Thailand 29.07-07.08

A break between Mongolia and coming back to Europe was most needed. To turn the page, yes, but also to actually have holidays. I've missed the beach badly during the 2 years and this short break (10 days) was most welcome. I went to visit a friend in Bangkok and also get my scuba diving certificate, which is now done and in the pocket! Open water, that is!
Going back to Thailand after almost 10 years was fairly strange, it has change but it hasn't. I got to see another side of Bangkok this time. But still I think also after living in Asia for 2 years perspectives are changed and I didn't see/perceive Thailand the way I did 10 years ago...

Bangkok

I absolutely love sky bars!

Every days' life in Bangkok!

Art scrutiny...
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

With Nath

Koh Chang
for some scuba diving...

a walk around the village

My hood

Boat ride, "tough" boat ride, 1/2 people down even with sea sickness pills

lunch place
heavenly!

getting ready

Dont know what happen with my hair there!

and at least one day of rest by the beach

bye, for now!

This is the moment when I say:
Goodbye... Mongolia

Баяртaй!

My 2 years in Mongolia have come to an end and I'm sitting in front of the computer and nothing comes... I could try to say goodbye, but I cant... For some reason it has not really sink in... I still have the feeling I will come back after this holiday, I still have the feeling it is not over... I have so many things ahead that I dont allow myself to think too much about it...

So I think the best is to send you back the the post I wrote a few weeks ago (maybe month) so just click here, or scroll down till you find it...

See you later Mongolia!

Farewell party/ies...

The real Last Night

just before catching the plane...

Aki, Gecca and Silje

Otgoo, Davaa and Bazra

America Latina presente
Roberto

With Gecca

At the Romance cafe
with the girls...
Orgil, Urna and Khongor

The official Farewell at the Grand Khan,

We had over a 100 people in there, dresscode: elegant, smart...

Ruth, Claire, Silje and Ann

Sorry not many photos of this one, was having a blast...

With APDC

Ulzii and Hothuu

Lina, Muggii and Badamshir

Last Poker Night...

There had to be a last one!

Sean and Tugsu

Tatiana and Mila
aka. Claire and myself

Tuvshe

Kipp

Last trip - Olgii and Hovd (14/18.07.09)

Last trip to the countryside, the far far west of the country: Olgii and Hovd...

Olgii was on my top 3 places to visit in Mongolia and I thought for a little while I was not going to be able to make it, but I did!

Olgii is the region of the country where Kazakh live, a very strong community and where Mongolian is hardly spoken... Well it is but mainly people are bilingual... It is an amazing scenery, the Altai mountain chain is not far and the landscape is breathtaking! We flew to Olgii (by car it could take a week) and from Olgii drove to Hovd, about 5 hours, from where we flew back to UB. A short but totally worth trip!

As usual I had too many photos and couldn't really choose so there you go!


Olgii

A Kazakh ger, the are quite different from Mongolian gers, bigger, only one pole and higher plus the decoration/embroidery is stunning. All of it is hand made by the women of the house and a newly wed will bring theirs as a gift and part of the wedding.

Yogurt, is just so good!

During the cold winter Kazakh live in houses as their gers do not have stoves.

And most commonly Kazakhs are known around the world by their eagle hunting skills. Still today many families have their eagle, they train them during the year and the hunting season is usually fall, I've seen then in action is it quite impressive. Last time I tried to hold an eagle the hunter didn't let me as women are not supposed to hold them, but this time i got lucky. They do blind them though.

Olgii to Hovd
the road trip...

This symbol was done by a man who left Olgii to live in Kazakhstan. Once there he got very sick, he had to come back, he draw this as soon as he finished he passed away.

00 = toilet
female - male sides

Hovd

the main square

drying the erol (curd)

Mongolian children are the cutest, cheekiest ever...

some singing...

and dancing...

the ger district

theatre

Picnic in the outskirts of Hovd

with Ulzii and Naraa

Look close, intestins, liver, kidneys, stomac, pancreas...
Not only nothing goes to waste but it is an honor to eat those...
and yes I did it, the idea of it really repelled me, but I have to say the taste is not that bad... But no, if I dont HAVE to I wont do it again!

Khar Uus Nuur
Due to massive thunder storms in UB our flight was cancelled a perfect ocassion to go and visit the Khar Uus Nuur (Black Water Lake)