix things before they get worse.<o:p></o:p></i></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><i>Today, here in HNNP, people from around the world have gathered to taste all that is sweet about Mongolia and slowly breathe in cool, clean, fresh air in the “Land of the Blue Skies”.<o:p></o:p></i></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: arial">After writing this and reading it to the group, I realized that this splash of ink on the page was as much about Montana, as Mongolia.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Change “Land of the Blue Skies” to “Big Sky Country” and I am transported back to the windblown slopes of the Rocky Mountain Front.</p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzo3k6eQqKxZRmhjn9MzxCLhx9IqqC5uJMY-YwSEhDJ2nM9G4BnOXIhcK61whWxyOPxFQdldn88vKX9CpuBNg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center">Winds of the Mongolian Steppe<br /><br />Note: Christi is in flight right now, probably somewhere between Seattle and Seoul, South Korea. Hope all is going well.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-FAMILY: arial"><br /></p>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-53490117188611772942009-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:002009-08-12T21:06:43.708-07:00JUNE 20, 2009: SATURDAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVGXQChSg51JdLdq4JF6-amO5zrtzW1DaAdT4Xk1iFzpP3lzxDodi1ayPVIC647ZSpNdy97upojAq_XonCmeDHXhn9kfDZNkVk2ATRnf15PwRRPOooLXjd6qXvvM356jfoSgHKf8qYyk/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+588.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVGXQChSg51JdLdq4JF6-amO5zrtzW1DaAdT4Xk1iFzpP3lzxDodi1ayPVIC647ZSpNdy97upojAq_XonCmeDHXhn9kfDZNkVk2ATRnf15PwRRPOooLXjd6qXvvM356jfoSgHKf8qYyk/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+588.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369290714803778354" border="0" /></a><br />A HORSE IS A HORSE...MR. ED.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J11xBhaJjiAOJz1VYTqaLXMd2lFwtrtJQMWb1Uj2z069DWb3PNJWeNRopvxw7U4VebT-_zvsJjKV0YJlI7KXhFTT02Os8oSL4Z9XSeU1Z-Tm3fgP1m7M9TejcwlOQZyvrp792TXE5qE/s1600-h/IMG_3386.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J11xBhaJjiAOJz1VYTqaLXMd2lFwtrtJQMWb1Uj2z069DWb3PNJWeNRopvxw7U4VebT-_zvsJjKV0YJlI7KXhFTT02Os8oSL4Z9XSeU1Z-Tm3fgP1m7M9TejcwlOQZyvrp792TXE5qE/s320/IMG_3386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369291080006317570" border="0" /></a><br />Woke up early today, 4:45 am. We set out in the Shermans to look for Tahki in their beds. The windows on the vans were frosted over (it was a COLD morning. I wore my long johns to bed and I kept them on under my clothes all day!). We found two herds once we stopped and we were able to get within about 100 yards of one group. It is pretty miraculous to know you are in such close proximity to the only remaining wild horses in the world!<br /><br />We had an inquiry activity after breakfast that took us into the woods. We chose to analyze "skat" (poo) from Red Deer (I guess they were on my mind from yesterday).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EDMruhyGrYMd_01ZCkAygYFNyPBKghTbgK-7rzKGrvnQvEoGSNQuOIhEvDvdPVI0qb1543nDyYMZarKlWirTgP_v_-GOeGlLJp9C2Fi6segy1tb4XYeQ_25lcwIabDOH6ObUJcZde0s/s1600-h/IMG_3396.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EDMruhyGrYMd_01ZCkAygYFNyPBKghTbgK-7rzKGrvnQvEoGSNQuOIhEvDvdPVI0qb1543nDyYMZarKlWirTgP_v_-GOeGlLJp9C2Fi6segy1tb4XYeQ_25lcwIabDOH6ObUJcZde0s/s320/IMG_3396.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369291749855547890" border="0" /></a>After lunch we got to ride Mongolian horses through the National Park! WOW! Mongolian horses are smaller than our horses and as far as I am concerned, they seem to have a better disposition. The park ranger put "softer" saddles on our horses compared to the traditional wooden Mongolian saddles. They were comfortable except for the short stirrups and their placement directly over the front shoulders. I would have rode all day had they let me!<br /><br />This afternoon was pretty relaxed. Discussion then dinner then we played games with the Mongolian students that arrived at camp to visit us. More on why there are here in tomorrow's journal. We got a fresh shipment of cold drinks and water. It is nice to enjoy a cool beverage (most things we drink have to be warm because of lack of refrigeration) in this awe-inspiring valley with good food and good friends. I think it is now fair to call these people I have spend the last week with "friends", Americans and Mongolians alike.<br /><br />Note: This is my second night in a bed. I miss the ger and sleeping in the dirt. Not sure why...just do.<br /><br />Another note: It is 9:50 pm here which means Christi should be in flight between Montana and Seattle. I am jumping out of my skin anticipating her arrival. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Christi was flying to Ulaanbaatar to meet me when we came out of the wilderness and spend a week exploring Mongolia with me !)<br /></span><br />GOODNIGHT FROM HUSTAI NURUU NATIONAL PARK, MONGOLIA!<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-48551130004142080472009-08-10T09:27:00.000-07:002009-08-12T06:16:07.711-07:00JUNE 19, 2009: FRIDAYOH WHAT A NIGHT...<br /><br />Awoke their morning very well rested. The heat from the fire fire and the trickle of rain put me out like a baby. I missed shower time (water shortages only allow showers during certain times) last night so I was hoping to get my shower when they opened again in the morning; After-all it has been quite a few days since the last one. As luck would have it, the mens shower started on fire in the middle of the night. Apparently someone has used a candle to shower at night (because the storm knocked out the power) and it tipped over. So...once again...no shower for me...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpofa7MpYQPN7XrwHzZYNm4CbpV2y-QKWsvRHB_BD8duNBk2tenPfZt4sqEq5YJjIBbugMEzIKuMVIKBWh5QrsO3EPxiP_EGwd15ndxNzMxyrKWtOhu246IpmcQ4wYW0qFDVJeyJUCGGA/s1600-h/IMG_3365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpofa7MpYQPN7XrwHzZYNm4CbpV2y-QKWsvRHB_BD8duNBk2tenPfZt4sqEq5YJjIBbugMEzIKuMVIKBWh5QrsO3EPxiP_EGwd15ndxNzMxyrKWtOhu246IpmcQ4wYW0qFDVJeyJUCGGA/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368377677555914434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Moilt Camp, in Hustai Nuruu National Park<br />Our headquarters for studying the Tahki Horse<br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf9ZG1cAZ5WoqBRKQSB-5DVfU53f9QVG_80ZUpNVJYNgnYjq50R3iK-odO88CZhQWAAxuXTWHstciNm2NTnUp78GrOMmfUS682XPtQPWQeQJsNDMbBE7Xf-KaBEHhZEL7u61FAtdb9P0/s1600-h/IMG_3371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf9ZG1cAZ5WoqBRKQSB-5DVfU53f9QVG_80ZUpNVJYNgnYjq50R3iK-odO88CZhQWAAxuXTWHstciNm2NTnUp78GrOMmfUS682XPtQPWQeQJsNDMbBE7Xf-KaBEHhZEL7u61FAtdb9P0/s320/IMG_3371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368380150534075890" border="0" /></a>After breakfast we headed out in the Shermans for Moilt Camp in Hustai Nuruu National Park (HNNP). Nuruu means mountain range. We saw several Tahki along the way and as we lumbered along, the landscape slowly transformed from pointed short-grass hills to jagged scree covered mountains. Because this park is protected, the grass is long and green and it makes a beautiful contrast with the weathered, rounded rock outcroppings.<br /><br />After settling in at camp and going for a hike up the mountainside, Bayaraa (Muntsog's son) and I left the group in a saddle between two ridges above Moilt Camp and set out to find a heard of Red Deer we had seen across the canyon. Dinner would be happening soon but I did not care if I ate. I had flown all the way to Mongolia hoping to see Red Deer (similar to our Elk, also called "stag" in parts of Europe). I have a "thing" for Red Deer. They remind me of the most regal animal of Montana: the Elk. Only the Red Deer is exotic and new and I have always wanted to hunt them...and...there I was, atop a mountain at 5,700ft, in Mongolia, racing across a mountain ridge to hunt Red Deer with no gun. I am slowly finding that I don't have to carry a gun to enjoy a hunt. The spot, the stalk, the thrill is all included, only no dragging out meat in the end!<br /><br />As we scurried across boulders and through the high mountain grass, several Red Deer erupted form the Birch trees in front of us. We stopped, they stopped, and as we watched, the females rounded up two small calves and we all stood and watched each other for a while, waiting for somebody to make the first move.<br /><br />After our encounter we headed farther up the ridge toward the top of the mountain and spotted the original herd in a saddle at the top of the valley. I could have sat there with my binoculars for the rest of the day and watched the head of 10 eat and browse. There were 4 bulls. Two of them were massive, their pitch black antlers stretched high above their sturdy necks and they looked so powerful, and peaceful, and quiet. And I felt the same.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My heart and mind were still replaying the experience even 4 hours later when I penciled out my journal for the night. This place, these animals, these events are etching themselves very deeply in my soul and I hope they etch deeply enough that they last in there forever</span>.<br /><br />______________<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: I thought I was going to finally get a shower at Moilt Camp. It is an outdoor "shower" with a water holding tank up on stilts and glass tubes that run through the tank. In theory, the sun warms up the glass tubes and the heat is transferred to the water above. Then, you turn on the shower head and warm, soothing, mountain water pours over your head. However, when I tried the shower, the water was soooo cold that I managed only managed to get my head wet before I ran out screaming bloody murder...still...no...shower. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMzZGkNqdVRVRwFHVvtl5bsxOYix3f-9nSxu1TqZA-pjVvvMtesKlw8SxVDX5TpjfZgSAKb6lVcz_Np_25si6GLvEq_zKsGfUvBx7BZeFB0W8F6_W8XEGpD90Yq3Ey3VYg5PPQoiUQGA/s1600-h/IMG_3366.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMzZGkNqdVRVRwFHVvtl5bsxOYix3f-9nSxu1TqZA-pjVvvMtesKlw8SxVDX5TpjfZgSAKb6lVcz_Np_25si6GLvEq_zKsGfUvBx7BZeFB0W8F6_W8XEGpD90Yq3Ey3VYg5PPQoiUQGA/s320/IMG_3366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368379518633845986" border="0" /></a><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-46377821375084541722009-08-10T08:39:00.000-07:002009-08-11T09:30:40.405-07:00JUNE 18, 2009: THURSDAYGHANA BIRTHDAY MEAL AND MOVING ON<br /><br />John and I are sitting in our Ger at Hustai National Park listening to the pitter-patter of rainfall outside and enjoying the heat from the stove fire. We have left our former camp and relocated here to the park to start our studies of the Tahki Horse or Prezwalski's Horse as it is more commonly known. For the last hour or so we have been reflecting on our time at the Pallas Cat Research Camp, sharing memories and yesterday we capped off our last day at the Pallas Cat Camp with the most exciting meal imaginable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9dul4us1f6hty-_wowflffirz6v82Da8Upg11xOOY7QfRUu0DmqHm-l7EBb_yWK4pFpxL6CpFMUlbbH4X70_WPiXKpoPcUdpu_jHfPj3W2tuqYkDBvWbqtzin1dzhdr0wkGfrvag3Bg/s1600-h/IMG_3344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9dul4us1f6hty-_wowflffirz6v82Da8Upg11xOOY7QfRUu0DmqHm-l7EBb_yWK4pFpxL6CpFMUlbbH4X70_WPiXKpoPcUdpu_jHfPj3W2tuqYkDBvWbqtzin1dzhdr0wkGfrvag3Bg/s320/IMG_3344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368367213190245074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ghana's (one of our Mongolian guides) family butchered a goat for his birthday. All parts of the goat (meat, bones, fat, gristle) were placed in a large metal jug with a lid (it was an old large milk jug). We built a fire with grass and dung (cow, goat, and sheep poo) and threw rocks into the fire. When the rocks were glowing hot, they were placed in the jug with the meat. Ghana topped it off with potatoes, carrots and onion, poured in some salt, and capped it off.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: Normally this traditional "Mongolian Barbeque" isn't cooked inside an old milk jug. Traditionally the goat is skinned and all holes are sewn closed. Then the meat, rocks and veggies and hot rocks are put inside the skin and it is sewn closed.<br /><br /></span>Just imagine. You have dirt covered meat that is butchered out under the sun sitting in a large jug with burnt dung covered rocks thrown in as a source of heat. Believe me when I say, IT WAS INCREDIBLE! The meat was tender, greasy and flavorful! On my second trip through the food line, Muntsog gave me a thigh bone with meat, tendons and cartlige still attached. I ate until the bone was bare and then scraped the bone with a knife as instructed by the Mongolian men (who promised that the bone shavings would bring me "strong childrens")<br /><br />Experiences like this make one realize how skewed our sense of life is at times. We expect the most sanitary conditions imaginable for food prep. We discard the bones as garbage when many cultures regard them as a delicacy. We feel we must be proper and "refined" at the dinner table. Here, the most important thing is enjoying good food with friends and family, and making sure each person has their fill.<br /><br />Look at these Mongolian people. Look at their rich and wonderful lives. Have we gone wrong somewhere? Should we take a step back and re-evaluate what is important? Should we appreciate the small things in life a little more? I say it again, "I think we have a lot to learn from these people"!<br />_________________________<br /><br />Quick recap of the day:<br /><ul><li>Set out after breakfast to look for fox. Found a mother with 2 cubs. It was neat to watch them play in the sun.</li></ul><ul><li>Some helped take down 2 gers as we prepped to leave camp. I joined the cooking team.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFGFmL7zyyqzpE9HFTyH4KSD3OFFNiGNmotq3-j92GvgYumx8mjk6igVU3QeXAGgUqwvOWiyXIXHbzaVQDdLz98298d2ETLwAED0_1JOq9SdMbmfOhjGlit2nbt8G1DRniKaLMD11GYk/s1600-h/IMG_3355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFGFmL7zyyqzpE9HFTyH4KSD3OFFNiGNmotq3-j92GvgYumx8mjk6igVU3QeXAGgUqwvOWiyXIXHbzaVQDdLz98298d2ETLwAED0_1JOq9SdMbmfOhjGlit2nbt8G1DRniKaLMD11GYk/s320/IMG_3355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368370953144826514" border="0" /></a></li></ul><ul><li>Crossed the Tuul River on our way to the new camp at Hustai National Park (where we are now). The Mitsubitsi got bogged down in the middle of the river. We all jumped in to push it out.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinygg3i5FpHv5PCt__oMHC7liv5M8HIHjJ8BpCCOj03GCJ7ngXB0H6qw1XhKgNQF34aPNiTOXJWYLfxnR1I6xZ9He4JV9bv4gQsunnxdzhgg-3QN94jSEsG7ATNh38mrt-iKUfv7JMjM/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+525.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinygg3i5FpHv5PCt__oMHC7liv5M8HIHjJ8BpCCOj03GCJ7ngXB0H6qw1XhKgNQF34aPNiTOXJWYLfxnR1I6xZ9He4JV9bv4gQsunnxdzhgg-3QN94jSEsG7ATNh38mrt-iKUfv7JMjM/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+525.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368371946611673618" border="0" /></a></li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li>First "Sherman" (Russian Van) runs out of gas. All 9 people are packed into two remaining vans and Jeep.</li><li>Second "Sherman" runs out of gas. With the (working) van up ahead we are forced to grab our gear and start "The Long Walk" (as we dubbed it) to Hustai Nat. Park.</li><li>On the 7 km walk we pass the third "Sherman" as it sits alongside the dirt road; out of gas. Passengers join the rest of the group on "The Long Walk".</li><li>After 6 km of walking we are picked up by refueled vans and are taken the remaining 1 km to camp.</li></ul><ul><li>Dinner (buffet), then lecture, and now it is present time. I sit here and write this!</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHUwDQLJLmWKITBUNIUq-UpXg5juc68AhqiAKLIkB_se_Chb3lv7yNv9tc244kvNPhHYcHIrMx1_605KR7zB2v99dAi0LvKqcZuQ7bX1dcuFNIwH-dhSZlTOMve4S5lNB7D2chMjpIwE/s1600-h/IMG_3359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHUwDQLJLmWKITBUNIUq-UpXg5juc68AhqiAKLIkB_se_Chb3lv7yNv9tc244kvNPhHYcHIrMx1_605KR7zB2v99dAi0LvKqcZuQ7bX1dcuFNIwH-dhSZlTOMve4S5lNB7D2chMjpIwE/s320/IMG_3359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368372436504599474" border="0" /></a><br />Goodnight!<br /><br />In Mongolian: харанхуй<br />(actually means: night)Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-75743805250082995552009-08-04T11:12:00.000-07:002009-08-10T06:24:44.388-07:00JUNE 17, 2009: WEDNESDAYCAT IN THE HAT<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNo5nXKSrEIEsPDgdH4tk0uoJXRAuNSU4o2_qeVS8nHSOD4strUjWcEwunjnorfFh80xlfGMPr0URV8cSKTrx5aeuMCknJxGkZTKRZgQWnrOB2g5olc1lXrfpWo7lYJFU57JFC2mhcmo/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+445.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNo5nXKSrEIEsPDgdH4tk0uoJXRAuNSU4o2_qeVS8nHSOD4strUjWcEwunjnorfFh80xlfGMPr0URV8cSKTrx5aeuMCknJxGkZTKRZgQWnrOB2g5olc1lXrfpWo7lYJFU57JFC2mhcmo/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+445.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366177597554101810" border="0" /></a><br />I had the most incredible morning I have had in some time. Only a handful of people IN THE WORLD have had the opportunity to see and do what I experienced this morning...<br /><br />We were broken into groups that would do several<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyyZI9q5nyfezByrL-SGxiSpwmzYwCc-9mNG8oejg93b2Yel4wxXAn3MVOZM4Zbe_qR0_tJbwyLxovnOsdtSVUv2AzDNgTf80JNN04ky3fLtyivJFSjBkd1Fb-CKYq9Yhp9qFhJY2gAY/s1600-h/IMG_3313.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyyZI9q5nyfezByrL-SGxiSpwmzYwCc-9mNG8oejg93b2Yel4wxXAn3MVOZM4Zbe_qR0_tJbwyLxovnOsdtSVUv2AzDNgTf80JNN04ky3fLtyivJFSjBkd1Fb-CKYq9Yhp9qFhJY2gAY/s320/IMG_3313.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366180167167424242" border="0" /></a> different adventures (like the ornithology from yesterday) Today our group was to take the radio telemetry unit and set out to find a collard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pallas_cat">Pallas's Cat</a> (click to learn more). To make a long story short, I spotted movement on an outcrop of rocks across from our glassing position. Telemetry said the cat should be in that direction. When we got to the outcrop, we found no cat. Then, our guide looked into one of the holes on the cliff side and quickly looked back at me with big eyes, "CAT!" he exclaimed under his breath.<br /><br />He decided to snare it out of the rocks with a stick and a loop (which he fashioned out of his shoe laces). He pulled the cat from its hiding spot, kicking, biting, clawing and hissing. The cat escaped with the shoelace neuce still around its neck and dove into a marmot hole. She was fished from the hole and the laces were removed before she escaped again. Apparently I watched too much "Baywatch" as a young man, because I tore after the cat down the mountain side and pulled my coat off as I ran (I call this the "David Hasselhoff Maneuver") and when I got near the cat, I dove on it with my coat!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiJMWTog7SDkiAnKjHIJj16ztDtSzojngiEeoqxO_58ioCyKJlz9xVXF6BJRIEOWw0L04DUmbOQDDtvjfMBXzqeOBSYgFTsNa4m66DeSsILozDey7SmyB2-MSZcWEeoUJJOHViGP7qLY/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+452.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiJMWTog7SDkiAnKjHIJj16ztDtSzojngiEeoqxO_58ioCyKJlz9xVXF6BJRIEOWw0L04DUmbOQDDtvjfMBXzqeOBSYgFTsNa4m66DeSsILozDey7SmyB2-MSZcWEeoUJJOHViGP7qLY/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+452.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366178100282108402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had hoped that she was a male cat so we could collect semen and place a radio collar on him, but she turned out to be female. So, we set her free one last time. If she could talk, I can only imagine what she would say!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3RMHLixcUPIqb8sBVd5VIqt8No3HurNgI0beJ7wLKAVB_iSdDRsJRFEhKTYF6kveRD031BCAkccaMurfkEltlz1a_vn6zAVEx1YJesrUK2WwRjSb0Qn5te2pQHQ0xfIrY9UxOMEKv84/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3RMHLixcUPIqb8sBVd5VIqt8No3HurNgI0beJ7wLKAVB_iSdDRsJRFEhKTYF6kveRD031BCAkccaMurfkEltlz1a_vn6zAVEx1YJesrUK2WwRjSb0Qn5te2pQHQ0xfIrY9UxOMEKv84/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366178462559732226" border="0" /></a><br />This event is significant to me for several reasons. First, this stroke of luck in finding then capturing this cat is something only a handful of people have ever done. Secondly, this was a hunt, of which there was no killing. It has been harder and harder for me to "pull-the-trigger" on animals while hunting back home. So, this "hunt" was fulfilling in so many ways. I will always treasure the memory of this morning's events.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkiKP9jpWS1_1lEpM1YgebqhHwbbvx4Bz1Pe_dA-epD7AiSRFyrAXnQEtPxEuxIhq55I9GU_m_cZJ3aG1RKluvqipL22diO2FxKDHmpWBrm-FFNbYKW2VWTifHBwZgxrTAooh_hQKELc/s1600-h/IMG_3205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkiKP9jpWS1_1lEpM1YgebqhHwbbvx4Bz1Pe_dA-epD7AiSRFyrAXnQEtPxEuxIhq55I9GU_m_cZJ3aG1RKluvqipL22diO2FxKDHmpWBrm-FFNbYKW2VWTifHBwZgxrTAooh_hQKELc/s320/IMG_3205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366181687582203058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: The day before we arrived at camp, the biologists found a den with a dead mother cat. The litter of 5 kittens were taken back to camp to be monitored and fed as they would not have survived on their own. The biologists were constantly trapping field mice and gerbils in small metal live traps called "Sherman Traps". At feeding time, they would shake the Sherman Traps enough to stun and slow down the mice so that kittens could catch them and eat. This is how the Russian vans got the nickname "Sherman's" because the occupants in the vans feel like the gerbils being shaken senseless in the traps!!!<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-57404725887175646722009-08-04T08:18:00.000-07:002009-08-07T06:14:49.545-07:00JUNE 16, 2009: TUESDAYORNITHOLOGY ON THE TUUL<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVCB_vB2BC1y6IeqkvGuYfwlqajR9zEE2sQzuGhrJolplXO0laQn2PAfTkM17OsUCP8jfkmh5XMMxJ7BcOcn84ClcvkNPUdv7oaC9itIDBwpsNiIuvRwvrt9L_HRKMS_PCgED4qkfgw0/s1600-h/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVCB_vB2BC1y6IeqkvGuYfwlqajR9zEE2sQzuGhrJolplXO0laQn2PAfTkM17OsUCP8jfkmh5XMMxJ7BcOcn84ClcvkNPUdv7oaC9itIDBwpsNiIuvRwvrt9L_HRKMS_PCgED4qkfgw0/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366157938750226642" border="0" /></a><br />Awoke at 4:30 am (this would be 6:30 pm in Montana) to meet the group for ornithology (bird study) on the Tuul River (finally that "bird watching" class I took for an easy A in college paid off!). The species count is below. It was nice to meander with the river and gaze at the birds I had never seen before.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Bird list (each bird has a hyperlink to a picture which I have painstakingly sought out for your viewing pleasure):<br /></span></span><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Falco_cherrug_%28Marek_Szczepanek%29.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Saker Falcon</span></a> 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dpASW6tvQoLB3PXMQJCEakyAOYmjjYUIFjGzmOoemNYdl5Z3c1H4TFT3-1I470HhF9wMTlWzyZ9uZIMEjEMFQ7w03XwkXUr-J9hGEifL_VlKuG14Yo9xRBuGsRKyuU1AKKjEQVRrZIU/s1600-h/IMG_3229.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dpASW6tvQoLB3PXMQJCEakyAOYmjjYUIFjGzmOoemNYdl5Z3c1H4TFT3-1I470HhF9wMTlWzyZ9uZIMEjEMFQ7w03XwkXUr-J9hGEifL_VlKuG14Yo9xRBuGsRKyuU1AKKjEQVRrZIU/s320/IMG_3229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366154291608463506" border="0" /></a></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Corvus_corax_%28NPS%29.jpg">Large-Billed Crow</a> 20+</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tree_Sparrow_Japan_Flip.jpg">Russet Sparrow</a> 2</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sroka_Pica_Pica_II.jpg">Magpie</a> 5</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Demoiselle_crane_anthropoides_virgo.jpg">Demoiselle Crane</a> 11</span></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gull-billed_Tern.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gull-Billed Tern</span></a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Larus_cachinnans_3_%28Marek_Szczepanek%29.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Gull</span></a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tarsiger_cyanurus.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Red Throated Flycatcher</span></a></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aegypius_monachus.jpg">Black Vulture</a> 5</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tadorna_tadorna_%28aka%29.jpg">Shelduck</a> (Duck)</span></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Milvus_migrans_front%28ThKraft%29.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Black Kite</span></a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tibet_2007_web-5.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;">Upland Buzzard</span></a></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />We got a real treat when we left the river. Muntsog (our "In-Country" partner and organizer) took us to a local family ger. There were 4 young girls, an infant boy (4 months, just like Rigley [more on that later]), a young boy and a teenage boy. This family lives an impressively minimalistic life on the land. Inside the ger there were 3 beds, 4 chests that were adorned with brightly painted symbols, a small stove in the middle and very few other belongings carefully placed about. How do they make this work? How does one ever get pregnant with all of your kids living in one "room" with you?</span><br /><br />The family were incredibly grac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKh4NHvVqarEypLBv5sCwxrasQSIP9apDM5Nhyphenhyphen_OqPFX-FyZ6BLPasvLdFOrCTm-bFflTNOKI0TPLdGz9hKXGu3J6e4FWcip4ywNOZ3qrRdPb7b0Ls1aqH8jIFf1MlEcTGpGO_hXhOXak/s1600-h/IMG_3262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKh4NHvVqarEypLBv5sCwxrasQSIP9apDM5Nhyphenhyphen_OqPFX-FyZ6BLPasvLdFOrCTm-bFflTNOKI0TPLdGz9hKXGu3J6e4FWcip4ywNOZ3qrRdPb7b0Ls1aqH8jIFf1MlEcTGpGO_hXhOXak/s320/IMG_3262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366155125521526466" border="0" /></a>ious hosts. They immediately invited us in. They found a place for us to sit. The wife immediately began pouring tea into bowls ("tea" is heated milk with salt). I gulped it down, not knowing what to expect. It was surprisingly tasty! She then took out a large bowl of aged milk curds, not cheese, just milk that is life out to build a crust. You then use a spoon to "cut" off some of the curds and liquid and slurp it down. This was not as good as the tea. I can only compare it to the sludge that forms in a jug of milk in your refrigerator that has sat around well past the expiration date.<br /><br />My perception of the Mongolian family is rapidly changing. I initially thought of them as poor subsistence farmer/ranchers. Now I begin to see that they are VERY similar to the farmer/rancher of America prior to "modernization". They are not poor "squatters" who have only one goat for milk, rather they are accomplished ranchers and herdsmen with expansive flocks! They not only use their animals to survive but they sell the cashmere goat hair in the large city, they sell the sheep's wool to the textile factories, they supply beef and milk to the rest of the population. These people are gracious, hard-working, passionate traditionalists, skilled and invaluable members of Mongolian society. I envy their connection with the land and their simplicity. I think we all could learn a little from them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPVMuBnqnkty5t9qHBjqptNRkrdJU_SWbccMrmYZ9yIkBzfESkau2X1OlzK9GI25E6nXSVSBgL8nvBvK5fAExCjM2yNc0dODT9Z5FiSeUlfDtWF2XmNZJTsSWATDI8AGAAFvszNDT7FQ/s1600-h/IMG_3281.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPVMuBnqnkty5t9qHBjqptNRkrdJU_SWbccMrmYZ9yIkBzfESkau2X1OlzK9GI25E6nXSVSBgL8nvBvK5fAExCjM2yNc0dODT9Z5FiSeUlfDtWF2XmNZJTsSWATDI8AGAAFvszNDT7FQ/s320/IMG_3281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366156748492733298" border="0" /></a><br />The sun quickly set on another day as we regrouped in the dining ger after an amazing Tahki chase! Here is what happened: We were working on some team building excercises when several men rode up to camp on motorcycles (they turned out to be Park Rangers from Hustai National Park). We were told that two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Przewalski%27s_Horse">Tahki</a> horses were in our area, which is several km from the protected are where they should have been. We set out in the vans to find the horses. Upon finding one of them, all of the motorcycles and vans raced across the valley to drive the Tahki back into the direction of the park. For me, this was a page taken right out of our antelope hunting trips: We rallied vehicles after speeding game, but there was not shooting in the end.<br /><br /><br /><br />Note: ...back to the 4 month old...<br />Things got a little emotional when I saw the families baby immediately I was thrust back to our home and thinking of my family. I held the baby and his noises, his weight, the softness of his fatty body nearly brought me to tears. In fact, it is hard for me to write this now. I miss Rigley, Christi and Danger. I know I will be with them soon, and I wouldn't trade this trip to Mongolia for anything, but I think of them often, and when I do a loving smirk falls on my face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wJlAZYVWwqOyDuEp1mqWDbYpaDUJ0EZGUtnjUF9FUfUgnnKDVWrhNjPOmhuqMEILtZegswa6SlopEitNcprAir3sMCwMGRKDmWWvRLuZ22VUA9psjw8r9MXngbPai2f3TzUQHG-DvQA/s1600-h/IMG_3267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wJlAZYVWwqOyDuEp1mqWDbYpaDUJ0EZGUtnjUF9FUfUgnnKDVWrhNjPOmhuqMEILtZegswa6SlopEitNcprAir3sMCwMGRKDmWWvRLuZ22VUA9psjw8r9MXngbPai2f3TzUQHG-DvQA/s320/IMG_3267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366155773922844498" border="0" /></a><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-9988418596288083292009-08-04T07:06:00.000-07:002009-08-06T06:29:33.225-07:00JUNE 15, 2009: MONDAY<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></div>STEPPING ON THE STEPPE<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steppe:</span> a climate region characterized as a grassland plain without trees. Just enough moisture to keep the region from being classified as a desert, but too little moisture for trees to grow. Some areas of the Mongolian steppe have pine trees and those areas as characterized as "forest steppe"; moisture is still relatively scarce but the temperatures tend to be cooler and altitude higher. Mongolia is famous for having a large continental 'steppe' region. A similar region exists in North America and stretches from Canada through Montana and Wyoming (and further south</span><span style="font-size:85%;">). We refer to this area as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Great_Plains.svg">The Great Plains</a>". This steppe is strikingly similar to the Mongolian Steppe.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Much of my journal is writings and notes about the projects we were studying. I will include some of this information if it seems interesting or fitting (or if I can read my handwriting). I will include these notes in a different font and letter size:<span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJokV01VTVOlSnVnsscyBFVjUzd2OutRIAreMClw4pW7RMih5UJHmoFumSN4hab_opFqTxsNoSRndmt4nlKjSBjyg4oyjXCrWMKBjQGfHmMkJN9kzv4OTb3ddxQNSRIdKlr5IPjzx2tKg/s1600-h/IMG_3198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJokV01VTVOlSnVnsscyBFVjUzd2OutRIAreMClw4pW7RMih5UJHmoFumSN4hab_opFqTxsNoSRndmt4nlKjSBjyg4oyjXCrWMKBjQGfHmMkJN9kzv4OTb3ddxQNSRIdKlr5IPjzx2tKg/s320/IMG_3198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366125229927389554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">From the mountain above the Pallas Cat Research site. The<br />white gers stand out against the short grass prairie (steppe).<br /></span></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Journal Notes:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We've been asked</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">to spread out across the landscape and ponder this place. So, because my ADD is (sometimes) uncontrollable, I chose to climb to the top of the nearest mountain to ponder. I ran into one problem. We had an hour to collect our thoughts, jot them down, then regroup for discussion. Because I spent so much time climbing, I only had 5 minutes to ponder...oops...but, here is what I came up with:<br />I wonder:<br />-How this place will look in 10,000 years?<br />-How much fauna (plant-life) is underfoot?<br />-What plants are grazers targeting?<br />(I know what you are thinking, "What kind of questions are these?". Well, that is what happens when you have trouble focusing and spend your time hiking...<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Journal:<br />Here I sit again, in the comfort of the ger, having filled our bellies with another fantastic Mongolian dinner.<br /><br />We have had another incredible day on the Mongolian Steppe. We started with breakfast, and headed off for inquiry in the Russian Vans. We spent the morning climbing around fighting the wind, and reflecting on our surroundings. I need to do this more at home; slow down and just appreciate the little things in nature like the ants crawling across the ground, the smell of edible plants...things like that.<br /><br />We grouped up to study one question about the 'steppe' we would like to answer. We chose to </span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz9LIVw3-pYbzVkmfcvJ31oCk9SCfKwdZUc4eGrYsDqQ3JlgNdb1eIrTI4vTfnD2N-Xm_bXmXfJYQs7_PkRTt-_1LtWqojoC7Zm_FnGxZjF80zVIqyGkGFbufAT7mdZvtgrbQA6hVNa8/s1600-h/IMG_3194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz9LIVw3-pYbzVkmfcvJ31oCk9SCfKwdZUc4eGrYsDqQ3JlgNdb1eIrTI4vTfnD2N-Xm_bXmXfJYQs7_PkRTt-_1LtWqojoC7Zm_FnGxZjF80zVIqyGkGFbufAT7mdZvtgrbQA6hVNa8/s320/IMG_3194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366127743122355314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >compare the density of sage plants (an incredibly fragrant plant that blankets the overgrazed areas of the landscape) as elevation increases. Our findings are basically inconclusive, but the point was the process and we had fun!<br /><br />When we'd finished, we climbed the mountain overlooking camp with our Mongolian guides and they took us to a few ancient petroglyths etched on rocks. There were Ibex and Tahki. What a cool thing to see!<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh3pzopVb13WFZYgXcTACrZeo6EnTLEPsdr1BD5QYjRX01Im9lfdzY1pEzZ1hVyjN_VV-4kRjnLu4ctk0ZqdgVyCnhlAVH07jBK9XADQEs_uW-I7rAOB97HlwBpW8L8jvj_JNRuljd-s/s1600-h/Katie_Mongolia_China+339.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh3pzopVb13WFZYgXcTACrZeo6EnTLEPsdr1BD5QYjRX01Im9lfdzY1pEzZ1hVyjN_VV-4kRjnLu4ctk0ZqdgVyCnhlAVH07jBK9XADQEs_uW-I7rAOB97HlwBpW8L8jvj_JNRuljd-s/s320/Katie_Mongolia_China+339.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366126683332247442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Mongolia Earth Expeditions team with ancient petroglyths.<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Notice the etchings of Red Deer, Ibex, and Tahki</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />We had dinner and speakers and then bed.<br /><br />ANOTHER INCREDIBLE DAY ON THE STEPPE!<br /><br /></span></span></span>баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарай<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-32777363682261955232009-07-31T13:27:00.000-07:002009-08-05T06:54:53.372-07:00JUNE 14, 2009: SUNDAY<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8nG8mRIl_IIKZiWcYBx5CKsHvpPybQtgJqnHffvlJ-VBhO2IhXUabye-l3jcGXa9bQLKk_E1nTVXfApc2UBGr6Dj15CueFti1J2tEGjwVZBhILUIyJLIkn8bGOTC_PSuDFHLK3QWaaU/s1600-h/IMG_3173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8nG8mRIl_IIKZiWcYBx5CKsHvpPybQtgJqnHffvlJ-VBhO2IhXUabye-l3jcGXa9bQLKk_E1nTVXfApc2UBGr6Dj15CueFti1J2tEGjwVZBhILUIyJLIkn8bGOTC_PSuDFHLK3QWaaU/s320/IMG_3173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364728115172839714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Russian Vans (aka "Sherman's")</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our main mode of transportation for the next few weeks.</span></span><br /></div><br />THIS PLACE IS SO FAMILIAR AND YET IT IS SO FOREIGN.<br /><br />We met the group at Chenggis Khan Airport and set off in our Russian vans. The city stretched on for quite some time but slowly gave way to short grass hills with the occasional ger. We traveled about 100 km across rough dusty roads until we made it to our camp at the Pallas Cat Research Station. The camp is little more than 7 gers and a handful of tents for bathroom and shower use. There are a dozen native Mongolians who will provide services like cooking, guiding and transportation.<br /><br />As I write this overlooking camp from a small hill, I find myself wondering about things; Things that seem familiar and others that seem so unfamiliar.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9bBQZyZqy4-nTSDddr3jVee_0V0raUpVPvTPIjjkynkK9GNLbfO6eo_uSl6BRWCSycwWXNMaUhAVautCLD-WCiYZp9en18HQOyJgm-1_EaG7r43P3jvJe0aPT26rQKlolzaHBYXEIf0/s1600-h/IMG_3180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9bBQZyZqy4-nTSDddr3jVee_0V0raUpVPvTPIjjkynkK9GNLbfO6eo_uSl6BRWCSycwWXNMaUhAVautCLD-WCiYZp9en18HQOyJgm-1_EaG7r43P3jvJe0aPT26rQKlolzaHBYXEIf0/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364728593039580290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Overlooking camp</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Much of the landscape reminds me of Montana. The areas of large hills and vast open range. I can see from probably 20 miles to the West and 5 miles to the East. From this spot I can see 60+ horses in two groups. Two dozen head of cattle in the bottoms below me and three ger way off in the distance. The sound of the horses sounds familiar but the lack of fences holding them in does not. The lay of the land looks familiar, but the lack of roads, or structures, or plowed under fields does not. The sky may as well be plucked from a Montana postcard, but the absence of contrails from airplanes is strikingly different. The rush of the breeze is like the warm Montana Chinooks, but the pungent sage smell here is unlike that of home.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">I am relaxed here...</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv_RA5GHB4a1hNRSi3S2LA4f3_SJhqygMM8cThOimKjIBCZHbg9wKh4FhoPJ5LTxMonq-yFf7dg5CZ9EmEIummizFCAwVDXNN-AaRQp8_bKRRP0c8sS8TM3qft3AXpdyRhUEXaEyT9s8/s1600-h/IMG_3177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguv_RA5GHB4a1hNRSi3S2LA4f3_SJhqygMM8cThOimKjIBCZHbg9wKh4FhoPJ5LTxMonq-yFf7dg5CZ9EmEIummizFCAwVDXNN-AaRQp8_bKRRP0c8sS8TM3qft3AXpdyRhUEXaEyT9s8/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364729085331925506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The "Ger" is the traditional Mongolian dwelling.<br />This is "The Man-ger" and my "Man-ger-mates"</span><br /></span></div><br />I have yet to get my bearings, which, for some unknown reason, is important to me. I like to orient myself to a place so I know North from South and East from West. I guess it is the Boyscout in me. I could use my GPS, but it is down at camp. So, instead, I have gone back to basics and build a "sun dial compass" with a stick and rocks.<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-38311905804742505862009-07-30T13:07:00.000-07:002009-08-04T06:15:16.841-07:00JUNE 12, 2009: FRIDAY<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu43xC2uAoErAQUjIQ3njTbI2DLEcFupF-f2xlJbcayMZQqXziGAfUt7vGs1ea4dKkEW_LSgQ2u-eJLUxIRfHDPRw90hcr7iDZTuJHkv0IMbBPL8XtRPUXyKNMdn52rw1MsHBnuIBnY0/s1600-h/IMG_3489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBu43xC2uAoErAQUjIQ3njTbI2DLEcFupF-f2xlJbcayMZQqXziGAfUt7vGs1ea4dKkEW_LSgQ2u-eJLUxIRfHDPRw90hcr7iDZTuJHkv0IMbBPL8XtRPUXyKNMdn52rw1MsHBnuIBnY0/s320/IMG_3489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364352355375388786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Michelle Hotel; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia</span><br /></span></div><br />FLIGHT DETAILS:<br /><br />7:00 am: Billings to Helena<br />8:30 am: Helena to Seattle<br />-5 hour layover-<br />2:40 pm: Seattle to Seoul, South Korea<br />-arrive 5:50 pm and add one day (it is now Saturday NIGHT)-<br />8:10 pm: (Saturday) Seoul to Ulaanbaator, Mongolia<br />10:50 pm: Arrive at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br /><br />Totals:<ul><li>In air: 17 hours 29 minutes</li><li>With connections: 25 hours 40 minutes</li><li>Total distance: 7,085 miles</li><li>Cost: $2,202</li></ul>All flights went well and all connections were successfully made!<br /><br />I have to comment on the Korean Air flight from Seattle to Seoul. The Boeing 777 was probably the nicest plane I have ever had the pleasure to fly on! In our seats, upon boarding, we found a package with: pillow, blanket, bottle of water AND toothbrush w/toothpaste and a new pair of warm socks! The meals were equally impressive. Lunch: A Korean dish w/rice, seaweed salad, seasoned meat, tea, fruit platter, etc! Dinner was nearly as good (looking)! but I couldn't eat it because it was covered with eggs. Also, a number of times the flight attendance brought around hot rolls with sweet seasoned meat inside...they were yummy! They often brought hot towels too for freshening up on the 11 1/2 hour flight. Each seat had its own TV w/an endless list of movies!<br /><br /><br />Met up with Nancy and Mollye in Seoul and then UB (Ulaanbaatar). We made our way safely to the Michelle Hotel with "Jimmy" (a Korean native who manages the hotel; nice guy, scary driver) picking us up at the airport.<br /><br />I am elated to be in UB, Mongolia, a place I never would have imagined visiting, and I am ready to continue the adventure with the Earth Expeditions team tomorrow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JLwQfUXGYj0twQ7XWGij9XGhFTbrwMe9jNZrWgPwW6pfWRtghpkzF51VxNvR31yCRLK1yQRLy45rcqIj-alMWBGyXpoGyl88gj5Vzw7DJ4KP8qqUxArcOonIVzi94wEo_aT0R8b54vc/s1600-h/IMG_3168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JLwQfUXGYj0twQ7XWGij9XGhFTbrwMe9jNZrWgPwW6pfWRtghpkzF51VxNvR31yCRLK1yQRLy45rcqIj-alMWBGyXpoGyl88gj5Vzw7DJ4KP8qqUxArcOonIVzi94wEo_aT0R8b54vc/s320/IMG_3168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364351789886012178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >My room at the Michelle Hotel</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Note: The Michelle Hotel is awkward by American hotel standards. At $49/night, I imagine it to be a classier hotel them most here but there must be more luxurious ones in this city of 1 million (you can stay other places for as little as $3/night!). The structure reminds me of cold war Russian architecture, with stucco and concrete, partially painted white. The interior is curiously colored with many different wallpaper patterns and at some point all of the (probably incandescent) light bulbs have been removed from the chandeliers and fixtures and florescent bulbs have been inserted. However, if it was a 6 bulb fixture, only one bulb now exists in each leaving many empty sockets scattered throughout. (Even the Mongolians are doing their part to help global warming ;) The place has a sticky smell of old and new cigarette smoke that hangs about. There is a bustle outside but it seems to be a calmer bustle and I expected for this large a city. The people (so far) are very friendly and seem grateful to have us in their country.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiGlF7mRY7RWqacNjjWmeCfll9kSIMsB9t8CyYf1cAS1oIjFIMUuTjGbXbSWcaiCGbm9jbyy7dznx2jZvq5xRworFoz__riJ_UUCG8B3CUJ1zcv0RBvgC3AMpnunuNA1bX2hKX6PF9FQ/s1600-h/IMG_3169.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiGlF7mRY7RWqacNjjWmeCfll9kSIMsB9t8CyYf1cAS1oIjFIMUuTjGbXbSWcaiCGbm9jbyy7dznx2jZvq5xRworFoz__riJ_UUCG8B3CUJ1zcv0RBvgC3AMpnunuNA1bX2hKX6PF9FQ/s320/IMG_3169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364397980380675970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jimmy put me up in the Royal Suite!<br />I think it might have been the $5 tip!</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-38626113436250698492009-07-30T12:55:00.000-07:002009-08-03T06:47:28.026-07:00JUNE 11, 2009: THURSDAY<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPsunVCPx61iyAhm8JAQg83vaD1wvAROQ38mREiyXgFAuoZrWpBkCIVeHayVnopp9g8BgGvXAl7NAt9vf1vKyIoOicYAh6WCH7d_SyWwmJGaQn_9X4q3K9SzX3T4EARwcIt0nYGoH3iw/s1600-h/IMG_3171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPsunVCPx61iyAhm8JAQg83vaD1wvAROQ38mREiyXgFAuoZrWpBkCIVeHayVnopp9g8BgGvXAl7NAt9vf1vKyIoOicYAh6WCH7d_SyWwmJGaQn_9X4q3K9SzX3T4EARwcIt0nYGoH3iw/s320/IMG_3171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364399159630374962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Chinggis Khaan Airport;<br />Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia<br /><br />We know him as Ghengis Khan, but this<br />famous Mongolian Khan's (King) name is actually "Chinggis"</span><br /></div><br />CHECK AND RECHECK<br /><br />Tomorrow morning is leaving time. I've checked my bags and rechecked my bags.<br /><br />All looks good.<br /><br />I get a bit nervous to travel on my own. Not that I am scared, or afraid of flying or anything like that. I get nervous because of my less-than-stellar track record!<br /><br />In the past I have:<br /><ul><li>Missed a flight altogether. <span style="font-style: italic;">I didn't even show up to the airport until AFTER the plane departed.</span></li><li>Left all ID and Credit Cards at home before (attempting) to depart on an international flight!</li></ul>OOPS!<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарайCraig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-79120719078571274582009-07-30T12:44:00.000-07:002009-08-02T20:23:41.027-07:00JUNE 10, 2009: WEDNESDAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1jfHvzogy9ROQ_meg5JWT0XhLeEMyyLPeeKet-JfCMklSBdPiVhranTD94XV_7xlfJMZVSC4tpy_8C5Q6Cf3g-qVgP7MFgSslDcchMnA_Lb14m3kIWPk9wqFj1S94CPipyx_nom_WoM/s1600-h/IMG_3062(2).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1jfHvzogy9ROQ_meg5JWT0XhLeEMyyLPeeKet-JfCMklSBdPiVhranTD94XV_7xlfJMZVSC4tpy_8C5Q6Cf3g-qVgP7MFgSslDcchMnA_Lb14m3kIWPk9wqFj1S94CPipyx_nom_WoM/s320/IMG_3062(2).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364732239127164130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />THOSE WE LEAVE BEHIND<br /><br />17 days seems a pretty insignificant amount of time to be away from home. But, in reality it is definitely NOT insignificant. Rigley is 4 months old and while she won't know I am gone, Christi will bear the burden of 'round the clock feeding and changing. Christi sacrifices more than anyone else when I leave home. Thank God she is loving and forgiving!<br /><br />Danger sank into a deep doggy depression last summer. We are afraid he will do the same.<br /><br />Dange and Rigley will stay with "Ice" (the babysitter) during the days and at Grandma and Grandpa Beals at night.<br /><br />I will miss them all and think about them often. Christi got a Garnet ring for mothers day (it is a bright red stone). I told her that I had it replaced with a (clear) diamond but that the diamond had "special" powers: Whenever I am thinking of her, the stone will glow red...<br /><br />She replied, "It is always red..." I agreed and said, "Hmm, I must be thinking of you all the time!"<br /><br />She smiled when she finally figured out what I was talking about, and rolled her eyes a little bit too...<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарай<br />(Mongolian: "Goodbye" pronounced: <span style="font-style: italic;">bayartai</span>)Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-14479798548784111142009-07-30T12:28:00.001-07:002009-08-01T10:47:35.817-07:00JUNE 9, 2009: TUESDAY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqwROBcSjjnTO3ITZlkTCr8P_vG1N_1dAzvU1IBLdSUDWWYvciUSxH18FzuJ960ANqBIASdj01nPBgEL6-BwJrDz3jRBcHHC_TnQM5FH2NkaY_9ZefpcLya4KPIuw_3eSBV66WJ47HEc/s1600-h/IMG_3498.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqwROBcSjjnTO3ITZlkTCr8P_vG1N_1dAzvU1IBLdSUDWWYvciUSxH18FzuJ960ANqBIASdj01nPBgEL6-BwJrDz3jRBcHHC_TnQM5FH2NkaY_9ZefpcLya4KPIuw_3eSBV66WJ47HEc/s320/IMG_3498.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364340006119240498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />PREPPING TO GO<br /><br />I tried; I tried as hard as I could to make a packing list that would allow me to only bring a carry-on and not check any luggage. I even reduced down to 2 pairs of undies. But, with a sleeping bag, it proved to be too much and now I'll have to check my backpack at the airport. I wonder if I will ever see it again!<br /><br />I only had to purchase a few necessities for this trip, although Christi might say I purchased WAY TOO MUCH!<br /><ul><li>iPod Asia power converter/charger: 'Check'</li><li>Dr. Bronners Biodegradable Soap: 'Check' (Gotta stay clean when you only have 2 pairs of undies...)</li><li>Rubik's Cube: 'Check' (Hey! When you have two 25 hour flights, you might as well learn how to solve a Rubik's!)</li><li>Convertible Pants: 'Check' (It's like two of the best things zipped together in one! Pants AND Shorts...you decide, it is only two 'zips' away!!!)</li><li>Immodium and Gas-X: 'Check and Check' (Boiled lambs leg and fermented goats milk?! Gotta be prepared!)</li></ul>It's hard to say what I've forgotten. Guess I'll know soon enough!<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарай<br />(Mongolian: "Goodbye" pronounced: <span style="font-style: italic;">bayartai</span>)Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-47373163134155781012009-07-30T12:04:00.000-07:002009-08-02T14:12:00.370-07:00JUNE 8, 2009 MONDAY<span style="font-style: italic;">note: When I wrote these journal entries, I didn't plan on making them "public", they were a requirement for the course and they were a way for me to reflect on my experiences. So, some may seem odd...but...here they are anyway!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMrR_dKsnnw6_pp1XRSqvdzYaYpEvDvFXV5OpbvfLu84xzN8GR_IiqhKNN6o-YL7Bc9zaexo3xIfKlJdn9K7G7t4KyEvKejNUjMlRWqfEUTW6zlzYHD70gsXk0B99S2Zc30KybPNd2WQ/s1600-h/IMG_3192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyMrR_dKsnnw6_pp1XRSqvdzYaYpEvDvFXV5OpbvfLu84xzN8GR_IiqhKNN6o-YL7Bc9zaexo3xIfKlJdn9K7G7t4KyEvKejNUjMlRWqfEUTW6zlzYHD70gsXk0B99S2Zc30KybPNd2WQ/s320/IMG_3192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364336206373511426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />HOW DID I GET HERE?<br /><br />I often wonder how I manage to get myself involved in the things I do. Last summer I ended up in Greenland and spent 6 weeks at the "Summit" of the ice sheet, helping a team do atmospheric research. This summer I am off to Mongolia!<br /><br />To reflect on how this (Mongolian) adventure came to be, I have to go back to the training I went through for the Expedition to Greenland.<br /><br />Cameo Slaybaugh, another teacher who was a part of PolarTREC (the organization that sent me to Greenland) had talked about this opportunity she had fallen into that takes teachers to far off places to experience the wonders of the world. The organization was Earth Expeditions. Fast forward to one year later and I recieved an email from Cameo telling me all about her Earth Expeditions trip to Africa. I looked up the website and found that EE was offering a Masters Degree program.<br /><br />I applied. I waited...anxiously. I doubted...and...I waited.<br /><br />When I got the acceptance letter I nearly collapsed! I had doubted myself into accepting denial from the program, but, alas, I was in! AND, THEY WERE SENDING ME TO MONGOLIA!!!<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарай<br />(Mongolian: "Goodbye" pronounced: <span style="font-style: italic;">bayartai</span>)Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4495024039292716627.post-64906451561550207512009-07-30T08:55:00.000-07:002009-07-30T09:17:35.916-07:00Mongolia Expedition 2009 DisclamerI am a glutton for punishment (if you didn't already know), so after several requests for stories about Mongolia, I have decided to do a daily blog "re-write" of the journal I kept while traveling across the great wilderness of Mongolia.<br /><br />Here is what I will do. I will transcribe what I wrote and add a few pictures to enhance the effect ;) I will post one daily (much like I did while in Greenland) and we will all pretend that I am sending these from the Steppe of Mongolia.<br /><br />As you can see in the picture, much of this will be typed with one of my hands and one of Rigley's toes. So, please forgive me for the poor writing...<br /><br />баяртай, сайн сууж байгаарай<br />(Mongolian: "Goodbye" pronounced: <span style="font-style: italic;">bayartai</span>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IuqSyY3SXuQMiT-6RO_8H3YMerJDy6sFl2arLOLLvmChTb3QUJQ8V5_U3-nG30d3Bp_vhdBc2baHXrL580w6_cIgFxhkAXhMsnmgdLQGtZJvwgelAiK6X2L54oP8cDUiQmgjiQnCJe4/s1600-h/Photo+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IuqSyY3SXuQMiT-6RO_8H3YMerJDy6sFl2arLOLLvmChTb3QUJQ8V5_U3-nG30d3Bp_vhdBc2baHXrL580w6_cIgFxhkAXhMsnmgdLQGtZJvwgelAiK6X2L54oP8cDUiQmgjiQnCJe4/s320/Photo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364287997505305586" border="0" /></a>Craig Bealshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18249390363160675323noreply@blogger.com1