GROUP JOURNAL FOR

MONGOLIA, CHINA, KIRGYZISTAN, KAZAKISTAN
THE SILK ROAD
Aug.28, 2003 - Sept. 15, 2003

Day 05 ULAAN BAATOR
MONDAY
September 1, 2003
Submitted by Jeanette Dassel
 jdassel1@comcast.net

We awoke in our gers and greeted the morning with news that our
leader (Meli) had slain a dragon during the night (crushed a snake
with her woodbox). We had breakfast (seaweed?  that far from
the sea?) at ger headquarters and then mounted up for a spirited
gallop across the steepes (a shuffle to Turtle Rock and back). 

  Dick's horse liked to drink more than shuffle.  Jeanette's horse took the road
 less traveled and Nancy's horse fell before beginning the shuffle.  After two hours of spirited riding, we arrived
back at our gers, dismounted, and lurched up the hill to lunch of cucumbers, tomatoes, and mutton (probably). 
After lunch we boarded the bus, returned to Ulaanbaator, and went to the Sunday Black Market
(not a black market and open on Monday).  We were proded, poked, yelled at ("push, push") and
Beau got in a fight (almost). 
A direct quote from the pugilist, "If someone had not intervened, he would have been dead meat." 
The market was full of goods which appealed to us foreign devils.  Doris bought a hat; Mary from So.
Philly bought a bridle;
Jackie a teapot; Char a flint.  Fabric, holy books, and yak hair caught the eye of other shoppers. 
We were entertained during
 the day by comic Mary from So. Philly. 
Her contribution:  "Why do cannibals never eat clowns?" 
Ans. "Because they taste funny." 
The day ended with dinner which included cucumbers, tomatoes, and mutton (probably).  
 Respectfully and with tongue-in-cheek 
 

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