tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60504692447797137812024-03-13T09:41:21.363+08:00Disjointed RamblingsCommitment<>Momentum,
A Universal Truth.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-86540816269435785172013-12-07T16:02:00.000+08:002013-12-07T16:04:14.091+08:00It's a mild oneI looked out and was unable to tell whether the white stuff blowing about on the breeze was light snow or more polystyrene from the insulation used on the outside of the buildings. Sarah had set off for Luxembourg and I could still feel the tension, or I'd had way too much coffee. The staff winter party loomed and I was going to have to go alone. The air had thickened again after yesterday's brief respite and I just could not sit around waiting until it was time to prove that my suit no longer fitted me comfortably.<br />
So checked the temperature -10c and then packed a small bag and set off for the mountain. I took the walking poles and put the ice spikes in the bag. And to quote Patagonia 'The more you know, the less you need'. True in so many ways. The snow and ice are simply not here in the city but the hill looked a good bit whiter. Unwilling to run in the grey air I opted to hike it all (apart from a new bit of downhill into the ger camp). I am pretty certain I wouldn't have attempted this last year. I did not know the mountain so well as I do now but it was also just too cold to contemplate that amount of time out in the open. This winter is so mild.<br />
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It was a lovely hike up to the ridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking back you can see the grey air hovering over the city - you cant see them but the ger district and hills to the north are completely swallowed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ice/snow crystals were beautiful</td></tr>
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The footing was better than I expected but I was glad of the poles.<br />
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There has been 'work' on the ridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking North - four large holes </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPBVr244UWk/UqLH7Bl5xrI/AAAAAAAAH_w/eOAczEskXvQ/s1600/DSC02405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPBVr244UWk/UqLH7Bl5xrI/AAAAAAAAH_w/eOAczEskXvQ/s640/DSC02405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and looking south there are similar looking 'platforms' some with big holes some without </td></tr>
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Having gone to check out the 'holes' I had a hard climb back up to the ridge to get back onto the trail. Needless to say as I was heading up I met some locals coming down. There was a group of young Mongolians mostly young ladies, beautifully turned out for a gentle walk to the restaurant. There were many different garbs but if I were to describe one, Ugg boots, jeans, and a fir trimmed hooded fashion parka, you get the picture. I'm sure they would have been given quite a telling off by the overly equipped trail walkers in other parts of the world. Inappropriate clothing - fool hardy in these conditions. Except that they were having a great time. Laughing, giggling, occasional shrieks of enjoyment. I felt seriously overly dressed in my 'technical' clothing and walking poles. I was having fun but not that much.<br />
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I have not used poles for years preferring not to bother with the faff and just keeping moving but as I was in no hurry I had them, and thoroughly enjoyed the extra security they provided. Maybe I should have traded my Rocklites for Ugg boots and done away with the poles.<br />
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Just over 3 hours later and I'm home, cold tired and relieved of the nervous tension for the moment. With Sarah away for the next 6 days and no news likely before her return I'm hoping the air stays relatively clear because I get the feeling I may need to get out and run or hike a bit more regularly than of late.<br />
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Details and a map <a href="http://www.movescount.com/moves/move22212016" target="_blank">here</a>5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-48074609457006854002013-12-06T17:32:00.000+08:002013-12-06T17:40:43.503+08:00clean airFor the first time in 3 weeks I looked out of the school windows at leaving time and could see the hills. Not only could I see the hills but I could also see the nearest of the offending chimneys. All of these have been hidden under a thick gloop of grey smog by 3:30 everyday in recent weeks.<br />
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So seizing the opportunity I donned some extra clothes and set out to jog home via the park. It was a relatively mild -15C with little in the way of wind chill and with clear blue skies. It was the weather I remember and rather missed. I know how can you miss -15c? But take my word for it cold and clear (no matter how cold) is better than the acrid air of recent weeks.<br />
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The park is ever changing. The young and fragile trees have now been wrapped for the winter, the bike hire place moth balled and the road building halted, though there may still be some ongoing work to the lights that ring the inner pathway. Work on what is to be the football pitch and the basketball courts had halted a little while ago so I was a little surprised to see workmen.<br />
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They were making what will become a couple of basketball courts in the summer into ice rinks for the winter. Its a hi-tech operation as you can see.<br />
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Still good to get out and run a bit.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-14787322768032912812013-12-06T17:20:00.001+08:002013-12-06T17:37:57.172+08:00ShanghaiI went on a course recently. Being an international teacher of course it's not quite as simple as heading off to your nearest training school, well actually it is, but in our case it was in Shanghai a mere 11 hours travel away. Community International School were our hosts and very good it was. We were based in the upper school campus, which from a personal perspective is a bit of a shame, I would have liked to see the elementary campus.<br />
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The course was good but I'm sure you don't want to see pictures of people doing math so here are a few of the evening excursion to 'The Bund' which was interesting - very brightly lit but good. I particularly liked that the river is still very much a working waterway and the tourist boats and ferries all give way to the working barges.<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-10654448890589624172013-10-27T18:27:00.000+08:002013-10-28T06:25:53.497+08:00been away a whileSo I've been very lazy when it comes to keeping on top of this so I'm going to give a whistle stop tour of the trip north in the the summer, a brief run down of the Sunrise to Sunset event, and a brief account of our lightening trip to catch up with friends 'old and new' in Beijing. All in one post all with pictures and very little text.<br />
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So here goes:<br />
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We collected everyone together early one morning and set off west. By dinner time camp was set up, the latrines dug, the food prepared, and the sun was shining in the desert.<br />
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We were treated to a spectacular sunset and all was right with the world.</div>
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Unfortunately it rained during the night and we packed up wet, very wet.</div>
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Discussions were had along the way about sleeping in wet tents - Sarah was still unwell coughing and wheezing with what turned out to be the remnants of some form of pneumonia. So we headed to Tsetserleg and stayed a night in the 'Odd Hotel'. Yep really called that - unfortunately no pictures of us setting up dinner in the carpark or drying tents on the fences.</div>
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The next day we left and headed out to the White lake. It was a beautiful drive, though still wet.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mongolian road system - no one uses the old roads - they are too rutted all prefer to find their way across the steppe</td></tr>
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Some of the toll bridges were in need of a little work.</div>
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but were passable just.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxZoDjtHiOSwtZJOEycA15qm7lzn9HGjksQRxoB9DTnVnAfL9xoNyueagK-Ghr69U4LKEC4Vl_eKKHfwe-ujg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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It was a hard climb up the hill to get to the lake</div>
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and again we opted not to pitch still wet tents. Instead we payed for gers still using the Gaz as our base camp</div>
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White lake was quite remarkable.</div>
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and we got to taste Marmot.</div>
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Megumi and I had a great little run up into the hills where we saw horses and I believe I may have seen a wolf. After a couple of days R&R we headed off again - we had hoped to spend a couple more nights in one place along the way but the roads had washed out and the Gaz was going slower and slower.</div>
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So we kept driving through beautiful scenery...</div>
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camping where we could, meeting some interesting people...</div>
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and helping tow folk out of the mud once or twice.</div>
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The roads and particularly the bridges were...in need of a little maintenance.<br />
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Along the way we visited standing stones covered in milk and vodka,<br />
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climbed to Ovoo with a range of skulls,</div>
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and watched in amazement as the Marmot kept getting produced for yet another meal.</div>
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We eventually reached the southern edge of Lake Hovsgal having collected Linda from Morun airport</div>
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It had been a difficult drive - a flash flood had washed the road away and had missed washing our car away by only a few minutes</div>
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At the camp we said goodbye to Chris, Byaamba and Jake. Thanks to all of them especially to Chris for organising this extraordinary journey.</div>
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Camp was an mix of gers, teepees and wooden lodges. It was also an odd mix of people, with some truly interesting people and a few too many who thought too much of themselves and too little of others.</div>
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Race morning was an early start</div>
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The first half of the course pretty and hilly though not as mountainous as the organisers would have us believe. They counted both climb and descent in their elevation profile effectively overstating the climbing significantly. The 60km after the camp stop was not so interesting and without Linda to chat too and occasionally keep me moving I may well have just given up and headed back to camp. </div>
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Despite the doctors concerns Sarah not only finished but came first in her class.<br />
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Scott made some new friends (not unusually).<br />
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Judith had a great day out<br />
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Emily was forced to give up after 42k due to a fairly major asthma attack but still finished and Curtis completed his first ever ultra marathon.</div>
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Linda and I toiled in limping and sore but nevertheless finished - not last - and in under twice the winners time - my usual three targets achieved</div>
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Somewhere along the way Clark had finished his first trail marathon, Gavin and Jess had hiked a trail marathon and Guy had gotten a bit lost but was found and returned to camp.</div>
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Normally when I've done one of these things I provide a pretty good race report but this time...I won't. </div>
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I will thank the aid station to workers who were brilliant, cheerful and very patient.</div>
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There are many fond memories of so many friends being gathered in one place. Our group spanned 4 different continents and 5 different decades. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QC7r-w5S45A/Ugb1NHah_YI/AAAAAAAAHJo/1AVKxTUSdq8/s1600/DSC02274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QC7r-w5S45A/Ugb1NHah_YI/AAAAAAAAHJo/1AVKxTUSdq8/s640/DSC02274.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda 3rd woman in the 100k class Sarah 1st 'Veteran' in 42k Megumi 3rd woman in 42k and Miho who finished 42k with the biggest blisters I've ever seen. Genki Girls all!</td></tr>
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It was all quite an experience!</div>
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and we did see a quite remarkable country up close and dirty!<br />
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more photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sand5/sets/72157635108620614/" target="_blank">Road trip to Hovsgal</a></div>
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and the trip through Megumi's far better eye <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/110380229858534108267/albums/5912706599953977249?authkey=CIbOoPe6_4XrLA" target="_blank">Megumi's photos</a></div>
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So summer over recovery complete, knee still aching, we trained for he Gobi marathon which never happened - or if it did it happened without us despite our best efforts. So nothing much went on apart from eating, drinking, working and lazing about. We took some of the newcomers up the hill, we went ourselves a different way and discovered a new waymarked trail and settled down to being lazy.<br />
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Autumn came quickly and just as quickly went again - the hills are now covered in snow and daytime temperatures rarely get much above freezing.<br />
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Then we went to visit in China!<br />
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Mel, Brian and Zoe put us up for a couple of nights and we did the tourist things as well as met some of the other movers and shakers in Western Academy Beijing. Then we went off to see the Terracotta warriors in Xi'an, returning to stay with Elie and his family, Elie was an ex student of mine in Japan and we got on really well. I'd stayed in touch with his family and thoroughly enjoyed meeting them all again.<br />
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a bit touristy</div>
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entertaining way back down</div>
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Easy way up</div>
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Amazing piece of engineering<br />
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beautiful hills</div>
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spectacular views</div>
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and bright blue skies - Beijing pollution? What pollution?</div>
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beautiful house</div>
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cute puppy.</div>
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We are lucky to have such good friends</div>
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Beijing city centre - still no pollution - something organised by the government for the Beijing marathon perhaps?</div>
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Forbidden City was busy but not exceptionally I think a lot of people had stayed away because of, or gone to watch the marathon.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGo8irxtHmw/Umnp6a1RSrI/AAAAAAAAH0o/YCevjSudM1A/s1600/inside+forbidden+city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGo8irxtHmw/Umnp6a1RSrI/AAAAAAAAH0o/YCevjSudM1A/s640/inside+forbidden+city.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Big place - and this is one of the early courtyards.</div>
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After the forbidden city we went to the park behind it and that was stunning - there were story tellers, dancers, singers, players and entertainment everywhere. The views were pretty spectacular as well.<br />
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The next day we set off bright and early for the city of Xi'an and a visit to the terracotta warriors.</div>
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We spent the afternoon wandering round the city eating street food in the Muslim sector, watching the 'changing of the guard' at one of the city wall gate houses, and renting a single speed tandem to ride the city walls.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayd7AK9wie3-P-ppBC26gXkdz_3rSPbOVnN62XcwbMxtHPj_L-bcz6Jg1ruJpZH71Q3_TCD8-EadGyhwzGfl0lCOg1-gnOjVLEYpM3xdVJu40oVqDWYqTlJDtVf_uvnmiLLu6npSxYbA/s1600/2013-10-21+14.47.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayd7AK9wie3-P-ppBC26gXkdz_3rSPbOVnN62XcwbMxtHPj_L-bcz6Jg1ruJpZH71Q3_TCD8-EadGyhwzGfl0lCOg1-gnOjVLEYpM3xdVJu40oVqDWYqTlJDtVf_uvnmiLLu6npSxYbA/s400/2013-10-21+14.47.26.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our very own 15km of pave.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS93xbGFZA4S3TX9P9zawW9xo7Z_18xdq-PLQgYhyaYsZHLm3M00bYBkes1XLqQCP1SXZ8WIEMvngl_OwMF6B8Y0a1iSPEewSUZBUWPQy1z04k20EQ8PL6JMwX3N781LZtYDexTHAIKLg/s1600/2013-10-21+15.59.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS93xbGFZA4S3TX9P9zawW9xo7Z_18xdq-PLQgYhyaYsZHLm3M00bYBkes1XLqQCP1SXZ8WIEMvngl_OwMF6B8Y0a1iSPEewSUZBUWPQy1z04k20EQ8PL6JMwX3N781LZtYDexTHAIKLg/s320/2013-10-21+15.59.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMarZ6x6I9AoPaFE8Ffm6_D_gXAG10H_VCERfrMQeJLlTeWd-Pm_XhvvUMKsKJuGLVE1epC1ESYmnXtmKy7WMZNYBuhYR69Nmy7KChG5LQJB0-4z07dgj-Kl1AP0uHie8PXeC5oWh18c/s1600/2013-10-21+16.17.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMarZ6x6I9AoPaFE8Ffm6_D_gXAG10H_VCERfrMQeJLlTeWd-Pm_XhvvUMKsKJuGLVE1epC1ESYmnXtmKy7WMZNYBuhYR69Nmy7KChG5LQJB0-4z07dgj-Kl1AP0uHie8PXeC5oWh18c/s640/2013-10-21+16.17.41.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clever - only works single speed but it means both riders pedal independently and the stroke is not linked. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxt2kI_j0CZzIPISL3VNDDBkz6c14w-JZBHJ_m3PtoZRJodqcIMVMGa1BDBa1mkiuOix-uRXGzg-Ww7lRP2Of_lCBG8_Ak_pYgFFWBmsCLrNp1LReYwhf7nLWojq-Fl_lTueiIeYdSlo/s1600/2013-10-21+16.18.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxt2kI_j0CZzIPISL3VNDDBkz6c14w-JZBHJ_m3PtoZRJodqcIMVMGa1BDBa1mkiuOix-uRXGzg-Ww7lRP2Of_lCBG8_Ak_pYgFFWBmsCLrNp1LReYwhf7nLWojq-Fl_lTueiIeYdSlo/s400/2013-10-21+16.18.03.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Far too small so it put too much pressure on my wrists, damned uncomfortable.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9q6c3hmREHKAAZz3gRQ1HAfIcw7BI3xPXBvRAWjtd98Ya4AjebVtzWUyxti-Q4EtUFX_mz_0MOFreH2LwKEWG6AWxRoX4KYUAepqC23-N8Yuw1Behz7PcpILeCXGQPKhnQ2w3zqoiOk/s1600/2013-10-21+16.18.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9q6c3hmREHKAAZz3gRQ1HAfIcw7BI3xPXBvRAWjtd98Ya4AjebVtzWUyxti-Q4EtUFX_mz_0MOFreH2LwKEWG6AWxRoX4KYUAepqC23-N8Yuw1Behz7PcpILeCXGQPKhnQ2w3zqoiOk/s400/2013-10-21+16.18.18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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about 15km all the way round.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9gvpvtnsMxeEFQmlQBl_vPx5B026s3v-qZTp_d6bO8o_3YIn2ERLgbFpFdzc17ruSRcYsa8XoCE8RK00tgGUaGEKJuinfAQdYwGrPJSxEEPhspyk8X0Mi9iiKUuiwmAHUMKubXQJ6Y0/s1600/2013-10-21+16.38.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9gvpvtnsMxeEFQmlQBl_vPx5B026s3v-qZTp_d6bO8o_3YIn2ERLgbFpFdzc17ruSRcYsa8XoCE8RK00tgGUaGEKJuinfAQdYwGrPJSxEEPhspyk8X0Mi9iiKUuiwmAHUMKubXQJ6Y0/s400/2013-10-21+16.38.14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Xi'an has a lot more to offer than just a place to sleep while you visit the warriors.</div>
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The next day we were off to the warriors with a pre-booked tour. I'll let the pictures do the talking.</div>
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We stayed a total of two nights in Xi'an before flying back to Beijing to spend more time in Western Academy and then dinner, making stuff and chatting with Elie and family, I'd forgotten how much fun it is to be around that kid. Somehow though we seemed to order the biggest fish possible. Well we said we liked fish and that we missed fish but...that was huge and only one of about 10 dishes ordered.</div>
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it was a great meal in great company - thanks to Claire and David as well as Elie and Morrison.</div>
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So there you have it the story of two vacations both very different, both brilliant in their own way and both only possible with the support and company of great friends.</div>
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Now back to work - seven more weeks until we begin the journey home for winter vacation, and we are already deep into plans for next summer.</div>
<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-49965937598783014872013-07-18T22:29:00.001+08:002013-07-18T22:29:24.588+08:00A Mongolian Spring A Scottish Summer Neither Quite What I ExpectedSo a Mongolian Spring can turn from this:<br />
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to this</div>
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In a matter of hours.<br />
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I was ready for the rain when we returned to Scotland, after all the only difference between summer and winter in Edinburgh is the temperature of the rain . But 25+C day after day is not what I was expecting.<br />
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Unfortunately with Sarah ill and me injured we have not been out and about as much as we would have liked.<br />
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But we do live in a pretty place.<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-19977639313789921822013-05-26T12:03:00.001+08:002013-05-26T12:03:08.594+08:00In the hillsI've been up in the hills a bit recently, 3 times in the last week in fact (62.5km and 2400m of ascent) but it never gets old because it is never the same.<br />
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On Wednesday I met a friend at the bottom of the hill, say hi to Bill the Bactrian</div>
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Wednesday was a really funny weather day. We never saw the sun, it was windy but it was 28c all day until about 4pm when the temperature began to drop and I went out for a run.</div>
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The climb was, well upwards, and took about 30-minutes but what greeted me when I got out of the trees and reached the views was - unexpected to say the least. Not only had the wind picked up to gale force proportions but UB had disappeared.</div>
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I was not looking forward to descending into the sandstorm, but by the time I got down it had gone and things were calm. All through the 40 minute jog back to the apartment there was a very occasional drop of rain, until I walked into the apartment grounds. Then the skies opened. I'd been out 3 hours missed the sandstorm, missed the rain and got home without incident. Result.</div>
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I did the same route on Friday with Sarah. The rain had changed everything.</div>
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Trees had suddenly gone green and flowers were everywhere.</div>
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And UB was back - go back and look at the sandstorm picture - these two were taken from similar positions.</div>
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A lovely jog hike without the sense of impending doom that had dogged Wednesday.</div>
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Saturday I did a different route.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She danced down the trail spooking the foal a bit - would we see her later at the Scotch House?</td></tr>
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We went over the top of the hill and started dropping down the other side towards a monastery but the trail became a little indistinct.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">team inov-8 roclite</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gavin couldn't find anyone who would ship to Mongolia that stocked his size</td></tr>
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<br />We finished the trip out with a beer in the Irish Castle - except the beer was bad and there was a children's party on so we headed for the Scotch House - where there was Scottish country dancing. Seriously! And of course the boys all sat and drank while the girls were pressed into taking part.<div>
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5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-26571051890769822402013-05-20T18:55:00.001+08:002013-05-20T18:55:57.742+08:00Hello 'New' AppartmentWe were moved in as little as 3 hours. The men arrived at 10:00 and were fast and efficient there was very little in the way of breakages. The music was on the internet connected, the TV functioning and the sorting was well underway by 2:00pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiJjXAxVR_g/UZhG0s-s9LI/AAAAAAAAGTE/mCQewwu2v_c/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiJjXAxVR_g/UZhG0s-s9LI/AAAAAAAAGTE/mCQewwu2v_c/s400/IMG_4225.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking in from the front door</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cKYNGDiFAQ/UZhG4AYYfmI/AAAAAAAAGT0/KnYv2ZJUu4Q/s1600/IMG_4231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cKYNGDiFAQ/UZhG4AYYfmI/AAAAAAAAGT0/KnYv2ZJUu4Q/s640/IMG_4231.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lounge bit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kitchen area</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S37Wn0CgVrg/UZhG-DpCw-I/AAAAAAAAGVE/6opGLRCSQ5E/s1600/IMG_4241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S37Wn0CgVrg/UZhG-DpCw-I/AAAAAAAAGVE/6opGLRCSQ5E/s400/IMG_4241.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">study and spare room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNies1RwJmI/UZhG9nibf-I/AAAAAAAAGU8/FSj2hh7i65k/s1600/IMG_4240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNies1RwJmI/UZhG9nibf-I/AAAAAAAAGU8/FSj2hh7i65k/s400/IMG_4240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">complete with horsehead fiddle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7HhZre1x20E/UZhG-xBseYI/AAAAAAAAGVU/JMLKai54VqQ/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7HhZre1x20E/UZhG-xBseYI/AAAAAAAAGVU/JMLKai54VqQ/s640/IMG_4243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">main bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3p-Zqd8rl1c/UZhG9HOPC1I/AAAAAAAAGU0/UucvWRkIwIw/s1600/IMG_4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3p-Zqd8rl1c/UZhG9HOPC1I/AAAAAAAAGU0/UucvWRkIwIw/s400/IMG_4239.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">main bathroom - there is a second one with toilet basin and washing machine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ueN6H5HRk0M/UZhG-gpGIhI/AAAAAAAAGVM/9N0wWfmmpKs/s1600/IMG_4242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ueN6H5HRk0M/UZhG-gpGIhI/AAAAAAAAGVM/9N0wWfmmpKs/s400/IMG_4242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spare bedroom</td></tr>
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It's really quiet without the building site and the trains blow their whistles at the other end of town so e hardly hear them.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-35520038757480551132013-05-20T07:05:00.000+08:002013-05-20T07:07:35.830+08:00Bye Bye Building SiteNo more noise, no more dust, no more heavy machinery and gallopita gallopita machines running through the night. It has been fascinating watching this site in action though. Part of me will miss it. Not the part that likes peace and quiet. Not the part that likes to sleep through the night. And not the part that objects to the clouds of dust and debris which meant keeping the windows closed.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bxMpPMTquE/UZhOw6CJEwI/AAAAAAAAGWA/opqA5iuQFrY/s1600/construction+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6bxMpPMTquE/UZhOw6CJEwI/AAAAAAAAGWA/opqA5iuQFrY/s640/construction+site.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-29922961886902490672013-04-24T18:42:00.000+08:002013-04-24T18:43:36.570+08:00So they defrosted the building site about a month ago...It was slow going at first, a few men a couple of diggers...then they demolished the shed and built it again somewhere else on the site. We couldn't quite work out why but as the site came slowly back to life it became very obvious.<br />
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We move out in about 3 weeks, they are likely to have the first couple of floors poured by then at this rate.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcwDWyUuc1I/UFhUJLESf5I/AAAAAAAAENA/3LHJtL-ZHkM/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcwDWyUuc1I/UFhUJLESf5I/AAAAAAAAENA/3LHJtL-ZHkM/s400/IMG_3845.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shed visible in the fading daylight to the right just before construction stopped</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIdUYBT924Q/UU7ObWWm6uI/AAAAAAAAFj0/YlM8PpnhtBw/s1600/DSC_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIdUYBT924Q/UU7ObWWm6uI/AAAAAAAAFj0/YlM8PpnhtBw/s320/DSC_0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and it's gone...the site wakes...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCCdOY1f0s0/UXevtTg9DpI/AAAAAAAAF9g/nHoiWHBwdH0/s1600/IMG_4078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCCdOY1f0s0/UXevtTg9DpI/AAAAAAAAF9g/nHoiWHBwdH0/s400/IMG_4078.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there it is rebuilt...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlvfnCEz85Y/UXevud3KOlI/AAAAAAAAF9o/f3l1E_4HCQ4/s1600/IMG_4079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HlvfnCEz85Y/UXevud3KOlI/AAAAAAAAF9o/f3l1E_4HCQ4/s400/IMG_4079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks like more underground carparking</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2UCuD8qMd4/UXevxPXyHUI/AAAAAAAAF9w/pMFKPaLSRYI/s1600/IMG_4080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2UCuD8qMd4/UXevxPXyHUI/AAAAAAAAF9w/pMFKPaLSRYI/s640/IMG_4080.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">keep making that rebar construction girls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zNd33dHlTnc/UXevzhavbOI/AAAAAAAAF94/qiIrirwlIu8/s1600/IMG_4081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zNd33dHlTnc/UXevzhavbOI/AAAAAAAAF94/qiIrirwlIu8/s400/IMG_4081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we are going to need it</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUD0TSZ6tPw/UXevpjHrSvI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/G8mBhRRRvwY/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUD0TSZ6tPw/UXevpjHrSvI/AAAAAAAAF9Q/G8mBhRRRvwY/s640/IMG_4084.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">foundations of the next block being laid</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9o2y0JiM3Q/UXevrk9u91I/AAAAAAAAF9Y/evaExXv46jk/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9o2y0JiM3Q/UXevrk9u91I/AAAAAAAAF9Y/evaExXv46jk/s400/IMG_4085.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and for the carpark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nIl1U4nogrs/UXJGrSKNiAI/AAAAAAAAF6M/2-Cr24WGfME/s1600/IMG_4122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nIl1U4nogrs/UXJGrSKNiAI/AAAAAAAAF6M/2-Cr24WGfME/s640/IMG_4122.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rebar in place wooden frame fixed time for the concrete</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaP55KTN9nY/UXJGqauK-7I/AAAAAAAAF6E/ym0VDU--bSk/s1600/IMG_4123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PaP55KTN9nY/UXJGqauK-7I/AAAAAAAAF6E/ym0VDU--bSk/s400/IMG_4123.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and here it comes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_skHZo8MTQ/UXJGozzTwAI/AAAAAAAAF50/hl4BBXR4x1o/s1600/IMG_4125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N_skHZo8MTQ/UXJGozzTwAI/AAAAAAAAF50/hl4BBXR4x1o/s400/IMG_4125.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from there</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jF4nDn_Z10/UXJGn_9qZxI/AAAAAAAAF5s/lpkx0laiDh4/s1600/IMG_4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6jF4nDn_Z10/UXJGn_9qZxI/AAAAAAAAF5s/lpkx0laiDh4/s640/IMG_4126.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">to there</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TwPH-SMWPM/UXevkT7tVoI/AAAAAAAAF84/ccG0Z-57eH0/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5TwPH-SMWPM/UXevkT7tVoI/AAAAAAAAF84/ccG0Z-57eH0/s640/IMG_4128.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhRTAwg_Ufs/UXevmB0xPpI/AAAAAAAAF9A/aX5Jh8_n4R8/s1600/IMG_4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhRTAwg_Ufs/UXevmB0xPpI/AAAAAAAAF9A/aX5Jh8_n4R8/s640/IMG_4129.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtjBEx5lMls/UXevaWC7RlI/AAAAAAAAF8g/wW15P1zSZ2c/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PtjBEx5lMls/UXevaWC7RlI/AAAAAAAAF8g/wW15P1zSZ2c/s640/IMG_4131.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and start the rebar knitting for the next level</td></tr>
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-2233153246831499122013-04-20T17:57:00.000+08:002013-04-20T17:58:10.218+08:00Earlier this weekEarlier this week a friend, now resident in Colorado, sent me a picture of her house covered in snow. It had been snowing for 3 days straight. She seemed happy, the schools were closed, the kids excited, and the the ski season seemed to be extending through April.<br />
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I had a somewhat more curmudgeonly response:<br />
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<div class="gmail_default" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
"I don't know whether to be happy for you - or not, I guess it depends on whether you view it as an opportunity to extend the ski season and have a day or two off or...</div>
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I was out running in the hills on last Sunday and the snow was gone from all but the sheltered sections that were shaded. I was in shorts and loving running on rock and dirt. </div>
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I got up Monday and it was snowing. At it's deepest we had about 6-8 inches which is not a lot by your standards but huge here, where the snow usually comes in small amounts of dry powder. A lot has gone but the hills are white again and daytime temps have dropped back way below freezing having been as high as +10c. Enough already! I want to hit the hills with a light back pack holding food and water - not a day sack full of extra clothing in case the weather changes.</div>
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I survived the winter relatively sane - I was expecting it - I prepared for it- the cold did not bother me that much, but I'm really really ready for Spring - this is beginning to piss me off. Time for nature to turn green, for the trails to open up and for me to show more than just my nose to the sun when I run. </div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">Clearly I am in need of a little arctic explorer dna and need to restructure my expectations and reactions</span></div>
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Back to Sir Ranulf.</div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 23.265625px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"My dear,</strong><br />
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Weather is neutral. It’s neither good nor bad. It just is. What’s bad about it is how prepared you are for it.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 24px;">The snow isn’t bad if you have a warm jacket or house and a cup of hot cocoa. The scorching heat isn't bad if you have an air conditioned house and a cooler filled with ice cold beer.</span></span></div>
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There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.</div>
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Same goes for fortune.</div>
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There is no such thing as bad fortune. Only inappropriate expectations and reactions.</div>
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Falsely yours,<br />
<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #1c1c1c; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">Simon (who is happy for you snow bunnies but pissed off at the latest refreeze just when he was beginning to see the light at the end of winter.) "</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;">So I took Sir Ranulf's advice re-evaluated my expectations and rethought my reactions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"> I went back up the hill today with Sarah and a few others, it was still snowy, it was a little treacherous in places but I took a quality camera instead of my phone, and enjoyed myself </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px;">immensely.</span></span></span></div>
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"Perspective - use it or lose it!"</div>
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Thanks Katy thanks Ranulf</div>
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5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-84601138377886722032013-03-29T09:56:00.000+08:002013-03-31T18:39:56.031+08:005 Ovoo ridge runMongolians routinely build 'cairn' like structures on the tops of hills, high points or points of particular importance for them. These Ovoo also have some symbolic and religious significance. They are everywhere particularly in the hills. When coming across them you are supposed to circle them clockwise 3 times and or clap three times.<br />
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It was not particularly cold, my quick check of the weather station on the roof of school was showing -7c and it was only 10 o'clock. It was going to get warmer for sure so I packed my bag, adding windproof over trousers and a windproof jacket but set off in what is my most minimal clothing of the year so far. Hat and gloves for sure, softshell fleece hoody certainly, but 3/4 running tights and shorts were a bit of a gamble.<br />
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Turns out it was perfect, a little chilly on the run out but perfect when I hit the hills. I had been scoping out a route along a prominent ridge visible from school and while I was sure I wanted to run the ridge back towards UB, I was also sure I'd never find it from the south so up from the north I went.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovoo 1</td></tr>
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Just get to the next ovoo and make a decision about where to go next was the idea. There was still a fair amount of snow and ice in places on the way up and making it to what I thought was going to be the 2nd ovoo, but in fact turned out to be the third was something of a challenge, requiring hands, feet and lunges for stability of small trees.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up that ridge to the rocky outcrop and ovoo 2 (except it was 3)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure it really counts but ovoo 2 was a surprise</td></tr>
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I was somewhat surprised when I got to the top and found a couple of gents brewing up a cup of tea. We exchanged cameras took some photos and then I plunged on heading for the next ovoo. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMjw3a4RbCo/UVKDjTgkG3I/AAAAAAAAFmA/11w1Mx54c-I/s1600/DSC_0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qMjw3a4RbCo/UVKDjTgkG3I/AAAAAAAAFmA/11w1Mx54c-I/s640/DSC_0439.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">That's ovoo 4 in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trail to ovoo 4 visible as a white line behind me</td></tr>
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When I got there I would decide whether to either carry on or turn back towards a different ovoo in the next valley west. I reached the ovoo sooner than expected, feeling good and was again a little startled as realised belatedly I was not alone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got a bit of a shock to find myself in the company of a goat herder</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovoo 4 looking back to UB</td></tr>
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It was warm - maybe even above zero in the sun - and the skies were blue and the trail looked obvious, until that is it disappeared at the next rocky outcrop. A quick scramble down and round soon had me back on the right track. As I hit the trees the snow deepened but at least there was no getting lost.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovoo 5</td></tr>
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I soon found the trail down to the meditation centre and decided to take it rather than head for White Circle. It was steep, snowy in places, icy in others and always slippy, it was grin inducing stuff, but occasionally a little sore as there were one or two tumbles. There were occasions when I resorted to squatting using my feet as skis, hands as steering poles and just tobogganed sections more out of control then under it. Ironically I was listening to a 'Talk Ultra' podcast at the time extolling the virtues of training to run downhill. There was little or no running down this slope, hopping from tree to tree, sliding, skating and falling were all practiced but there was little or no running until the very end of the off road and by then it was pleasant to get back on to the rubble that forms the road and path back to Zaisan.<br />
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22km, 10km of which were relatively flat, alongside the still frozen river, 720m ascent, just under 4 hours later, tired, hungry and in need of a cold frothy beverage I made it home, happy.<br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/288175380" target="_blank">5 ovoos ridge run garmin</a><br />
<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-15521430919443899872013-03-29T08:55:00.000+08:002013-03-30T12:05:53.335+08:00Big men in briefsNot the kind of title you were expecting from this blog I'm sure but I did spend several hours in the company of many very big men in briefs and I would not argue with any one of them.<br />
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We went on the weekend before 'mens day' and found ourselves treated to military parades dancing marching bands and a myriad of other entertainment before the action started.<br />
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Over 200 wrestlers started and the 'first round' alone lasted over an hour with a seemingly constant stream of men entering the ring performing their pre fight rituals and locating their opponents.<br />
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There are no weight categories and this first round is drawn on the less than fair basis that the list from top ranked to lowest is simply folded in half so the top ranked faces the lowest ranked. These first bouts did not take long, you do wonder how you ever move up the rankings if as a newcomer you are constantly facing the best opponents but that's the way it is. By the time we got to the bouts nearer the middle of the fold things were getting more competitive and the 20 minute rule came into effect.<br />
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If the bout has run for 20 minutes then a referee comes over with a box with a dice showing only two colours, he shakes and the winner gets to choose the 'most advantages hold'. This hold definitely favours the bigger wrestlers and the 20 minute rule is being blamed for the growing size of Mongolian wrestlers and the fact that the more faster smaller wrestlers no longer get much of a look in as the bigger guys can wait it out and hope for the 'advantage hold'. Alternate rounds from this point on gave the top ranked wrestlers the opportunity to choose their opponents, respect had to be shown by the young up and coming wrestlers at all times or these experienced guys would ensure you never passed the second round if word got out that you were in any way disrespectful.<br />
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Anyway by the time we got to the semi finals some 4.5 hours later we were treated to some controversy as the crowd objected to the antics of one of the wrestlers and empty plastic drinks bottles rained down on the ring one hitting the object of their derision on the head and causing a small cut. All while the other semi final bout continued on in the background.<br />
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His brother - also a wrestler took to the stands looking for the person who threw it which ended in much comical pointing at anyone but the person next to you. In the end this particular wrestler was given a route to the final by the judges and a large section of the crowd left shouting their displeasure. He did lose the final though which was some justice. All in all 5 and a bit hours of entertainment - I enjoyed it, was lucky to have a wrestling enthusiast and colleague sitting next to me to explain the intricacies, but it was a long day and we were starving by the end of it and quickly headed for the nearest restaurant, and Indian we have not been to for a while. After the meal we managed to get a carry out menu in English, I think we may be using them more frequently in future. Excellent end to a long but interesting day.<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-61582209097257487292013-02-28T17:07:00.000+08:002013-02-28T17:07:30.897+08:00Ain't No Mountain High Enough (until you have to run back down it)Oh Oh it's all going a bit Motown!<br />
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It was a mild -5C when I set off on Sunday. I ran passed the guard hut where we had been detained the day before, but this time on the road not the wrong side of the armco "fence", and instead of going out onto the river (which would have meant stopping to add the spikes to my shoes) I went along the dyke and through the construction sites. Having dodged the small pack of ferral dogs I slowed to a yomp up towards the mountain. I was aware that it was not perhaps the wisest thing but...it was sunny...it was 'warm'...the pollution...well ok it hung in the valley making everything look a little foggy but I went anyway. After all Sarah and I did this as a walk and as a run last September - and it was a small compared to the distance and elevation I was running in Japan -what could go wrong?<br />
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It was beautiful! The Ger camp at the base of the hill (7km into the run) was busy, the car park was full. I jogged down the road and up passed the gers feeling great, despite the heavy pack (5kg of 'what if it all goes wrong clothes' snow pants, down jacket, extra hat, gloves, polar buff, socks, food, a survival bag -you get the picture) and then began the yomp up the hill, and out onto 'White Circle' the clearing at the top. The track was in great shape, slightly softening packed snow making for great grip and the clothing layers just about right. The path was busy with everything from young ladies carrying bags full of bottles, to men pushing 'off road' pushchairs, to fully equipped hikers and boys in jeans and 'sneakers'. I enjoyed the climb- not my fastest ascent but it was steady, the people were out, the sun was shining, the air was clean and I was pleased to be out there, "ain't no mountain high enough..."<br />
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I heard them before I got anywhere near the top. The laughing and cheering of the crowds. There were a couple of small groups and a couple of larger groups some playing Red Rover others sitting and drinking or cooking up some grub.<br />
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The trail I usually take was not obvious at all, it's indistinct at the best of times but in this case the myriad footprints disappeared into un-trodden snow which ever way I went. There were a few clear trails but non heading the way I wanted to go so it was back the way I'd come. Apparently the well worn trail leads down and then back up to Tsetsegun, the nominal peak of the Boghd Khan range. It looked good but I was conscious of the time so I saved it for another day - "ain't no mountain high enough"<br />
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I count running down hill as a strength, even on steep technical terrain I generally move pretty quickly and 'brake' lightly, but on this day, by half way I was completely done. My quads were screaming! I was enjoying myself but knew the consequences were going to be severe.<br />
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The rest of the journey down and the trip home was a painful run, jog, walk. I knew I was in trouble when, on the roadside, as I passed the guards hut, a chubby old local in multiple jog pants and a pair of 1980's trainers shuffled passed me. Four days later and I still can't walk down stairs without wincing. It's better today (Thursday) at least I only look like an old man for the first couple of steps then the pain levels out and I move a bit more freely but my right quad still won't fire properly allowing my knee to overextend occasionally with comical partial falls as a result.<br />
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"Ain't no mountain high enough"...huh? In the sage words of B.A. Baracus "What you talking about fool?"<br />
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Perhaps a long run of 25km and 750m vertical was not the wisest after 6 months when 10km and 3m vertical constituted a big day.<br />
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I might be fit to do it again by next weekend.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-24675323430038035052013-02-23T17:51:00.000+08:002013-02-23T17:51:26.410+08:00A little detained (by a man with a gun) on a wonderful winter walkIt was a mild day, but with a cutting 10km wind dropping the -19C to around -30C. That said after walking through the park over the 'waste' ground and up the road to the river we turned into the wind and headed east for the first time. It was fun, there were a bunch of kids playing what we used to be call 'murder ball' on the ice. A kind of no rules rugby, they were having fun but it looked both tough and cold.<br />
We passed groups of men pruning/coppicing trees at the side of the river - probably collecting the sticks for something, but for what I have no idea. Further down the river the ice was regularly lying on the surface in glistening chunks, far prettier than the glistening vodka bottles that will replace them in the summer.<br />
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The stroll was pleasant despite the wind in the face. It was interesting to see the tracks cut into the snow both on the actual river and on the hillside to the south. Clearly the weather does not effect our Mongolian hosts as they continue to walk, play, ride and drive just about anywhere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder if the ice cracked before after or while the cars were using it...</td></tr>
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The walk home was warmer and with the wind at our backs positively pleasant. However as we cut across the waste ground and back into the park we heard a shout from behind us and were eventually caught by a young man in uniform. He chirped away in Mongolian and was not for letting us go on our way. A quick phone call to a Mongolian speaker, and we handed over Sarah's phone and there was a lot more chirping. Then his tubby little mate turned up sporting a much more assured air and a holster containing something, might have been a pistol or he might just have been pleased to see us. There was more chirping over Sarah's phone and we were marched back to the road. Our ID's were photographed, our bags searched and after yet more phone calls and translations we were sent on our way down the road. Apparently we had entered the land 'inappropriately' and had crossed protected land. The fact that I had been doing this at least twice a week since August and that we were quite literally walking in the footprints of many many others seems to have escaped this particular 'guard'. At one point in our proxy communication it seems our translator threatened to have him reported to the human rights commission for detaining and searching us for no good reason. It was at this point that he said he would apologise for the inconvenience caused if we apologised for...well... being there. Another expat was watching all this from across the road with a smile on his face and a beagle at his feet. Apparently this particular guard seems to like rousting expats and had 'detained' him previously. Apparently the waste land is protected land and despite the fact it is scheduled to become part of the park within the next 10 years, it is at present under the protection of the military and this particular member of the military takes his 'protection' duties very seriously. It is after all his job so why not, I take my job seriously. Oh well it's all experience. Personally I think our detention may have been something to do with a show of power to the largest group I have ever seen walking up the road - at least 30 young ladies were strolling at the side of the road and I think maybe these two young soldiers just wanted to be noticed. Sadly for our new soldier friends the girls had gone by the time they got us back to their hut at the roadside.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-80872443894281416052013-02-10T17:31:00.001+08:002013-02-10T22:49:10.840+08:00UB Drifting<div style="text-align: center;">
That's the river that is!</div>
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The pictures say it all.</div>
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So in 2 days I've run on the frozen river, dog sledded on the frozen river and watched as some blokes played in cars on the river, haven't seen the guys playing skittles but I'm told there is a tournament tomorrow.<br />
These frozen rivers seem to be pretty social places. I bet they miss them when the water is flowing.<br />
Silly me - when the river is flowing they sit, chat, picnic and drink - why would they miss the ice - unless you have a high performance car you like to send sideways?<br />
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5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-5542061839363339952013-02-10T14:03:00.000+08:002013-02-10T14:04:35.204+08:00ok so a bit more dog sleddingThe day started at 8:00am with a trip out to Terelj via a place to collect the food for the dogs. Large chunks of meat were simply stacked outside and several sacks of solid meat were loaded into the van.<br />
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Then with our precious cargo intact we headed off to the National Park. The snow was drifting off the fields and across the road in places and with the snow so fine it looked like smoke wafting across the tarmac.</div>
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We arrived at the camp about 10:30 and were shown to a ger for tea and a gear check, as well as some instructions about what to do if there was water, and what to do if the sled tipped. They were also short of a couple of dogs so there were only 2 sleds. Sarah opted to ride in the sled of the French guide while I was given 4 dogs and my own sled.</div>
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We headed down the Terelj river, it was beautiful, so nice to be out of the city and great to be in and around dogs again. </div>
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Roxanne was funny she was interested in everything and most unhappy when we stopped. There were moments when we came along side ger dogs, herders on horseback, camels, young cows and followed the footprints of either a very big lone dog or a lone wolf. Roxanne was interested in all of it but kept pulling and yelping whenever we stopped. The lead dog on the team pulling Sarah was new and had not quite got her left and right sorted (or her gauche and droit) so there were regular stops as the sled had to pointed in the right direction.</div>
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After about an hour and half we stopped the guide built a fire and produced some hot buuz from his bag and made some tea.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buuz and sauce</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">about the only time Roxanne was quiet and stationary </td></tr>
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After lunch it was time to head back down the river and the rather unnerving experience of being out at around -20C stood on the back of a sled being pulled by dogs along a frozen river with a significant amount of water on the surface. I still don't know how that works but </div>
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great day out, great dogs, great fun. </div>
5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-83857132512103867372013-02-09T19:29:00.002+08:002013-02-10T18:00:30.828+08:00Dog sledding in Terelj<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On the Terelj river in Terelj National park.<br />
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About 27km in all.<br />
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Nice to be around and about dogs again, I miss my mutts.<br />
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Roxanne (back left) only on her second outing with clients was so much fun, and just wanted to run and run and run.<br />
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I had a blast 'nuff said!<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-42850067950383044012013-01-26T19:36:00.000+08:002013-01-26T19:47:17.644+08:00HaircutSo Mongolians don't get their first haircut until they are 3 or 5 years old for boys 4 or 6 for girls. The date of the first haircut is decided by the year of birth (Chinese animal year), the current year and finding an auspicious day. There is a whole ceremony and ritual surrounding this first haircut.<br />
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We recently had the honour of being invited to one such ceremony, it was the day after the party in the country.<br />
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We arrived at the apartment, to find the table laden with food and people sitting drinking milk tea and eating.<br />
We were invited to sit and given the tea. Nothing can happen in any household until the guests have drunk milk or milk tea. Then despite the full table more food came out of the kitchen. Apart from the great salads there was some of the best buuz I have yet tasted. There was also lots to drink, vodka for the men and wine for the women. If you want to stop or slow down then leave your glass over half full or it gets topped up. hic.<br />
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After a while we were invited to actually cut the hair. The ceremony had started with the first cut around 7 in the morning when family began to arrive, at that time he had waist length hair. It was shoulder length when we arrived at about 1:30. The men were the first to cut, oldest first. A blue khadak had been tied to the scissors and the khadak was made into a kind of bag at the other end. You cut the hair placed it in the pocket at the end of the khadak and then gave the young man a toy to replace the hair taken and/or the parents money. Some of the toys were elaborate some simple. Once everyone in the room had cut some hair and made their offering it was back to the table for more food and of course more vodka.<br />
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Only now the rules had changed - you were given a shot glass of vodka and told to sing. The glass and the choice of song would then move clockwise, everything goes clockwise here. Somewhat unfortunately I was given the honor of starting off proceedings. After much havering I gave a quick rendition of Auld lang syne sunk my shot and the process carried on around the table. We called for a taxi and sat listening to the Mongolians sing, one by one the glass moved round the table. The holder of the glass would spark up a song and they would all join in, then the shot was downed, the glass filled and passed to the next person. This particular ceremony is not restricted to hair cutting, it happens when ever a bunch of them get together. They have a culture of song here, everyone sings, all of the time. Unfortunately the taxi did not arrive in time to save me from receiving the shot glass for a second time. This time however I took the opportunity to take the 3 shot penalty for not singing and the bottle holder took great delight in making sure the glass was very full on all three occasions. We left at about 4:00pm and at about 5:30 they called a halt to proceedings and took Tushig to the barbers where his head was clean shaved.<br />
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It was a great day out but after a weekend partying with the locals I was well and truly done in.<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-74937673503257928922013-01-20T17:49:00.003+08:002013-01-21T13:29:09.184+08:00A birthday or three<div style="text-align: center;">
Sarah's birthday started early as it should...
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Thursday 17th the French restaurant.<br />
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Thursday we went to the French restaurant in town for great salad, ok steak, wonderful chocolate desert and a good bottle of red wine.<br />
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Friday 18th...<br />
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Friday we went to the Japanese restaurant, for great sushi, wonderful sushimi, brilliant company, and a bit too much sake, Sarah also got given a complete set of Mongolian vodka miniatures.</div>
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Saturday 19th...</div>
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Then on her actual birthday the real festivities happened in a ger camp out of town.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUkeKZRwhSScSVDrJWrA0t2WWwYz5G1c5oD-8am7H8_HMDq9PqsqFOXPiw7oq0Ct9bxtUdi6JpAY27JOM8F8vmKZW2yegTyNlAL1al4q8hABtwxK5KSEgyB3JVJfsgGDbKfGR8_fW1Ew/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUkeKZRwhSScSVDrJWrA0t2WWwYz5G1c5oD-8am7H8_HMDq9PqsqFOXPiw7oq0Ct9bxtUdi6JpAY27JOM8F8vmKZW2yegTyNlAL1al4q8hABtwxK5KSEgyB3JVJfsgGDbKfGR8_fW1Ew/s640/DSC_0155.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sadly a lot of snow leopards died to decorate the walls, though these were all confiscated by customs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyOhIHA6tdiKHDJpG3HiYVAE_fosT0XC-c-TqMKWDi-87XcExTh4A-KsMLp7IS6M0oysHWx12JTkqqxqn2nyjS9YxCXVSoX2CY_1hFU5ZAblDfuZF5r6FKQD4nQDKEuRBVwX7NW-KKeI/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyOhIHA6tdiKHDJpG3HiYVAE_fosT0XC-c-TqMKWDi-87XcExTh4A-KsMLp7IS6M0oysHWx12JTkqqxqn2nyjS9YxCXVSoX2CY_1hFU5ZAblDfuZF5r6FKQD4nQDKEuRBVwX7NW-KKeI/s400/DSC_0157.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It all starts with milk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and gifts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixmqAm6pnrwLbJ_lB6qSZk91uVdzANkfYAYCtKxxkhyqNYenTHsQRmWY7uuFDbxZzwOO5B13zpO6UhGIEwjlBdL7zoltnsO0fm3eCpNq6R68cotPiixmhmdrl36SxXaoWLeQP12XyBUQ/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixmqAm6pnrwLbJ_lB6qSZk91uVdzANkfYAYCtKxxkhyqNYenTHsQRmWY7uuFDbxZzwOO5B13zpO6UhGIEwjlBdL7zoltnsO0fm3eCpNq6R68cotPiixmhmdrl36SxXaoWLeQP12XyBUQ/s640/DSC_0159.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and songs<br />
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Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMbAxlYPLg" target="_blank">HERE for some Horse Head Fiddling</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLl2ieNjxbXKCFmF2oJCShNv34ADSFGaM2hYCDjIoL7cK5-ZnsbNctNS_LPN9If5O3sI_pXpxIXsQTtqgaffU8hJlS6pV54Hio_5GTbUBqzEOeJWESV_a1aXQSVCbhTQUMyHKXcj0qUM/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLl2ieNjxbXKCFmF2oJCShNv34ADSFGaM2hYCDjIoL7cK5-ZnsbNctNS_LPN9If5O3sI_pXpxIXsQTtqgaffU8hJlS6pV54Hio_5GTbUBqzEOeJWESV_a1aXQSVCbhTQUMyHKXcj0qUM/s320/DSC_0163.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dancing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJab0I2YkBDf4WA3qO68Hhvf2EeRbweohgB9LJ_XxBSkQogAULaxzcf9G_60Wvrv-xk2DSwDuhstQ0R568PRg2Jyc7WHB6D0PX2Up3q5bqH3DFk21VPZ8TwtWIA3GBrkI_6HD2XYfnJI/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJab0I2YkBDf4WA3qO68Hhvf2EeRbweohgB9LJ_XxBSkQogAULaxzcf9G_60Wvrv-xk2DSwDuhstQ0R568PRg2Jyc7WHB6D0PX2Up3q5bqH3DFk21VPZ8TwtWIA3GBrkI_6HD2XYfnJI/s320/DSC_0164.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dairy products foreground - Khuushur and Buuz backgound</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then out came the goat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eqQsj2DUnlrXh_iAPzXLOzBi37E96d5bKAo_QUENZAzifx0hR6CNS1iSxyNMb67VzbvYrf_YSnac74x-QYKT7EisGK2Il963K8SJWxp1uRzRyU5PMsyEpPtdtK1BrQycBcOeHf_ajOA/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eqQsj2DUnlrXh_iAPzXLOzBi37E96d5bKAo_QUENZAzifx0hR6CNS1iSxyNMb67VzbvYrf_YSnac74x-QYKT7EisGK2Il963K8SJWxp1uRzRyU5PMsyEpPtdtK1BrQycBcOeHf_ajOA/s320/DSC_0165.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gutted, filled with hot rocks and anything edible and then cooked on an open fire, or with a blow torch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48ngBJcnJjxnsmWpHq8aFMMaYf1TcHd5d3gFiNm5hG42-tvbqfEewR5g67JrfTHL0huTwQ6uObygvKqBtC9ODXN1c9X8JbXMOYRWUyHMP08GAIpB1bSCiLEYne17PcaKuSz6cbRdwwy0/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48ngBJcnJjxnsmWpHq8aFMMaYf1TcHd5d3gFiNm5hG42-tvbqfEewR5g67JrfTHL0huTwQ6uObygvKqBtC9ODXN1c9X8JbXMOYRWUyHMP08GAIpB1bSCiLEYne17PcaKuSz6cbRdwwy0/s400/DSC_0179.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mae and G.B. announced their engagement in matching sweatshirts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZueWGJPreWCEGyKZK8rlym74a_yEcAPm70PTEeEwEn81fje2rAhvw3WulQCeKPaQIYlIww20xl6p7w71lXHm43bwIh8A0QJcwje6gpB7yzqJEBkaa1mn6ggyzrDvP5v3jaQ3MW3yM1Q/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZueWGJPreWCEGyKZK8rlym74a_yEcAPm70PTEeEwEn81fje2rAhvw3WulQCeKPaQIYlIww20xl6p7w71lXHm43bwIh8A0QJcwje6gpB7yzqJEBkaa1mn6ggyzrDvP5v3jaQ3MW3yM1Q/s400/DSC_0181.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and then on to another ger with more animals on the walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk8fwoEPRak3mB2jSwN8snlSVmYXvvLPnIClU-5X8EXWmDIslprM0zGybUQKnLe2wlBIVO5aB1N29_8BDjI7qRQabvkRBiRdBKrKd7o36wrrcy1xjM79foXLkUm6sYxD_i0mxH6Urfpo/s1600/DSC_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk8fwoEPRak3mB2jSwN8snlSVmYXvvLPnIClU-5X8EXWmDIslprM0zGybUQKnLe2wlBIVO5aB1N29_8BDjI7qRQabvkRBiRdBKrKd7o36wrrcy1xjM79foXLkUm6sYxD_i0mxH6Urfpo/s400/DSC_0184.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and another birthday toast - it was Geoff's birthday the day before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GSZwZSZNTaT3Cze34yssIxozRsyHRkUepw4YM0golyDmBUGP33tqWN3L3bKNSYwZGCywsCG5T1jSQGUm3Mp1BNDv6xz05DWq8d7B5jOFJMY4FAKhozPZ3rL7ohEtFGV_xnqozvy_Cog/s1600/DSC_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GSZwZSZNTaT3Cze34yssIxozRsyHRkUepw4YM0golyDmBUGP33tqWN3L3bKNSYwZGCywsCG5T1jSQGUm3Mp1BNDv6xz05DWq8d7B5jOFJMY4FAKhozPZ3rL7ohEtFGV_xnqozvy_Cog/s400/DSC_0187.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on to what is reputedly the biggest ger in the world<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1Hjg13ROpTeyM_qoHpMPIfXbak3iflKuhDq3pMfqKYX4h95vbTCFRlp8wveradDWPVb8fbJ58Opn0LDoMcVfFgYIhXQpYLeou95i7dNuQwliAtbsBEH_FyQGd8AlnpoitF3CKo8vuQg/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1Hjg13ROpTeyM_qoHpMPIfXbak3iflKuhDq3pMfqKYX4h95vbTCFRlp8wveradDWPVb8fbJ58Opn0LDoMcVfFgYIhXQpYLeou95i7dNuQwliAtbsBEH_FyQGd8AlnpoitF3CKo8vuQg/s400/DSC_0189.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqv3RxSijG47rR4nCCmqPuQJ_K3GcPhydnJpawEjvy-Z0Av7zZ6SwY3ijtU7HNafPvo9wADsxDhafktMGdgDix53_R-DJnynVl9s9FAvBovvPgVEgdOvbsN7nzTl1UZwD2jbn5luxxuo/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqv3RxSijG47rR4nCCmqPuQJ_K3GcPhydnJpawEjvy-Z0Av7zZ6SwY3ijtU7HNafPvo9wADsxDhafktMGdgDix53_R-DJnynVl9s9FAvBovvPgVEgdOvbsN7nzTl1UZwD2jbn5luxxuo/s400/DSC_0197.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then continue the party outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87R0K8MixXMVuM8FcRrPBQ6TqIf798V9a31pQgDZp8FbiiKE-pidyTMQt9-knTfQfwqtkybONhnRiBqcG_WCLuvPxpSNzqnNy-BHJsLskaJxJSqlEZ05lxdmoWf3_lacDKvIT9HyGmPc/s1600/DSC_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87R0K8MixXMVuM8FcRrPBQ6TqIf798V9a31pQgDZp8FbiiKE-pidyTMQt9-knTfQfwqtkybONhnRiBqcG_WCLuvPxpSNzqnNy-BHJsLskaJxJSqlEZ05lxdmoWf3_lacDKvIT9HyGmPc/s400/DSC_0207.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with a bit of Gangham style which is apparently a traditional Mongolian dance as Koreans do not ride with two reigns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ZebBhasCdkgdNZUlxr36d4k5NAcHiuuRnZmxzrIcfqiH0-tJG45IJ4kszSA3zqdPsn5t9GYdXEzImk62BGgGyLM2kJ_GJGJpATnSHHJdQ53UPBqwL0CxbtnKp7W8Z7XklNemeQ07fk/s1600/DSC_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ZebBhasCdkgdNZUlxr36d4k5NAcHiuuRnZmxzrIcfqiH0-tJG45IJ4kszSA3zqdPsn5t9GYdXEzImk62BGgGyLM2kJ_GJGJpATnSHHJdQ53UPBqwL0CxbtnKp7W8Z7XklNemeQ07fk/s400/DSC_0199.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4_6oOW0fRoVE-0ZdZZ08YteE7LlXrjzA41uEvK2DqCNYUqtbLyJAATuFecIrsqPNzy7FSEVfPlZpNCfW7t7TRHN1WM4HeWt96pU7vrVk_hUUqok1ArGerGzsbsb-_N2Bnjv-Amq_NxA/s1600/DSC_0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4_6oOW0fRoVE-0ZdZZ08YteE7LlXrjzA41uEvK2DqCNYUqtbLyJAATuFecIrsqPNzy7FSEVfPlZpNCfW7t7TRHN1WM4HeWt96pU7vrVk_hUUqok1ArGerGzsbsb-_N2Bnjv-Amq_NxA/s640/DSC_0208.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there were lots of furry hats on show</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5p2eg_oSE8-CgEWolySkEsse1b_WgwZZ5a2oyBByTjdnoRjQr-SwYX2ietmKV5X6xmLfo-Ydf_5kcp25VUagRde6VcFbHAA290KBpsvHlX_ULuHtXMyzq2DsF6NRBlfJgkD9XlYwzAE/s1600/DSC_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5p2eg_oSE8-CgEWolySkEsse1b_WgwZZ5a2oyBByTjdnoRjQr-SwYX2ietmKV5X6xmLfo-Ydf_5kcp25VUagRde6VcFbHAA290KBpsvHlX_ULuHtXMyzq2DsF6NRBlfJgkD9XlYwzAE/s640/DSC_0210.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">which Sarah joined </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkfpOHz1IJ8jhLQrE-nh_taTLzrpRzWkWAZgX04TO4_lw3_Ozsp9Oej6ZHnmeWGY2e5-wTQfAjkvDLpfb8cLj-JSQN5tHygylv_qhuXy8OMUSVz1HGgbesgxEVf2a6RWo1iCYdt038mc/s1600/DSC_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkfpOHz1IJ8jhLQrE-nh_taTLzrpRzWkWAZgX04TO4_lw3_Ozsp9Oej6ZHnmeWGY2e5-wTQfAjkvDLpfb8cLj-JSQN5tHygylv_qhuXy8OMUSVz1HGgbesgxEVf2a6RWo1iCYdt038mc/s640/DSC_0213.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the drinks table was brought out with a seemingly endless supply of spirit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There was of course singing.<br />
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<div>
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsgmi_p3C-U" target="_blank">happy birthday in Mongolian</a></div>
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<div>
and a bit of wrestling </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ifU-O_roX8" target="_blank">Scott takes on the Mongolians</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5sTYvo8FINH5C91ZTwctdOhlqCsKC21BgFzsEje8rNAPWvb4zpuvJXRdTrqmOXXWrFjw0ll9zYpY75k5qrxmjAmEIVJmh1QLjSz833dtIAvivYQFQF4x9JKefOiYY0_UpnwjTS0pHjQ/s1600/DSC_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5sTYvo8FINH5C91ZTwctdOhlqCsKC21BgFzsEje8rNAPWvb4zpuvJXRdTrqmOXXWrFjw0ll9zYpY75k5qrxmjAmEIVJmh1QLjSz833dtIAvivYQFQF4x9JKefOiYY0_UpnwjTS0pHjQ/s320/DSC_0218.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYx3AfPZAxO8Nejt6ZzEggLjC7ZMys9plAmKfSDgH0PLLySQLAe-UOWzZgPVFfefIJahcPSWXboyiFQH7BfeqyKEqEL-J7IFP9YIZkgo6TNdf3s_i2eJkgVFH43OGxfgsPnmGtHn_3vs/s1600/DSC_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYx3AfPZAxO8Nejt6ZzEggLjC7ZMys9plAmKfSDgH0PLLySQLAe-UOWzZgPVFfefIJahcPSWXboyiFQH7BfeqyKEqEL-J7IFP9YIZkgo6TNdf3s_i2eJkgVFH43OGxfgsPnmGtHn_3vs/s400/DSC_0217.JPG" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">while birthday cake was provided inside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What a spectacularly good day out.<br />
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And then on Sunday we went to a very personal and very special 'hair cutting ceremony' but that story is for the next entry - for now just be assured it involved a lot of food, a lot of vodka, some singing, and toys for the wee one. Special very special.<br />
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5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-29069222655676339622013-01-13T14:27:00.000+08:002013-01-13T14:27:17.996+08:00Walking on WaterOr in my case running on water. Ok so it's water that has been kept at a temperature of -10c or below for around 3 months so it's had a pretty good time to harden up.<br />
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It was beautiful on the river today, sun was shining, people were out playing, folk were walking, and the occasional car was out for a drive, all on the river, not the river banks, on the actual river.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMxo5wKdgnOhBnkKhBS-rPD-VohKcXwualjlkxBEmQMJ8iM_dpRz6clg2gHuG2n_MLWMFYofn6QDc88sJLIo5dhvTLUOylMSkcoWrtanp3_pE5deOs5Mts01KEi0f2IgTMCrnJcyZCCI/s1600/DSC_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMxo5wKdgnOhBnkKhBS-rPD-VohKcXwualjlkxBEmQMJ8iM_dpRz6clg2gHuG2n_MLWMFYofn6QDc88sJLIo5dhvTLUOylMSkcoWrtanp3_pE5deOs5Mts01KEi0f2IgTMCrnJcyZCCI/s640/DSC_0127.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqFWu_JIZqxyjcXIplVKhfmslDRO3bqpXFZ0QqStYkr_pTXx-gPbmL5rAx6LHzXON_HGpsKb92n1hT9KLj8bkGTmgRLz8qnWpLOBD79PBr2Ag9XJLHprUE89-vaHDvnZVwmVylkC6LUY/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqFWu_JIZqxyjcXIplVKhfmslDRO3bqpXFZ0QqStYkr_pTXx-gPbmL5rAx6LHzXON_HGpsKb92n1hT9KLj8bkGTmgRLz8qnWpLOBD79PBr2Ag9XJLHprUE89-vaHDvnZVwmVylkC6LUY/s400/DSC_0129.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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A small brass square, with the edges rounded off and with 4 steel pins in the corners is hurled down the ice, a bit like skimming stones, as it spins it makes a great noise. The purpose as far as I can tell is to take out the 'big' wooden barrel in middle. I think he said it was worth 5 points with decreasing value the further away from the centre you get. Some one shouts out the scores as they happen, another sits on a large polystyrene block and keeps score, while several others just get boots in the way of the spinning pieces to stop them going for miles. So what with the noise of the piece skimming along the ice, the shouting of scores, the cheers of encouragement and the sound of quite a heavy brass shape thudding into the felt soles of step boots, it's not a peaceful pastime. I must learn some Mongolian, enough at least to exchange pleasantries and hopefully find out more. We have seen it played on strips no more than 25m long, this one was at least 40m.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sdd0YFbbzPUhNEcczzKM5enzOkaU1IEcjgdYsP7Lz745FATDR5bMNCmDHEtGD7DH9Znl7xyqN0Y9bJecDl1uzyLPC5yZb8PX2COKue-dVqM88FlJSenPbTwsB44Ysohzr9Xwx4xaYro/s1600/DSC_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Sdd0YFbbzPUhNEcczzKM5enzOkaU1IEcjgdYsP7Lz745FATDR5bMNCmDHEtGD7DH9Znl7xyqN0Y9bJecDl1uzyLPC5yZb8PX2COKue-dVqM88FlJSenPbTwsB44Ysohzr9Xwx4xaYro/s400/DSC_0130.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXBNm94LmIRg3ur7RumCf5f5oKKjwXPKhlmH_mS_cxWa9eUmEgiWcuJ3DWPdMCEcMUPyP3kkVo_66TxQFBDsfMgaIukSDJIdN9-ak1q-VzYfChcdOrO6e0ACb40-nvtmGcNNqF6VtAyA/s1600/DSC_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXBNm94LmIRg3ur7RumCf5f5oKKjwXPKhlmH_mS_cxWa9eUmEgiWcuJ3DWPdMCEcMUPyP3kkVo_66TxQFBDsfMgaIukSDJIdN9-ak1q-VzYfChcdOrO6e0ACb40-nvtmGcNNqF6VtAyA/s400/DSC_0128.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPLieO3gWi8SkOyF7Upq3ny-uUPDST5BmHnfG4SMj91_TAeAxII3Og6EeOFnu6O4njZ9Z8Hy9nIerp5Kq4WqtvFbdVaiycRUnn0XagUr9bqZNd5DpNW1fmNqCKn7WADOZi8LXaaz8X9k/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPLieO3gWi8SkOyF7Upq3ny-uUPDST5BmHnfG4SMj91_TAeAxII3Og6EeOFnu6O4njZ9Z8Hy9nIerp5Kq4WqtvFbdVaiycRUnn0XagUr9bqZNd5DpNW1fmNqCKn7WADOZi8LXaaz8X9k/s400/DSC_0131.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOv7-KUn8iKS2m-QiECgJqb4dlbmLbAxVdcZ5P55Qucnq2IK8XjHddhsaWqtI7tt2MXU-HNIK5CIDveGEj7NVcnySWjtWYSgaxQiyBTvjW5-n9fL9A0oGTnRZa-eOniPvIpRbFC3whqg/s1600/DSC_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOv7-KUn8iKS2m-QiECgJqb4dlbmLbAxVdcZ5P55Qucnq2IK8XjHddhsaWqtI7tt2MXU-HNIK5CIDveGEj7NVcnySWjtWYSgaxQiyBTvjW5-n9fL9A0oGTnRZa-eOniPvIpRbFC3whqg/s640/DSC_0132.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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If you like your running flat it is a great place to go, beautiful in the sun, and with the right gear good fun. Even with my Yaktrax runner spikes/springs system there were times when grip was hard to come by. You certainly had to keep your centre of gravity right over your feet, so lots of small steps. There were also some unnerving cracking noises occasionally, and with hot water from leaking pipes finding it's way into the river in a few places, you had to pay attention. For the most part I was running on hard packed snow, on top of an awful lot of ice. In places the whole river was smooth and packed down, in others I ran on the 'road', at least I would be safe on the road, even I don't weigh as much as a car.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the 'slip roads' and my way off the motorway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road just keeps going.</td></tr>
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Maybe next time I'll see just how far you can go!<br />
<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-85527843971558538952013-01-06T13:33:00.000+08:002013-01-06T13:35:11.424+08:00"Great steaming drains Batman, it's cold"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With the heating and hot water (not that we'd know much about hot water) being provided centrally there is a great network of pipes running throughout the city. Some are underground, some above it and most of them leak, so steam rises out of the ground and some rivers/streams continue to run, at least for a little way. Of course once the steam has risen - it freezes again creating some interesting snow/ice sculptures.<br />
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More steam rising from the next manhole a bit further up the road. (Those of you in the UK may not recognise the big yellow shiny thing to the left of the picture, it's called the sun, you may have forgotten what it looks like.)<br />
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Our walk continued as it often does out to the river and along the embankment. The river is unsurprisingly frozen over completely now, and is now in use as a thoroughfare. There is a well worn 'road', many other car tracks, and a number of 'footpaths' all clearly visible on what was at one point a flowing river. Sadly the low sun meant the photos did not come out, but as I'm planning on making the river a bit of a run sometime in the next couple of weeks I'll try and get some pictures then.<br />
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One of the 'riverside' gers was inhabited and the stove was on, burning cheap coal (rather than tyres) by the smell. Just to emphasize how well suited to this environment those dwellings are, despite the stove belching out smoke and the inside undoubtedly warm and cosy as a result, there was still a layer of snow and ice on the roof, that showed no signs of melting. Now that's insulation.<br />
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It was a beautiful day. The track was easy walking, and ... umm...driving - they will drive anywhere, sticking to the roads is simply not part of the psyche.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The riverside embankment/dyke, if it's wide enough for a car and this section is, it gets driven on.</td></tr>
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It was a lovely walk but it was cold, the ski pants and all the gear worked well, though we could both have done with jackets that came a little lower and covered a bit more of us and as ever there was the constant battle with visibility, steamed up/frozen up glasses and a frost nipped nose.<br />
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You can't cover your nose and wear glasses, they steam up instantly, then the steam freezes, and cleaning them, even with a proper cloth scratches the lens. Also if you do cover your nose, eventually what ever you are using freezes making it hard to breath. So it's a real dance to maximise breathing, see where you are going without going snow blind, and ensuring your nose doesn't turn black on the end. Then without the glasses the moisture from your breath catches on your eyelashes giving you an entertaining white mascara effect.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and apparently it was 'only' -18C (positively warm ;-)</td></tr>
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It's good to be home!<br />
<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-51735773386140694182012-12-07T17:16:00.000+08:002012-12-07T17:16:57.789+08:00ran home todayWinter is no longer coming - it is here!<br />
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I thought I'd list what I wore on my run back from work, and it was just about right for the 6km 40 minute jog home.<br />
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shoes - normal inov8 roclites, with debri gaitor to keep out the snow (but a size too big)<br />
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3 pairs of socks - normal school socks, insulated thermal Japanese technology socks, heavy duty smartwool winter socks.<br />
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4 pairs of trousers, compression/cycling shorts, thick winter cycling tights, lined shell/training pants, windproof over trousers.<br />
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4 shirts/jackets - long sleeved thermal base layer, thick long sleeved base layer, running soft shell fleece lined hoodie, patagonia wind shell.<br />
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2 buffs, one mainly for the neck, one to cover the face and ears<br />
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1 thick fleece hat (hoods as required)<br />
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3 pairs of gloves, liner gloves, thin fleece gloves, big soft shell wind resistant fleece gloves.<br />
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I got home with my eye lashes white and icing, and the breathing increasingly difficult as the buff over my mouth and nose froze.<br />
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Now be careful out there!<br />
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-87876467096549679012012-11-23T09:14:00.000+08:002012-11-23T09:15:41.589+08:00Weather bugI know you are all fascinated by the weather here.<br />
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There is a weather station on the roof that provides some information to the Mongolian weather networks and it can be accessed through<br />
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<a href="http://weather.weatherbug.com/Mongolia/Ulan%20Bator-weather.html?zcode=z6286&units=1" target="_blank">ISU Weather station</a><br />
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It sounds ridiculous but it was -28 when we got to school this morning with a wind chill or feels like temperature of -38 but we walked in and it was fine, a little cool but not enough to put me off contemplating a run on Sunday, the temperature does not tell the whole story with regards to the weather in this country.<br />
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"it gets a bit uncomfortable below -25" I was told when I asked about running through the winter. I didn't believe him but he's right, anything above that is really very doable and with the right kit I'd go as far as to say down to -30 would not be 'unpleasant'.<br />
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The challenge is not the cold but the conditions underfoot, still should be running on the river soon. <br />
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Never thought I'd be saying that!5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-45043951764858390342012-11-22T21:27:00.000+08:002012-11-22T21:28:05.223+08:00Fire! Fire! Oh...just starting the car.So we have a whole load of cars that get rugged up for the night in the car park. You can pay $50 a month to park in the heated underground car park or you can rug up your car with specially made duvets, many of which are camouflage, though who they are hiding them from I have no idea. <br />
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For the life me I couldn't see how it helped, it's -25 or lower for most of the night, even putting a duvet over your car, no matter how well fitted, was not going to trap enough heat in a cooling metal box to keep it warm enough to start in the morning was it?<br />
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Apparently it is effective to a certain extent, that and going down before breakfast to light up and kick a small paraffin burner under the car, walk away eat breakfast and when you come back an hour later all is toasty warm and good to go, at least that is what I was told. Never seen anyone do it, never seen the remains of a burner left on the ground - I was skeptical.<br />
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I was walking home from work tonight and as I approached one of the many building site entrances there was a powerful smell of cheap coal, I looked for the ger smoke stack and for other sources and could see nothing - nothing except a big old digger with a tarp covering it's engine casing, and smoke - smoke escaping from between the engine casing the tarp and the cab. There were 3 men in attendance and my camera was not within reach, so I have no proof but I swear they had lit a fire under the thing and were waiting for the diesel to melt enough to get the thing going.<br />
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So maybe the paraffin burner idea is not such a silly idea.5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6050469244779713781.post-46320312647226520942012-11-11T17:55:00.000+08:002012-11-11T18:15:49.097+08:00An early winter walkWe got nicely rugged up and went out this afternoon, through the park and out to the river. Along the river bank, back through a housing complex. It was only -10/-12C, but the air quite literally sparkled, it was like there was fine glitter falling, all the moisture in the air was turning to ice around us, it was quite magical.<br />
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The park looks very different white.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even the new trees get rugged up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now what left those tracks?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river is just about frozen</td></tr>
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And in some places it is already frozen enough for the men to be out playing a kind of bowls, kind of curling, kind of skittles, kind of non of the above.<br />
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Still a building site, might look a little better white but the entire place is still one big building site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY66YdOlbQIEFQPkid5hJ7SN0J1TCtGLEh_U-65dmTN2HsHsjo3oQBSiZKdTh-09mf_rpgQOGcfd30TsTZRlKutw1YXulUAdTQTaT1ZuHtFY4oIMylmp66_wBwr62OYiisn3OmOUZZfBc/s1600/DSC01946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY66YdOlbQIEFQPkid5hJ7SN0J1TCtGLEh_U-65dmTN2HsHsjo3oQBSiZKdTh-09mf_rpgQOGcfd30TsTZRlKutw1YXulUAdTQTaT1ZuHtFY4oIMylmp66_wBwr62OYiisn3OmOUZZfBc/s640/DSC01946.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labourers accommodation.</td></tr>
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<br />5imonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05740802663913606875noreply@blogger.com0