Currently 38 below ZERO!

I'm posting pictures of views from our apartment taken yesterday-today is an entirely different look!

We are located in the Zaisan valley on the left bank of the Tuul river at the foot of Bogd Khaan mountain (sounds romantic).  It's about 10 minutes from the city and Sim's office (50min when there are traffic jams!)

It looks deceptively rural but we are not that far from the madding crowd!!

Approximately 150,000 households live in traditional Mongolian gers.  These neighbourhoods are not linked to the city's central system that heats apartments and office buildings. Thus, most families burn a combination of coal and wood for heating and cooking.  The poorest burn whatever they can find to stay warm, tires, trash, dung etc.  As such, Mongolia's air  quality is amongst the worst in the world during winter months. There seems no doubt about that today.

There are about 12 apartment blocks in the Royal County Complex

View to the SW from our living room -Yesterday

View to the SW- TODAY!!!!  Gers are all firing.

View from our living room to the S 

SE looking towards the city

Typical Mongolian yurt (ger)

its raining clothes!

Some good person organised to fill up their not so full "relocation container" with donated winter clothing.  A quick call to the Morman church in the USA and 10 days later, 77 bales  (three and a half tonnes!) of clothing was delivered for shipment.

Today was spent sorting, packaging and distributing the much needed warm clothing to charities all over UB.  A three day job for many volunteers.

A small fraction of the sorted items

5 of 77! They explode to 4 times the size when opened

Notre Dame Orphanage

Sister Mary has been in Mongolia for 9 years. Currently she has about 25 children in her care. Most of the children she has nurtured since they were born.

Recently Sim's company were able to help upgrade both the heating and power at the orphanage.
Sundays visit was to follow up with that progress, spend time with the kids and share Pizza together.

One of the co-workers had organised for his family and friends back home in Australia to knit 35 woollen beanies which were also handed out.

Highlight was seeing their images on the camera.

Well here it goes... my own Blog!

... a bright idea to keep friends and family informed.

My Mongolian adventure is precisely 3 days old and already so much has happened.  We've been embraced by the wonderful expats living here so it wont be a difficult settling in process judging from the last 3 days.    (Yesterday,  I was blown away to find out one of the expat wives had ironed all Sims shirts for me!!!)

As you probably know, we are already in our new home and surviving on very little. A borrowed blanket, 2( flat!) pillows, 1 mug,  a bowl and a single towel.   Our furniture will be released once Sims work permit has been approved.  Hopefully Friday. Yay! Because we are expecting our first and special guest on Saturday, Ashley (and 3 of his friends from school).

Ok thats it....I suppose that's what they call a Blog then?