There were only four of us whities on the bus and we were challenged by our rival teachers to a singing duel. I did my best with my usual repertoire Ramblin' Man, House Of The Rising Sun, and of course my favorite, Bankrobber but I didn't stand a chance against the chorus of Mongolian folk songs that just kept coming. Their team sounded so nice with the high female voices blending expertly with the deep male voices.
At the gates of the park we were stopped and made to pay an entrance fee, compounded by the fact that myself and others neglected to bring our work visas. I don't normally carry my work visa for the same reason that I don't normally carry my passport, I want that shit safe from pickpockets. I think the overall extra price amounted to no more then a few hundred Tuugruugks (that's meant to be a phonetic spelling as the official English spelling is horribly inadequate. And for the record: 100Tgs is roughly 7 cents) but our fellows argued on our behalf for a good ten minutes. Nice work team. I know you'll never let me down.
Inside we found the park overcrowded with other school tour groups. Mostly high school by the looks of them. We rented a geir and proceeded with the ceremonial round of vodka shots. It is very disrespectful to pass up a proffered vodka shot. Not one to defame my country (yeah right) I acquiesced (actually I just wanted to use that word. Just listen to yerself as you read it: acquiesce. Don't you feel smarter already? Courtesy of yours truly.) This was followed by a potluck of sorts as all the Mongolians busted out containers of traditional food, Huushure, Buudz, Tsueven and the like. I felt mildly embarrassed as I had failed to bring anything to share. However this didn't keep me from digging in.
By and by a group of us hiked off to the old monastery. First we entered a small museum, which featured some horribly taxidermied animals and weird art. There were landscapes made of colored sand glued to paper and images of birds and fish made with feathers pasted to paper. Very strange. We then hiked up to the remains of the monastery. A victim of the soviet purges, it consisted of a ruined stone structure and a refurbished wood structure acting as some kind of museum. Inside were a number of Buddhist shrines with some sweet statues and tapestries. All and all pretty neat but I preferred the hike to the destination.
After our return to the geir I was bowled over by a sudden case of lethargy. A large, sun-drenched rock called my name and I obediently collapsed into its stoney depths. Mmmmm. Nap time, the best part of any day.
Upon our return trip the full moon breached the horizon over the hills, all fat and white in the dying embers of the sun. Crimson rays spilled over the land creating an idyllic scene. I wish he hadn't been in a moving bus. It would have made for some killer photography. My vain attempts at poetry will have to suffice.
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