Aug 6, 2012 - Exploring the Gobi Desert

It was so hard to leave the Lotus Children’s Summer Camp. After a week there, we all got so attached to the children. But it was time for us to head out to the next part of the trip – four days and three nights in the Gobi Desert. We took local bus from UB to Mandalgavi, about 7 hours south. Mandalgavi is a small town right at the northern edge of the Gobi Desert. We spent our time exploring this part of the Gobi Desert, which is cooler than the sand dunes located further south. We booked our trip through a company called Ger to Ger...

Aug 1, 2012 - Naadam

We were in Mongolia during Naadam, the yearly 3 day festival where three traditional Mongolian sports are featured - archery, horseback riding, and wrestling. In Ulaanbaatar, it is always July 11-13, but it can be celebrated on different days in other towns. If you are planning a trip to Mongolia, I would recommend going during Naadam to Ikh Gazriin Chuluu (aka Noble Rock), about 7 hours south of UB by local bus. This area is in the Gobi desert and looks very much like Joshua Tree (without the Joshua Trees but with the same type of rock...

Jul 24, 2012 - Rhythm of camp life

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the camp had a Peter Pan Never land quality where the kids rule the camp and refuse to grow up. But there is some semblance of a schedule we followed each day. In the morning, about 7 am, we would wake up and have a morning circle where a staff member led some stretching exercises. The kids then go off and do their chores - gathering water, gathering firewood, washing clothes and helping in the kitchen. We then did morning activities until lunch. Then there were afternoon activities, dinner, and an evening...

Jul 21, 2012 - Pictures of camp life

Attached to this entry are some pictures of what the camp, the kids, and the volunteers. We divided the kids into three teams (Super Girls and Boys, Mickey Mouse, and Pizza Party (the names were chosen by the kids)), and we had contests over 5 days, and the competition between the teams got pretty intense. Hope you enjoy the pics.

Jul 21, 2012 - Children at the Lotus Center

The children at the orphanage range from 3-18. They were living on the streets or were abandoned. For example, there was a brother/sister twin sibling group whose father had killed their mother. The father was serving time in prison but was expected to be release in a few years, and perhaps regain custody of the children again??? Another young girl was left in the hospital by her mom right after labor, and the newborn had two holes in her heart. Doctors predicted she would not live long. Due to the care at the Lotus Center, she is an...

Jul 20, 2012 - July 18 - Back in UB

And here we are, back in Ulaanbaatar again. On Sunday night we went to a cultural show which was full of dancing, horse headed fiddle players, throat singing and contortionists - it was really good. The throat singing is very unusual, they use their larynx, stomach, throat and palate to make sounds and are able to sing two notes and melodies at the same time, one a low growl and the other a whistle. You have to hear it to really appreciate it. The contortionists were amazing - I've never seen people sit on their own heads before! After that...

Jul 20, 2012 - Video of the Lotus Center's summer camp from 2011

Here is a link to a video about the Lotus Center and has video from last year's summer camp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKLvggnz3gA. This video mixes images from the old oprhanage building (there is a newer facility) and images from the summer camp which is a green meadow area surrounded by trees and next to the river. I also now have access to a computer and will start including some photos from my trip.

Jul 16, 2012 - July 6 - Khovsgol Lake

Yesterday we left our homestay early for a long drive to Khovsgol Lake. Our host family at the homestay was very friendly and as we left we all lined up for photos (the girls were happy to have their photos taken today once they were dressed up!) Khovsgol Lake is the second largest lake in Mongolia at 2760 sq metres. It's surrounded by hills, pine forests and herds of yak, goats and sheep - very peaceful. All the roads in are dirt and very rough so it was a very bumpy ride getting here. The gers are comfortable with a couple of beds and a...

Jul 16, 2012 - July 13 - Kharkorin

Not a long drive today to our last 2 day stay, this time the Bayan Gobi tourist ger camp on the northernmost part of the Gobi Desert. It has turned very hot today, probably the hottest day of the trip and you can feel you are getting close to the desert. On the way we stopped at Karakorum (or Kharkorin as the Mongolians say), the ancient capital of Mongolia and built by Ghenghis Khan in the 13th century. Very little remains of the old city today though they are excavating and finding lots of relics. Nearby was the Erdene Zuu Monastery, one...

Jul 16, 2012 - July 10 - White Lake

Today was a free day at White Lake. After breakfast we drove 8km to an extinct volcano and climbed it. It was a fairly easy climb, nothing like Pot Mountain a few days ago. Once we got to the top a few of us started to walk part way round the rim - there were some beautiful views, you could see for miles, hills all around, a small town in the distance and of course the lake. No traffic noise either. After this a few of us decided to walk the 8km back to the ger camp. We went overland as it was a very winding road, threading our way through...

Jul 16, 2012 - July 5 - Homestay at Ikh Uul

Well, today the rain has stopped so after breakfast we headed for Pot Mountain a short way from the ger camp and prepared to climb. There are two ways up - straight up which is quicker but harder or follow the winding path which takes longer but is easier. A few of us took the shorter route, our poor little leader Zula must have thought I was a little old lady and wanted to hold my hand to help me up but I managed to let her know that I could manage just fine. It was steep but not that difficult! At the top we walked around the rim and just...

Jul 16, 2012 - July 11 -Tsenkher Hot Springs

Back on the road today for the drive to Tsenkher Hot Springs, about 6 hours over bumpy dirt roads again, where we will stay for 2 nights. But the scenery as usual was magnificent. Driving along a green valley with large hills each side, dotted with the white gers of the nomads and their herds of sheep, goats, cows and yak. On the way we stopped at a large town, the major town in this aimag (county) where we got to see some of the Nadaam events. Nadaam is held each year and is like a big show with archery, horse racing and wrestling, plus...