Xmas - New Year mass email...

I have just sent this... I'm very aware of the lack of creativity, imagination and so much more... but here we go! the good old copy and paste!

Francais plus bas! enfin!
Espagnol mas abajo! al fin algo en espagnol por aqui!

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I had this tradition were i used to send a Xmas-New Year msg... It was usually a mass email... And as i'm sitting by the window in my Mongolian flat (the only place where i can steal internet), and is probably -27 something outside if not less, I thought I should start it again...

It is true, it is to make it easier for myself that I do it in a mass. BUT it is also because even if for most of us there are millions of miles of separation, you still in a way or an other in my mind, and most probably as a "happy" memory or an active part of my world... For either of those, you still present in here (index pressing the side of my head).

Anyway, all this blah blah to tell you, to send you the best of the best of this festives times, may 2009 bring you all you wish and even more! well... let's not be too gready!
And if you are on a beach somewhere, or somewhere warm, could you please start blowing east so that the warm wind gets here?! Thanks!
Loads and loads of love!
Soph

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J'avais une tradition.... une tradition qui ennuyais certains, meme si je suis sure qu'au fond ils adorent... une tradition ou a cette periode de l'annee j'envoyais un mail commun, tres impersonel certes! Et me voila, assise a la fenetre de mon apart Mongol (c'est le seul endroit ou je peux choper l'internet du voisin) il fait dans les -27 degres dehors si pas moins, et je me suis dis: et si je recommencais cette tradition?...
Voyez vous... ouais c'est vrai cela me rends la tache bien plus facile, un mail en masse c'est vite fait, mais cela prouve aussi que vous etes ds ma tete pour une raison ou pour une autre, on se trouve peut-etre a des millions de bornes les un des autres, mais pour moi vous etes la (j'ecris ca en mettant l'index sur ma tempe!)
Donc voila! c'est beaucoup de bla bla, pour vous dire, vous envoyer tout ce qui a de meilleur dans cette periode de fete. Que tout ce que vous souhaitez et bien plus s'accomplisse!
Et aussi, j'ai un petit service a vous demander! si vous etes sur une plage ou quelque part ou il fait chaud, pouvez vous commencer a souffler en direction "est" pour que la chaleur arrive ici!?
Je vous embrasse tres tres tres fort
So

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Hubo una epoca, un tiempo donde escribia durante estos momentos del anho un mail para las masas... Una tradicion que molesta a algunos (aunque en el fondo les cuesta aceptar que les gusta y que les calienta el corazoncito!) Y aqui estoy sentada en mi apartamentico Mongol a la ventana (el unico lugar donde puedo robarle el internet al vecino) hace unos -27 grados afuera, casi todo esta blanco (mas que todo hielo no realmente nieve) y pense que deberia empezar de nuevo!
Veran, es verdad que escribir a las masas es la opcion facil, lo admito, pero es tambien mostrarles que aunque esten a millones de kilometros los tengo en la mente... mostrarles que me encataria estar en contacto mas amenudo con ustedes pero mi inabilidad no me lo permite! creo que se llama alergia a el boton "send"... y a travez de esto logro comunicarles mi msg! que siguen en mi mente y que siguen siendo importantes!
Bueno, mucho palabrerio... les queria decir, escribir, mandar, desear lo mejor de lo mejor en estas fechas festivas, y que el anho 2009 les traiga todo lo que desean y mas, bueno tampoco hay que ser muy glotosos!!!
Y una ultima cosita, si se encuentran en una playita, en un lugar caliente, podrian por favor empezar a soplar hacia el este, a ver si el viento tropical llega por estos lares???
un abrazo y beso gigante
Sofi

Felt Making (20.12.08)

We thought it would take us a few hours to make a felt scraf, it took us all day!

It was great though!
To go through the whole process makes it worthwhile.
And when a wear that scarf i do feel the childish pride I had when I made my mother a pasta neckless!


Getting the wool ready... It's a long process...

Getting the shape and decorations

Watering the wool

And soaping

A lot of soaping

A lot of soaping and rubbing

drying, well spinning

Giving shape

Some of the results...

The group, wearing the beautiful work

plus the (the very patient) teachers

What I've been up since I came back... Other than Beijing!

A weekend stroll (06.12),
With Ann, Peter and Sarah

We wanted to go to Sansai valley but ended up somewhere else... Beautiful though! It's getting harder and harder to go for walks, that day was a clement one, only had around -10-15*...

You can see the smog of the city
Little picnic

Made it to the top, hence the Owoo

The white landscapes have started oh! yes!

Sledging can sometimes be imposed!

and when there's snow and is soon xmas, there's also snow angels

and 1

and 2

and 3 snow angels!

Gachuurt for the day (09.11)
With Violaine, Michel and Manon. Monika, Sirak and Sarah.
A stroll by the river, and a picnic

Manon got to sit on the Mongol Empire!

All get to have some fun!

Even then the river was already starting to freeze

It is tiring!

Picnic, hiding from the freezing cold wind.

Nadia's Last night (07.11)

Just realised I missed Alberto and Vanchigma's Bday (14.11)... Well, as i can not control this blog thing that well, I am not going to be able to upload the photos anymore and put them on the right order, so, just check facebook for them!


Halloween (31.10)
3 angels and 1 devil
maybe Charlie was dressed up like one?

Beijing 26.11 - 03.12

There is sometimes when you should listen to that little voice that tells you what to do... I think some call it consciousness... or instinct... or wisdom...

Beijing..... it all started as a big massive mess and ended up as a mess. Fortunately we had some nice nice time in the middle...

The beginning:

Soon after i came back from Europe the idea of going to China started. Monika had to go to Thailand for a training, but had to stop in either Beijing or Seoul, no direct flight... so we started thinking we should all go together by train/bus to Beijing for a long weekend then she'll be off to sunny Thailand we'll come back to freezing cold Mongolia. We talked about it a lot but did nothing about it! 10 days before the actual long weekend, we decided, yes! let's do it! but then we didn't have in mind the harcel of the procedures. You need a return ticket a reservation in a hotel and a bank account check before you even ask for the Chinese visa... As i put my head on the pillow i realise i also need a Mongolian visa to leave the country (don't ask me why, but that's the way, you need a visa to leave the country when you have a working permit, very logical indeed) stress levels start to rise, I manage paying a bit more of money to get that sorted in one afternoon, and we meet with Antonio and Monika on a very very cold morning outside the Chinese consulate and queue there and freeze.... Finally, they decide they wont give the visa to Monika as her passport only has one page left. What to do? Hmmmm what to do? we decide to still apply for ours, hoping we'll have time to sort Monika's managing the express delivery thing... Not... so that's it, the 3 is reduce to 2... And that's just the beginning, the day we are supposed to pick up the passports (the day before the departure) the system is off so nope no passport, they will open the consulate the next morning... Again early morning queuing outside on a even colder day...I run to work, I have missed 2 half days already with this visa thing. Antonio goes to the train station to get tickets! we think, ok! is done, is good we are off in a few hours.... Well no! cause the train will get to the border the next day, which is a national holiday in Mongolia (26th Nov, independence day) and strangely the border is closed!!! yes! you read right! they close the border... we need to leave the day after so to get to the border the day after the holiday so we can get packed like sardines in a tiny freezing bus and wait hours to be able to actually do so. Get to Erlian, Chinese town, to get a sleeping bus to Beijing. The bus actually has beds, not seats, never seen something like it, amazing! So high tech! and the streets don't have holes!!! We think ok, we are getting there! this WILL be a nice holiday... Get to Beijing in the middle night, in some strange bus station with the usual hassling people offering you taxi, when they are not taxis and over-charging you. However in the same bus was this young lady, Russian i believe, incredibly strange, but she speaks some mandarin and we get in one of the car together. I did think she was from the mafia for a moment, but i was wrong so i do apologize, we find the hostel, and get into the dorm.... Finally! we made it! is about 5 in the morning 2 days later! I could keep on going describing the wood bed and the roommate snoring like a beast.... but i wont!

The middle:

Wake up a few hours later and this is when the nice things start! 2 days of pure joy! Is civilisation! There are buses, tubes, nice food, nice shops, cleanliness! Actually you could be in any other capital of the world, but the Chinese signs. Is strange to go back to a place where you can not communicate at all. Although my Mongolian is very poor, i do manage to make myself understood and understand quite a bit. I'm back to not even knowing how to say thank you, please and very very important ask for the toilet! Got those soon after interrogating some locals.

We had a bit of tourism, the forbidden city, the temple of heaven, Houhai district, simply gorgeous, plus we had the sun to accompany us for those 2 days of pure happiness. We had loads of food! It was simply amazing to have real taste on my mouth again, we had everything we could imagine, Chinese, European food and i sadly have to say even a Mc Donald's, it's sad i know!!! but this is what living in Outer Mongolia does to you!

We had some shopping, technology, some memory for the computer, some clothes, and remember how much i love bargaining!

Just walking down the streets, enjoying the scenery... I tell you 2 days of happiness!

The end:
The mess started again Sunday when we tried to find the bus station, which never happen, and i wont go into detail again, because it will ruin the beautiful description of those 2 days in Beijing. In very short we lost the day and half left trying to find a way to come back to Mongolia before the visa ran out. We managed to do so so there's no point on extending the misfortune.

Outcomes:
Since I've known Antonio he's been teasing me about me being posh, and have luxurious tastes... Well after this trip i do officially declare myself posh, or maybe old! Don't have the energy to go through that whole mess to save a few pennies! So bring it on! next time I'll take the train or if I'm feeling wild enough the plane!

But i have to say today, that all that mess has been forgotten and all i have left is the sweet sweet memory of a gorgeous weekend in civilised, tasty Beijing! I will most definitely be going back soon, with more time to visit the summer palace, the great wall and do all the touristic stuff i didn't have a chance. It's a great excuse to go back!

Mongolian train heater.
The sleeping bus

Beijing at last!
Walking around the city, wondering and enjoying

The temple of Heaven

Can you see me on this one?

People's monument on Tianmen Square

Tianmen Square

I know is very cliche but i like this shoot

With Ella at the most amazing tiny tiny Rastafarian bar in Houhai. The size of my bathroom

The Forbidden city
Mao still very present...

It is hard work to be a tourist!

After a few temples i have found them all very similar, but I have to say the Forbidden city amazed me, the same structure but the size!!

Well sometimes i like to pretend am over the whole touristy thing!

Please note my face, i was nicely posing at the door when this man arrived and started preparing to spit. I was seriously discusted by the sound of it!

When I saw this couple, I thought to myself, couple of the year!

Not many alleys in the city are this calm!

Food!

You need to be serious to eat The traditional roast duck from Beijing, is only for tourist apparently, but i'm more than happy to play that part if it takes me to a gorgeous meal!

This little restaurant was next to the hotel, loved it!

We were somehow obsessed with food... But you have to enjoy it while you have it!

The olympic site,
just before boarding the bus!

I also had to had the shoot!

Check the numbers of the seats!

Loo signs

The bird nest

I spent more time taking photos of people taking photos.