A thriving bustling city

Mural on top of Zaisan Memorial (tribute to Russians) on very cold November day

Sainbainuu! (Hello, how are you?)

I hope this post is entertaining if nothing else. I decided to go with a video compilation of daily scenes from UB to mix it up a bit. This video is only 5 minutes long, so I encourage you to sit back, relax, enjoy, and turn up the volume. 

A little background:  many of the timelapses were shot in the downtown area of the city, during a day when all the downtown streets were closed to vehicles. So Miranda and I experienced a wonderful morning/afternoon of walking around on the quiet, peaceful, happy paved streets, full of children rollerblading, riding bikes, and numerous tourists and locals taking group photos on parts of the road that would normally be a very dangerous place to stand. It was a nice fall day. I also shot some of the timelapses from my bedroom window, looking out on the city street. I think its kind of funny/ironic that I have metal bars on the outsides of my windows, because that echoes my general thoughts: I feel a bit trapped at times. The video is pretty random, I'll admit, but again it portrays the routine of my chaotic life here. 

Most of you probably know, but Miranda left on October 27th and is very happy to be back in Colorado/Missouri breathing in clean fresh air and enjoying friends and family. I feel really happy for her, I think she more than deserves it. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself/nervous about continuing to keep living here, but surprisingly, since Miranda has left, I think the universe has been looking out for me. My landlord's (who actually live right next door) have been inviting me to their cabin 30km north of the city. It is very simple, a bit jerry-rigged, but right on the edge of the woods. This will be the third weekend in the row that I am going to hang out with them. A typical day at their cabin involves drinking lots and lots of tea, followed by a nice wholesome lunch, and then an afternoon hike. On our hikes, as soon as Nima (the landlord's mom) finds any pinecones, she gives them to me to take back to UB. They are loaded with pine nuts that are very delicious. Her 80 year old neighbor friend who is with us is also on the lookout for rose hips, to make a rosehip tea from. So despite the fact that Nima and Buyan speak very little English and I speak very little Mongolian, somehow that hasn't mattered on our weekend trips to their cabin, and I find myself quite enjoying their company. Its like they've adopted me, haha. 

Work has been very very busy which is good, and I will be coming home on December 17th for at least a couple of months. I've definitely been pretty excited and fascinated with the power of creating videos, its really fun! I have much more to post, just need to find more time! 

Hmmm...

Kinda cool

Looking north towards the city. 

This little guy found me and started following me. When I took some pictures of him, he started barking. He seemed pretty upset, and he was shaking. I felt bad for him. 

Looking west towards some of the power plants.