Security

I just got to my office after running into school from my house. Whenever I undertake this kind of task, I like to wear as much gear as possible. This means today carrying my new Droid-based GPS, ski poles, and a Ortlieb waterproof messenger bag for my work clothes. The humidity outside is 100% and I have been pretty inactive for the last year so I was sweating profusely as upon arriving, I walked by the security gate looking at my ziploc covered GPS and uploading my path to Google Maps. The security guard starting calling “Hey buddy – you a student here?” . I just kept walking because I was looking at my phone and it did not register that he could be talking to me. As I walked by, he came charging out of his house yelling the hey buddy thing louder and more Jersey like. I realized that he was talking to me evenutally, and I turned around and said – “No I’m not a student – I’m a professor”.

It is really indescribable how much joy that gave me.

Trail Map

Baby Talk

Sarah is starting to really try and express herself.  Not sure if the head nodding and general agreement is intentional, but it sure is amusing.

Back at it

After returning from Mongolia, I have been busy, new job, new baby, and 2 years of teaching at Quinnipiac down.  I am now back.

Today, I went for a rollerski for the first time in at least five years.  Overall, my elbow is a bit sore solely due to exertion but no crashes, which is a good thing.  I really enjoyed using my new Droid Incredible as a GP.  Using the google map application, I was able to review my progress when I got home.  There is a map that relates elevation to velocity which was able to show me that I spent about a quarter of my time standing on the side of hills trying not to puke.

In general people really seem indifferent to me on the skiis, which is good. This is really a huge change from Madison, Marquette, or Boulder where people would  stop to watch and make comments (usually curious).   I think that in general, I will try to elicit more comments from the great citizens of Connecticut by wearing progressively shorter shorts over the course of the summer.  If people still fail to take notice, I may have to use shock and awe in the form of the Mongolian wrestling outfit or a well-placed sock.

Here is a link to my route:

Trail Map

Ger Trip

I spent last Saturday and Sunday on a trip into a Mongolian National Park about 2.5 hours by bus and 1 hour by car from UB. We first took a bus from a place close to my apartment, armed with 5 pounds of beef, 6 liters of water, and salami. The bus was very full, and we had to stand through the smell of metabolizing alcohol and very cramped quarters. I asked how long it was going to be until we got to our destination and was informed that there was no destination – we would simply get off the bus when we saw somewhere we liked. Unfortunately, we had no sleeping bags or tents, so this prospect worried me a bit.

After about 1/2 hour riding the bus through the park, we decided to disembark. As the bus pulled away, I began to realize how isolated we were. It was only the five of us, and two drunk men, who offered to carry our bags in return for beer. The proposal sounded good to me, since we were carrying all of our supplies in plastic grocery bags. In the distance, to the West, at the base of some mountains were some gers (Yurts). We started walking. Every couple of hundred feet we had to stop, since the grocery bags were awkward and hurt our hands. It began to get dark. Soon, another person meet us, who was walking East. He wore nice new Reebok tennis shoes and was dressed in nice Khaki pants and shirt. He carried a large folder, from which he produced many paintings. Of course, this is to be expected on some level, since the tourist industry is very important in Mongolia, and most enterprising people will attempt to capitalize on the opportunity to make some money. Therefore, I made sure to not make eye contact, or even to really look at the pictures, since I really was in no mood to carry anything else, let alone be sold anything. Eventually, we arrived at a small store, which had gas for our stove, chocolate, and Coke. The people at the store we all dressed up in traditional Mongolian gear, and found us city-people very amusing, carrying groceries for miles through the country side. I, however, found them more amusing, since there were five of them holding up a full size satellite dish in order to watch a soccer match on a 5 inch television.

As I sat eating and drinking, a man and boy came by with a camel. It was my first camel sighting.

The gers were just a bit ahead, so we decided to finish our hike. When we arrived at the gers, we found out that they were full. Didn’t we know that it was the weekend? The artist again showed up, this time in a Land Cruiser. He told us that a friend of his had an extra ger – would we like to stay there. We were a bit hesitant to get in the Truck, but decided that the risk was much better than staying outside all night. We got in, and he drove us to his friend’s ‘property’ actually a small community of farmers squatting on the National Park land. As we drove up, a pack of dogs followed the car and barked at us, but this was not the only thing on my mind – of greater threat was the animal shit (sorry) everywhere. It was on the road, it covered the fields, it was piled in clumps and flattened on roofs, there was fresh shit and old shit, big shit and small shit. Fences made of shit. It was amazing.

We got out of the Cruiser and met the family we would be staying with. Well, kind of met them. I clearly do not speak Mongolian, and since Byamba and Aza (spelling?) both did, I really did not interact socially much at all. We climbed the fence to enter the small farm property, and were greeted by unchained bulls, who decided we were very interesting. I decided it was best to enter the ger as soon as possible, since their horns looked pretty sharp. Carefully making my way over and around the shit, I entered the ger. It was really beautiful inside, and had a small stove in the middle, used to heat and cook with. We left the door open since it was pretty warm outside. I made a comment that the bulls were going to get us, and invade the ger. The Mongolians laughed at me – until one very curious bull stuck his head inside. (Please see picture row 3 column 3). After becoming adjusted, Aza took a volleyball out of her backpack and we made our way to the farm field to play. It was hilarious, the five of us, with a farmer and an artist hitting a volleyball back and forth with no net, in a field covered in shit, on a mountainside. Whenever, someone missed the ball, they had to run down the hill, chasing it, all the while being aware of the shit. Eventually, the ball became too dirty, and I convinced everyone to play soccer. We made goal posts out of – well you get the idea. It was a very good time. It became dark and the full moon began to rise in the East. We headed back to the ger.

Of course, now we were all sitting in a ger, with none of the traditional distractions, except for Byamba, who decided that she needed to make a movie of the experience. I decided that the best course of action was to go for a walk and explore the mountains under a full moon. I again left the ger.

During the soccer game, I was formally introduced to the artist – named Batjargal. He was a very good guy and I understood that he and the people we were staying with were decent people as well. So, when I left the ger and Batjargal informed me that we would be eaten by dogs if we left the confines of the farm to go for a hike I tended to believe him. He offered an alternative – a tour of the area in his truck. We jumped at the chance, and so did 6 other people I had not met. We all packed into the truck for our grand tour – and then stopped about 200 yards later to see the silhouette of ‘sleeping lady’ mountain. It was very funny, since we could not see much since it was so dark out. Next we went to camel rock, which again had the same hilarious effect.

Eventually, we came to some woods where Batjargal ordered us out of the Land Cruiser. He told us we were going to walk to an old Buddhist temple. As we made our way through the trees under the full moon, I was reminded of climbing Long’s with my father and brothers. There is nothing like being in the mountains at night. Soon, however, my mind stopped wandering. In front of me was a long suspension bridge over a 200 foot ravine. Ever since I was a kid, I have always wanted to go over one of these – but it was night, and the people I was with were all drinking, and the nearest quality hospital was in South Korea….. I was informed that the journey to the temple was like a quest.. a path to enlightenment. Now that sounded like fun! So I crossed the bridge, holding onto the metal wires on either side of me. As more and more of us got on the bridge it began to sway – I envisioned the wood below me breaking and me falling in the crack, only to grab the bridge at the last second and be pulled up. Thankfully, however, real life is not like the movies. Finally, I crossed, and after the remaining people made it, I decided to do it again. It was actually fun.

Next, we walked by a huge open air building on the side of the mountain, where the monks come to meditate-preferably in the summer. The temple was next, but there was one more obstacle, 109 steps up the side of the mountain. We were informed that during the climb up the steps we were supposed to say a mantra. So, as I climbed the stairs I said a mantra, thinking that if I am going to a Buddhist temple on the side of a mountain, under a full moon, in the middle of Mongolia I might as well do it right. Clearly, everyone else was thinking it is Saturday night, we have beer, cigarettes, and new friends lets party. I gave up on the Mantra. The temple was interesting – it was locked so we could not go in, but from the temple about halfway up the mountain, I could see the valley, the full moon, and finally, other mountains surrounding us. Eventually, we headed back to the gers.

Once in the gers, without any games to play we soon went to bed. The fire, however, refused to burn for more than 30 minutes and the blankets were only large enough to reach my nipples. I laid down for the first time on my bed. It was just long enough to force me to lay in the fetal position, and the 2X4′s serving as a box spring were spaced just far enough apart to fit my shoulder blades in. I tried to sleep. Everytime I felt like I was getting close, a goat, sheep, or cow would decide to make a noise, and I would wake up again. This went on for hours. Then it was morning.

We were ready for breakfast! Fresh eggs, coffee – that would have been great. But all we had was salami and traditional Mongolian milk tea. The milk tea sounded good – fresh from the cow. That should fill me up and the tea will give me some energy. My dreams were dashed with my first taste, it was salty and tasted like candle stick salad. I passed on finishing my cup but was rewarded with a very unsettled stomach for the rest of the day.

We then decided to climb a neighboring peak that looked like it had a mushroom on the top of it. It was pretty scary, as my leather soled dress shoes (yes – I only brought dress shoes to Mongolia, and no, I cannot buy shoes my size in the stores here) were very slippery. We made it most of the way up – looked over the edge at the next valley and headed down, and were rewarded with an authentic Mongolian barbecue served in a ger by Aza. It was absolutely delicious.

I am now getting bored of this story as I am sure you are as well. For now, enjoy the pictures and the video. Oh yeah, I bought some pictures from the artist and he offered to take me fly fishing in the future. Check out his photo with one of the paintings.

The Arnold

UB Construction

For my brother Jim, who requested pictures of cranes.

More Food Pictures

I realize that I just posted fish balls – but this may be even less appetizing

For Foss

A good place to buy yak chaps?

Dinner

Curry fish balls in rice for dinner.

Many jokes about how they tasted…

New Apartment

Very nice, new place I am living

Rollerblading

Cheap Chinese rollerblades – $25.

Plastic wheels made me feel like I was on ice with dull blades.

Buryat Dance

Saturday, I went roller blading in the square, and saw these Buryats doing a traditional dance.

Hope you enjoy.

Kite Flying

Here are some pictures of Miles flying his kite boarding training kit in Sukbaatar square

Traffic

Stoplights are not obeyed here.

The only way to cross the street is during a traffic jam.

Here is a video of the chaos.

Mongol Rally

On my way back to the hotel today, I decided to do some sightseeing – since I am getting braver.

Here is a picture of the winning Mongolian rally cars

Miles

Miles came to town today.

He seems to know everyone.

I will post some pictures of crazy Mongolian drivers tomorrow.

Tughrik (Mongolian Money)

Best Wishes from Quinnipiac

A future colleague – will remain anonymous

Have a great time in Mongolia and please don't wreck the country.

My first day of work

My first day of work consisted of a visit to the office, finding that I could log on to somebody’s wireless connection for free, looking at apartments, shopping for a very very large whiteboard, and if you can believe it …. picking up my luggage from the airport.

My meeting at the Ministry of Finance was delayed until Wednesday.

I now will have fresh coffee, underware, and socks. As Nam would say “AMAZING”.

Here is a slideshow of Ulan Bator and my office

Here is a movie of Sukhbaatar Square.

Statue of Lenin

I went for a short walk yesterday in the square outside of the Hotel. It was under the statue of Lenin.

Everybody was staring at me, and I could not understand since most people here really do not look twice at me.

I found out this morning that is where all the hookers and pimps hang out.

Woops.

Mongolian Wrestling

I am finally getting over the Jet Lag, and do not start working until tomorrow. So what to do?

Watch TV!

The following video is a short excerpt of a 20 minute long pre-fight song and dance that was on the television. Great stuff. If anyone would prefer one of these outfits to any other previously requested gifts, please let me know.

Some actual wrestling video is linked below

Ulan Bator

I am staying in the UB Hotel.

It is nice, especially since I have internet access.

Here is a photo of the Hotel ….

And a video showing the entrance

Layover in Beijing

Hello,

I arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia yesterday.

My luggage is somewhere in Beijing, and supposedly will get here Monday.

I stayed at hotel near Tiananmen Square during a layover in Beijing.

I was very excited to take some pictures of the square but the smog was too bad, so all I have is this smoggy video from the airport.

The highlight of my stop was the cab ride to the Hotel. I took a non-licensed and shady cab (stupid but I am still alive and here) driven by a tough Chinese kid. He was listening to some sort of Euro-Techno music. He did not know English, which is good since the only words to one of the songs he was playing were:

“I am Gay, I am Gay”

I thought this was very funny.

Here is a smoggy Beijing airport.