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Apologies my avid readers, that this blog entry is a daylate. I hope going cold turkey for one night has not ruined you. and that your addiction was too much to cope with.
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Well this is a blog entry for the 20-08-2010. The internet was down, so im actually writing this in an internet cafe on the 21st. apologies if theres tyops, its on some really strange russianesque keyboard!!
A lot happened today. Again, Im not sure where to start. Ill just add extracts from my more personal handwritten diary. (if i can read it!!)
so the first thing that we did was pop into a Souvenir shop further up our street. I bought some more presents for people. i swear all my money is going on other people!! im such a nice friend- and daughter :-D|
After this shop, the 'grown-ups' were GASPING for some 'real' coffee. *sigh* my palette evidently has not matured to the taste of this bitter brown muck. But anyway, off we went in search of a place, with no idea where were going, getting subjected to the insane drivers of UB- who must not like their lives- or their cars very much, because they drive oh so recklessly.!! A Dutch(??) business man, pointed us in the direction of a posh lookin 'Irish Khan coffee house' which turned out to be the FIRST 5* hotel in Mongolia. As you can imagine, the bill ate a hefty chunk of the monies. Also because we decided to sit on the roof terrace (such a boiling sunny day) we got charged a roof terrace tax!! can you believe, and they didnt even let us know beforehand!! It was 3000Togrog each (including the children) Than works out at one pound fifty per person, i know i know it doesnt sound like much, but we did all order food drinks and desert. |
I was enticed by the hypnotising blue martini. basically tequila, blue curacio and a lemon segment. Now those of you that know me, know that i cant stomach alcohol tasting like alcohol at the best of time, let alone in midday sun on an empty stomach. im partially ashamed to admit that i gave it to my dad to finish.. *sigh*
After that delightful meal on an apparently gold plated roof terrace. We went in looking for a tourist information booth to find out about a 'golden naadam' day tour. Well the first one we found knew nothing about it- but no worries my friends, we did not leave empty handed- i bought some more presents for people- i know what youre thinking- more presents.!! Well you see, I am popular internet readers. I have to satisfy all of my friends otherwise they would get jealous, and who needs b****y friends?? ;-)
We decided to try the tourist place that Dad had left his truck with in the end. We ended up sitting in their waiting area so long they gave us free coffee (great) and bottled water! I also got a free magazine which has some intersting articles in it. At one point soon i will read it, i will!! And finally the man came out and told us the event had been postponed because there wasn't enough interest in it!! (bloomin eck!) a waste of time then really.
So finally we were on track to do what we had planned to do today. We walked to the State Department Store- which is mentioned in The Lonely Planet as a must see. So we got there and it did look grand from the outside i must admit. Dad took some photos of a little street child who cant have been more than 4 or 5. So he gave Mir a little dough to go and give him. As she was handing over the money, he got out this MASSIVE wad of notes. He had so MUCH money. We assumed it was from begging and pickpocketing.
So we entered the D.P store and went to the 5th floor where the tourist stuff is. It was all very grand looking- but mostly the same tat as in the cheaper souvenir shop. Just extremely overpriced. Although I did find an amazing handmade Silk and felt dress. I fell in love with it! (i fell in love twice today) <3 Ill get to the 2nd time a bit later. But the dress worked out to be 100pounds. too much. too much. *sigh*
But we FINALLY left the store, and we didnt have enough time to go to the museum at that point. so we bought some food from the supermarket in the department store because we were all massivly hungry. And then the same street boy who dad had given money to came over and was going for Mir, so i pulled her out the way- and he came to me!! ARGH. it was quite scary, i had my shopping bag in one hand, food in the other. and he was grabbing onto my dress. i thought he was gunna get my money belt which was under my dress. i felt quite helpless. this 4year old boy trynna mug me. how pathetic i felt!! he was quite strong though. In the end i managed to get him off though. Dad was still inside at this point so we went to wait for him just inside. I felt like we were a herd of scared sheep and the little boy was a sheepdog. Kind of pathetic really. three grown women with three children. Not cool. When dad came out he gave him some food and then we left. The cheeky b***** had the nerve to wave bye to us! gosh. Then we sat on a step and finished our food. Mongolians dont really eat outside, so we were getting looks left right and center. probably thinking 'look at those dirty westerners eating outside, just like streetpeople' oh well. nowhere else to go.
After filled out bellies, we went on the hunt for another nomad reasurant for some live throat singing (and desert) The walk was long, and the little and long legs of everyone were tired and aching, but after crossing a bridge and a river(looked more like marshland to me) and some construction sites and lots of shops. we were finally in the 'authentic' part of the mongolian town. We saw some live throat singing. Mir was entranced! it was adorable. But then so were we all. It was an amazing experience! The noises they could make and the instruments were mental. I was very impressed. Especially because earlier i was knackered and just wanted to head home- im allowed to complain sometimes too you know!! This is the second time i fell in love. One of the throat singers (the one with the drum) was just beautiful (dad thinks he was jonny deppesque) i dont know. but he looked like a warrior. Very attractive! After the show, we got s 'taxi' home- some guy with a bigish car, although everyone in the back had someone on their lap. It was a bumpyish ride. But we got there.
Once we were back at the guesthouse, I found someone whod experienced Mongolian nightlife- apparently its all american rnB music. How funny?? halfway through the conversation he asked me 'are you old enough to go clubbing' Well there you have it folks, i must look like a 15year old on a family holiday. Oh well i guess!
another thing that happened today was me and dad and an interesting conversation-almost borderlining profound thoughts. But i feel ive written enough today,. and i still have another entry to write so thatll have to wait!
toodles lovers
XxxXx
- comments
Lord Andre the III You forgot to mention that I drank your blue martini - the one you could not hack! It was nice.
s Chei H you obviously didnt read it properly, as youll see i did mention that i gave it to you to drink. !!