Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: I smell smoke

Parliament

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Paul and I made it to Mongolia! Woo hoo! It was a couple of long flights, but we survived, even though Paul had to endure a crying child for most of the second leg from Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar. The whole plane could hear the two-year-old. Naturally, we don't blame the child and understand how difficult it is for the parents. However, it seemed the parents made no attempt to comfort the child.

Yesterday, we just walked around downtown, took a couple of naps, and enjoyed a couple of great  meals. The most exciting thing happened in the hotel lobby. Suddenly, a couple of guys were running around with a fire extinguisher, and then firetrucks pulled up.  I smelled something strange when I left my room—like electrical smoke—and thought it was construction next door. It turned out there was a fire on the sixth floor with smoke billowing out the window.

Yes, it was scary, especially since no alarm went off, and they never evacuated the building. I was in the lobby and couldn't get out because a fire hose burst at the seams, creating a little pond. It was quite an interesting experience, but at no time did I feel truly threatened. I texted Paul immediately, saying, "Come down now, fire in the building."  Now we can laugh.  Later they tested the alarm system.  Hmmm.

Another memorable moment was when we went to dinner and met a large group of friendly people in red T-shirts that said "Sheep Share Mongolia." This group from New Zealand come every year to work with local sheepherders in Mongolia, teaching them techniques to be more efficient with their sheep shearing and herding. In return, Mongolians also go to New Zealand to learn directly from them. They were a wonderful group of people, very interesting and passionate about what they do. These are the kinds of travel experiences I savor.

We start our two-week tour through the countryside the day after tomorrow. Postings will depend on connectivity. If you subscribe on the “about me” page you’ll get notices when I post.

Parliament

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“Set in a small square near the State Department store, the monument marks the place where, in Communist times, young Mongolians would assemble and listen to forbidden Western music and discuss ideas of freedom and democracy. The Beatles’ music is even credited with inspiring Mongolians to fight for their democracy.” https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beatles-monument-mongolia

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sheep share Mongolia group from New Zealand

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Traffic cop

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Dumplings