long forgotten!

Goodness...I just came across this blog draft that I'd forgotten to publish. It's also unfinished. But you get the gist. The 'newest' post is actually below this one...a bit confusing, sorry!




Merry Mongolian New Year:


It's a confusing time of year in Mongolia. Over the last couple of weeks my brain has drifted in and out of 'sleep' mode, a strong desire to fall into its comfortable spot on the beach, in the sun wearing nothing but a bikini and some Banana Boat, has washed over me. But alas, it's -30 outside and Mongolians don't celebrate Christmas! But you wouldn't know it to look around the city. The stores are filled with plastic trees, tinsel and baubles.  A giant Santa stands proudly outside one of the biggest office towers in UB. He's cradling a similarly giant bottle of coke. The facade of the State Department Store is decorated in lights in the shape of Santa being pulled by his reindeer. In Sukhbaatar Square, the heart of the city, stands a 10 meter tall tree...here's me wishing you all all a "Merry Christmas" type of greeting:

Apparently all the trees and Santas are a hangover from the Soviet occupation.  The trees are "New Year" trees and even though most Mongolians don't exchange gifts and feast on mince pies at Christmas, Santa is everywhere. I haven't yet figured out how Mongolian's rationalise his "existence".  My housemates Lauren and Jess work on Freedom square and all day long carols blare on the PA system...carols are the standard playlist in most restaurants and shops too. Confusing.


Even though I'm a million miles from home I haven't missed out on any of the Christmas festivities. In fact it's probably the only time in my life I can justify having a Christmas week! My intake had a Secret Santa on our regular Wednesday night dinner. We ate spag bol, popped gorgeous handmade crackers (minus the crack) and exchanged gifts.

Jess, Ben and Bron

Jessie's handmade crackers

On Thursday, the entire AYAD crew were treated to a lovely dinner at Veranda restaurant, famous for its Italian food (I know! Italian food in Mongolia!). Santa came baring gifts from afar (the AYAD managers had been stockpiling the mail for days) and we played limbo, celebrity heads and human Christmas tree.

Munkhtuul the AYAD manager

Delicious feta salad

Grannies and Santa

Jess clearly hit the jackpot - 4 boxes of French food direct from Paris

Half devoured steak

Our team Kapt Kirsten, the winning tree

Ben - looking fairly enthusiastic about the hula

Panna cotta!

On Christmas eve Lotus held its staff New Year party.all the AYADs went to see the Mongolian ballet perform the Nutcracker! We had second row seats from which we had a great view of the stage and the orchestra pit.