...from our ger: March 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Night out at the OPERA

This pink Romanesque building was built by the Russians in 1932. It's centrally located on the east side of Sukhbaatar Square and is fondly referred to as the Ulaanbaatar Opera House and is the domicile of the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Mongolia.

By all accounts it hosts the most prolific schedule of ballet, opera and theatre performances in the world! Well maybe not, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more fecund theatre group!! You could attend twice a week for a month and never see a repeat show!!!

We have seen two productions this week, Carmen and an Anthology of Classical Musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, Romeo and Juliet, Cats, Don Juan and Chicago. I am staggered that such multifarious productions can run for 2 nights only, (sometimes even one as in the case of Carmen!!).

"CARMEN"

Backstage

CATS

Right next door to the Opera house is the Central Tower building which locals call the Shangri La as it was originally built to house the Shangri La Hotel. However there's no hotel, only offices and a shopping mall with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Zegna. Its glass walls and clean lines are in sharp contrast to the Opera house which clearly belongs to another time!

There is a bar and restaurant on the 17th floor which offers great views of the city and surrounding hills. On the 3rd floor they have a pub called the Square Grill which we like to frequent for late-night drinks. It has a lovely view of Sukhbaatar Square.

Taken from the 17th floor

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yakety YAK

There are five traditional herd animals in Mongolia: horses, sheep, goats, camels, cows/yaks.

Today I'm posting my pictures of the yak as both Sim and I mistook this creature for a long haired cow!! So if you are in doubt yourself, here's how they look! They are quite timid creatures.

There's always a black "yak" of the family it seems.....Ignore the horse!

Close encounter of the yak kind

Walking on Water

We finally enjoyed the experience of walking on the Tuul river today after contemplating the thought for the past month-then it was a beautiful sight as it was covered in snow. I think this weekend was our last opportunity as the river is rapidly melting and the surface is more like a slushie! Although I'm not quite as heavy as a car, I still had fears of breaking through the ice so was not as brave as the locals who are still happily driving onto it!! and sliding their young children along it.

The Tuul river originates from the Khentii Mountains in northern Mongolia and runs through the southern part of UB and is approximately 704km long. It's a major tributary of the Orkhon river, the largest river in Mongolia. It's typically frozen over for nearly 5 months of the year!
It's also home to an endangered species of Sturgeon.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

I'm back!

I've had a bit of a lull I know.....this is my attempt at getting back on the horse.

Spring is on its way...I have no evidence of it, but I sense a change. (You have to be patient here in Mongolia!). The rivers are still frozen and the snow is melting. The hills around us are losing some of their white "winter coat" but they still glisten with melting ice. Although I'm looking forward to a Mongolian summer and venturing out onto the grassy green steppes, I'm going to miss our view of the snow covered hills.

The temperatures are still below zero but I have a new appreciation for the cold and at minus 6 I am thinking that it is a beautiful sunny day (and it really is!). Night can still get down to -20. I just checked the forecast and more snowfall is expected next week! Really?!! Tomorrow we hit the positive figures at 2 degrees. Yay!!!!

Sim and I plan to walk on the Tuul River this weekend before the ice gets too thin. We often see people driving! fishing and recreating on the frozen river and we hope to join the action! My driver has refused to take us in our car so we will settle for a stroll. (Although I thought it'd be a lot cooler cruising down the river in our automobile!) (Pictures to follow).

We have lived here 2 months now. I can say we have enjoyed every minute of it. We've made some lovely friends and everyday brings some unique new experience. I have really enjoyed all your positve feedback and emails. Please keep them coming. We love hearing from you.

If only our boys were here.....

Monday, March 7, 2011

Golden Eagle Festival

"There are three things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle"

A Kazakhstani Proverb

The eagle eye!

Today Mongolia acquainted us with another of her treasures by way of the Kazakh horsemen and their golden eagles. Approximately 20 Kazakhs from the west of Mongolia came to Ulaanbaatar to compete at the Festival providing a unique visual spectacle of their age old skills and traditions. The Kazakh hunters showed off their attire and their hand crafted eagle equipment as well as giving us a display of their horsemanship and falconry skills. The diverse costumes, colourful adornments and the character filled faces of the hunters made it an entertaining and engrossing event. Showmanship at its best!

There are a lot of photos to follow. Sorry for that! It's getting harder and harder to be selective. By the end you may be appreciative that I left the other 200 images in my computer!!

THE HORSEMEN...