i know it's hard to believe...but mongolians do not eat marshmellows...AB and i couldn't find them anywhere! last wednesday, we made our way to Tsetserleg for 4 days of camping...so ofcourse, marshmellows were critical...i think we went into every minimarket in the country looking for anything resembling smore ingredients...but, our efforts were not completely wasted...we did manage to find peanut butter (truly an answered prayer)...AB and i survived on PB&J...it was great...
anyway, i'll tell you a little about the trip...10 of us decided to go camping (me, AB, Tony from L.A., Alex and Mikey from Canada, Gerrath from D.C., Emma from Holland, Kier from London, Aaron from Seoul, and Stephanie from Seattle)...in order to get to destination, we had to hire a minibus that basically drove across the desert for 10 hours...yes, 10 hours with 13 people in a bus built to hold only 10 (our driver brought some friends)...pain...so painful...keep in mind there are no roads...so you feel every single change in the landscape...i mean, every little bump...i have a permanent bruise from where my shoulder kept slamming into the window...somehow, and i really dont know how, we made it to Tsetserleg...it truly was amazing...one minute we were just driving through nothing, and then all of a sudden we got on a paved road and drove through this little archway into town...weird...we found a beautiful camp site right across the valley from a ger (a real one)...we set up our tents, started a fire and then froze...the temperature is crazy here...i know i've mentioned it before but you just don't understand...i knew it would be cold...its always cold when you go camping...but, this was unreal...and some of the guys with us didn't bring sleeping bags...they didn't really sleep at all...i managed to get a few hours the first night...on Thursday, we woke up to a magnificent day...the air is so clean there (kinda low on oxygen, but clean)...i sat for a while and journaled while watching the nomads work their cattle...God is so good...it was beyond perfect...then we all went hiking! we climbed a mountain and took some pictures...we made it back to our campsite by about 12:30 and then this huge rain cloud appeared...the thunder was incredible...and the wind was picking up quickly so we all went in our tents to be safe...we were just playing cards when BOOM...someone had just thrown a rock at our tent (or so we thought)...then it kept happening but faster and faster...we were screaming like little girls...we opened the tent to peak out and a huge piece of hail came flying in our tent! golf ball sized hail...no lie...i have pictures...i really didn't think the tent was going to hold...it hailed for about twenty minutes...we screamed the entire time...and we all had to huddle together in the middle because if you sat too close to the side of the tent you would get nailed...and it hurt...take my word for it...AB almost broke her finger...after the storm, the valley was gorgeous...it looked like it had just snowed...but, it quickly melted due to the crazy temperature...it rained pretty much all day friday...but we still had fun...the rest of the trip was pretty much typical camping stuff, just with great scenery...we made some friends in the little town of Tsetserleg (since we were the ONLY westerners...the trip back was more than miserable though...we were all sleep deprived, hungry and really sore...but ofcourse, no trip across mongolia is complete until you get stuck in the mud...it was funny...we were all delirious by then...good times
i really think i needed a break from the city...i know i haven't been here that long, but it's easy to get sad in UB (ulaanbaatar)...there are so many things that just tear you up inside...and, really just the air in the city is depressing...its just smoke and dust...and there is sewage and trash everywhere...i can't believe how blessed i am...this world is so different...it was nice to be able to spend the week with just volunteers, swap stories and just share in this experience with each other...anyway, we got back around 11 last night...and i took a much needed shower...marvelled at my amazing chaco tan...and got the best night's sleep of my life...
so here are a few videos from my week...turn up the volume so you can hear the hail...it's insane...the last one isn't that exciting...it's of our bus stuck in the mud...i just thought it was funny...
Untitled from sally sandner on Vimeo.
Untitled from sally sandner on Vimeo.
Untitled from sally sandner on Vimeo.
shout outs:
zach...remember that time we put a squirrel in your bed? and i'd read your blog too if i had nothing else to do and you actually had a blog
becca...adding spice to your life is good...i am proud...and guess what, i galloped and didn't laugh...proud?
par...i'm still looking for that perfect Buddah...
elizabeth...it's time for amy's check up...you know what to do
amy...how are the plans for jagnus moe's coming?
BJ...yes, i just did that...i just watched ellen here in mongolia...she was talking about sea turtles today and how it IS safe to ride them...ride on ferg, ride on...
4 comments:
miss you...wish I was there with mom to laugh hysterically with you during the hail storm!!!!! I love you!
i have a few comments:
1- i think it is crazy how polar our situations are right now. i also experienced a hail storm the other day, however, i was in a car driving through maryland back to DC while you were in the middle of NOWHERE in mongonlia-lucky.
2-i'm kinda jealous of your sweet camping trip. i am in a concrete jungle here.
3-if we are thinking of the same bed incident, it was a CHIPMUNK and you also put that dead animal in MY bed. thank you for that.
i miss you a ton, but i'm glad i happened upon this to see how you are doing. hope to talk to you soon.
mongolia looks just like that tapestry in your den. i told you that's what it would look like.
thanks for all the pictures! keep 'em coming.... I am in awe of the landscape shots, amazed at the wild horses, and loved the feet shot-what a classic. They are a good reference point to capture a monumental scene.
"This is smores stuff. First you take the graham. You stick the chocolate on the graham. Then, you roast the mallow. When the mallows flaming, you stick it on the chocolate and cover it with the other end. Then, you scarf. "
well done, looks like yall are spreading the best parts of american culture with the world-those kids were so precious and your mongolian communications skills were quite impressive.
Glad you realized you had your ipod. I am raking up on some great songs I cant wait to share with you...love and miss you, stay strong and make the most of every day like im sure you are. hh
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