Summer Outings

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks. We've managed to get out most weekends for a night or so, which has helped to pass the time here. 

Our campsite on the river.

As Colorado was burning, it was raining heavily here each day.

An overview of the Tuul River valley near Terelj National Park.

We camped on the small point surrounded by water in most directions.

Justin, Solongo, and Brando.

The next day we drove around and ended up crossing the river. Except that we were in a small line. We had to wait for the herdsman and goats/sheep to cross first. (Also notice the vehicle packed to the brim...a nomad moving all of their belongings. Not quite sure how they are planning to cross this river, as it is about 48" deep.

The goats made lots and lots of noise, some sounded like shriek cries...but many of the herders went downstream of the animals to catch any small ones getting swept away.

There's a couple little guys on the left side of this picture that were being swept downstream. They all made it though.

Help! help! This water is cold and I am floating away!

Your typical ox-ferry cart river crossing. This guy stays here all day, and you get on the cart if you'd prefer to stay dry. Pretty cool.

We watched this big Russian vehicle tow the nomad across with no problems. Quite entertaining as well. 

During the next weekend, we had a company party in Terelj, and stayed in a Ger camp (it even had a disco, ha).

Throwing the football around in the morning.

Tiffany, Justin, and Solongo before a hike.

The 3 geologists

                           Nasaa and Oyuna

Brando and Solongo

We had quite the group with us. Many turned around after they got sick of hiking up the hill.

A few of us continued on to the top of the ridge, and these two guys needed a little guidance to make it up safely....scrambling around on rocks isn't something they are very used to doing.

                           Odbayar happy he made it.

While I was randomly hiking around on some rock outcrops, I ran into this family of Mongolians. They said "take our picture" when they saw my camera....so I did. So here you are gals, in case you stumble upon this some time.

Pretty place.

Finally, this past weekend, Mongolia celebrated one of its largest festivals, Nadaam. Kurt, Justin and I went with Justin's girlfriend, Solongo to visit some of her family in the countryside. 

Outchka, Solongo, and a baby horse that comes to the ger every hour or so asking for more milk.

Milking cows three times a day is part of life here.

Of course no Nadaam celebration would be complete without having a Khorhog Mongolian barbeque. This time, we got to see the ENTIRE process...from live goat, to getting a hammer to the head, pull out the internal organs, burn the hair off, cut it up, pressure cook it, and 3 hours later a feast. I was about to film a lot of it, but when the time came, it didn't feel right to watch the little goat be put down and skinned.