19 July 2009

I am Mongolia

The end is near very near. I feel happy about it yes, but also sad. 2 years of my life I've spend in this beautiful country, I remember so clearly that first day... I wont lie and pretend it was all pink and that I loved all. But I'll tell you that this country now holds a special place in my heart. I've come to understand, not all but some of it, I've come to appreciate most of it. When I look at the steppes, the space, the horses, when I listen to the traditional long song, the language, when I start pushing instead of queuing. I realise a bit of me is Mongolian, without knowing i became Mongolia.

I no longer need a knife to eat...
I slurp my tea...
I "drink" my yogurt and i can drink vodka like a Russian...
I can also spend the day eating and drinking by the river, and walking to the car is enough exercise...
I ride mad horses and will forever shout "tchou" to them...
I take crossing the streets as a game of chess...
I touch people when I'm talking to them...
When i see one seat on the bus i see 3 people on it...
I skate to work rather than walk...
I believe I'm Grace Kelly in the spring with my massive sunglasses and scarf around my head...
I shall never take anything again with my left hand and if my mischance i touch someone with my feet my hand will be always ready to shake theirs....
I'll have, or people will have the misfortune to hear me tell them they have put on weight or that their idea is crap...
I will always be ready to open a bottle of vodka and don't leave the room until is finished...
I shall always compare children's cheeks with Mongolian cheeks...
I will be able to eat the insides of an animal without blinking, as well as a whole sheep, horse, marmot...
I'll start dancing as soon as the music starts without warming up...
I'll shall forever use "za" at the end of a sentence/conversation...
I'll never expect things to be there, nor take them for granted. And above all I'll know that things will work out at the end so that ulcer was not really necessary...

I will definitely miss you! Mongolia you are in me as the mutton smell is on your bills!

Kipp & Ester's Wedding 13.07.09

Kipp and Ester, good friends, decided to tie the knot in Mongolia on an amazing scenery! A day of fun and happy times in the countryside...


Tugsu played the violin

they got the most amazing deels (traditional dress)


a Buddhist monk blessed the wedding

traditional Mongolian erol and the khadak (blue scarf)

some music...



and time to play...
the husbands new look!!!

a little bit of posing...

just a little..





Naadam Round II (11/12.07.09)

Naadam, round 2 but this time different, we decided to camp where the horse race are, and avoid the crowd in the city. Well it was still pretty crowed there, and at the end we couldnt even see the race as the people around us decided to start a fight when the horse were coming so we had to leave the place... I was lucky i was on the first rows last year..


putting a tent up with strong wind can be a bit tricky sometimes...


sunset and chilling time


the girls

we had our own wrestling championship...
first Claire and I

and the winners is Sophie!

then Aki and myself, with the traditional eagle dance to start

and the winner is Aki...


the next day we woke up surrounded by people!

Altan Urag concert 08.07.09

Mongolian folk rock band, i've been following them ever since I arrive. I absolutely love how they mix folk music with a touch of pop-rock... I had to go and see them again before I left... I have loads of videos that i shall at one point put on you tube...







and the best is I ended up having a drink with them at the end of the concert I knew someone who also played at the concert, UB is small and this is the positive side of it!
And yes I can be a groupie sometimes!

Meeting Ariuntuya 08.07.09

Finally got to meet my friend's baby girl Ariuntuya... Mongolian babies are the cutest ever! HAd to share this beauty with you!





they live in the countryside house about 20 km outside of the city, heaven!

Hike Chingeltei Mountain 21.06.09

Enjoying the nice warm days hiking around the city... The Chingeltei mountain north of UB...


the view of the city
Finally at the first owoo, almost the top...
the whole group: (right to left) Claire, Marc, Math, Aki, Corentin, me


the last bit...

and the top, and its famous pig


on the way down through the ger district


back in the city for some food and drinks at our precious "Ibiza" garden!