Cell Phones in Mongolia
When I first started getting ready to go to Mongolia, I went to Google Maps and gave the place a long, hard look. Mountains. Fields. A few towns and Ulaan Baatar. That was about it. Knowing how much trouble I’ve had with international calls, I assumed there wasn’t a big enough market when people were spread out so much so I didn’t even take my cell phone with me. I mean, we’re talking about a total population of 2.8 million for the whole flipping country. Los Angeles alone is 3.8 million.
I still think my thinking was right, but boy were my conclusions wrong. EVERYONE had a cell phone. The monks in Gandan Monastery, the drivers of our vehicles, the nomads in the fields, even the Reindeer People had them.
Maybe I still would have had problems with connecting to the right company, and roaming charges would have eaten me alive, but at least it was possible. Then I could have fielded the hundred and one text messages and voice mails as I went instead of all at once when I got back.
Tina’s Big Plans
Tina: Now that my glob trotting daughter and her good for nothing husband are away, I can do as I please. I think I’ll call in the painters first, and get some color on these walls. Then I’ll remodel the kitchen. I’ll change the shape. After that I’ll have gardeners come and turn that back yard into a big, giant…
Modern Mongolia
It’s in the air. Not a crackling, but the tinny song of Sim’s over the cell phones of shepherds. No lights, but a satellite dish. Do they even know what an Xbox is?
In twenty years will they be like China? Will they have six lanes of highway and an airport you can drive under? Will they be recognizable?
“My country is devolving quickly,” says the guide, and I can’t decide if he means it that way or not.
The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the most.
See my Welcome page for details in the picture.
13 Facts about Gers
You’re probably looking at the picture and thinking “That’s a yurt”. That or maybe “what is that thing?” It’s the typical home of a Mongolian nomad. Also the typical home of a lot of people who aren’t so nomadic anymore. More about that in a minute.
1. Calling it a “yurt” is insulting to Mongolians. It’s like your saying the years of Russian oppression are more valid than their own heritage. Mongolians have good reason to be sensitive about this. If we’re talking Mongolia, call it a ger, not a yurt.
Suzie’s House 321 : Like Axel Rose, or Something
If she’d known it was going to happen, Emma would have worn a mask. So obvious; she didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it before. Of course the teacher would recognize her if she showed up and the mystery singer for Malaprop didn’t.
The Serialists of Auguast 28th
This week’s featured author: Novroz. Because I was in the mood to make a button. 🙂
This is the hub for The Serialists, a meme for people who post original, serialized fiction on their blogs. If you have one or more posts you would like for us to read, please put the direct link(s) to the post(s) in the linky. Remember to visit one another and comment. We all want to hear from our readers.
Gandan Monastery
Photos 1,2,and 7 from my Thursday 13 last week were taken at the Gandan Monastery in Ulaanbaatar. In case you missed it, Ulaanbaatar (pronounced like lawn bought-er) is the national capital of Mongolia. I know of at least two Buddhist monasteries there. We visited one.
Globe Trotters
Tina: So nice to be back where I belong. Things are going to be different this time, I tell you. I think we should start by re-arranging the dishes in your cupboards. I find them inconvenient. Then we’ll tackle the room mate issues. Hey, where are you going?
Jill: Outer Mongolia. We’ll be back in a month. Good luck with the room mate.
Previously in Jack and Jill: Tea-d Off
The theme for this week’s Jack and Jill is globe as suggested by The Boy
Want to see what I can do with a word or phrase? Make a suggestion.
Big Feet
Tourist: What are they for? I mean, there’s the statue for learning, and that bunch for long life. What’s the spiritual meaning for building only feet?
Tour guide: It’s a beginning.
Tourist: Oh. I see.
Tour guide: No, I mean it’s just the first part made. When the rest of the parts are done, they’re going to put it together in the mountains.
The challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story in exactly 55 words. Flash Fiction 55 is hosted by the G-man, a host with the most.
True story – the Mongolians are building an enormous Buddhist statue. Now that they are no longer under Communist rule they are flexing their religious muscle. But they won’t turn away help. If you’d like to contribute, they take donations here.
Suzie’s House 320: The Cost of Quiet
When did he become so irrational? Rey nearly talked himself out of his promise to the members of the band called Malaprop. He had enough of sullen teenagers in a normal work day. He didn’t even like taking students during the summer. So why must he associate with them now?
The Serialists of August 21st
Featured author: Ann Pino, who didn’t miss a week, even when I was wandering around in the hinterlands. Excellent work, Ann.
This is the hub for The Serialists, a meme for people who post original, serialized fiction on their blogs. If you have one or more posts you would like for us to read, please put the direct link(s) to the post(s) in the linky. Remember to visit one another and comment. We all want to hear from our readers.
Unpacking
I seem to have lost one of my camera memory cards. It’s one from the beginning of the trip. I know this shouldn’t slow me done, but there it is. I feel like I can’t do anything else until I find it.
Actually, I’ve tried to do all kinds of things, and so far have gotten precious little done. For instance, I’m trying to move a couple of book cases that got orphaned when I went on my trip. I got the first unloaded, the turned it over to find the base had been saturated in cat piss from when the cats we a serious problem.
I didn’t want to move it into position while it smelled like that for fear the cats would start another round of pissing all over the house. So that meant I had to find a cleaner. This put me on the back porch where I keep the chemicals, which lead to dealing with laundry, which put me back to unpacking.
I tell you, I can’t get anything do around here for all the other things I’m trying to get done,
