building a ger, having tea in one. and the birds

Olgii is an dusty town, think of unfinished walkways and the ones that are finished are already going back to the state they where in before they were build. Nevertheless I liked it, like everywhere in Mongolia the people are friendly. And they speak a lot of english here. Maybe because it is an main overlanders gate way coming from or to Kazakhstan.(via Russia) and do meet a lot of bikers here. Olgii is maybe know for it recent outbreak of the black plague, around 2/3 months ago. It was caused by people eating raw marmot. A know Carrier, so I stayed clear of marmot.

I even helped building a ger in my guesthouse, an Kazakh one to be exact. They can be told from the mongols one as they are higher. Its a lot of work! It took all day, but I am told it can be done in 3 hours. That is you don't have to cut the wood to length like we had. To get all layers of cloth and islolation to the top, you have to flap air under while someone pulls a rope on the other other end. If that dosnt go smoothly the kids are sent to the top, the roof is surprisingly strong as later an full adult is sent to sew the ends together as there is an hole. The isolation layer consist of a thick layer of I think goat wool. And the family actual prefers the ger above the house next door. The house is only for the 2 most cold month s in winter.

While driving in Mongolia you see a lot of birds. The area around Olgii is know for it eagle hunting. But you see eagles everywhere. That is among other big birds. And they do sit along the highway as well. Like the pic below.

I keep finding packages off Kimchi, an spicy fermented cabbage from Korea. And do I like it since I have tasted it in Korea. It makes cooking for my self very easy, just have to make some rice. Other times I make pasta or what ever I can find in the market, ones my sister found glass noedels in shop.

Also have been invited to a ger to drink thee. And had some dried cheese, we could communicate very much butt was a wonderful experience. Than I continued onward toward an pass. And I was sent on a shortcut. That turnt out to be an rough 4x4 track. And had a thunder storm on top! Was scary.