jc + jj in mongolia.

Sep 24

[video]

Mongolia Reflections- Traffic

jj wrote this a little while after arriving in UB, for the fine folks he is friends with on facebook. the roads have gotten even crazier since the start of school in september.

So what’s Mongolia like? I have received a few emails asking that question. First off, I live in a city. Not just any city but the countries largest at 1.1million, which is almost half of the nations population! Here in UB, we have lots of traffic. Lots. Driving here is crazy. If you thought it was bad in Mexico City, its nothing to UB. Specifically, the drivers here obey no laws. I have seen traffic cops on hoods of cars. Drivers are programmed to never stop. Today for example a car was pulling out of a lot behind me and ran right into me, expecting me to move. Instead I used my hand on the hood to keep myself upright. Despite all this craziness, I (and other expats) almost never see wrecks of cars or humans! And despite all the horn honking, this anarchy is not road rage. Rather its a city and it citizens dealing with the exponential growth of a city not equipped for so many cars. Most unfortunately bicycles are never seen. At least there are lots of carpools happening. Anyone with a car becomes a defacto taxi.

Due to the busyness of traffic I have to run early in the morning. Its ideal anyhow as the pollution from cars is at a minimum. I often see other foreigners running early. The bright sun and cool temps add to the peace of running through the various neighborhoods of the “Red Hero”

Sep 17

[video]

Sep 12

yes, that’s an ikea billboard. in mongolia. as seen from peace bridge. (and the store exists!)

yes, that’s an ikea billboard. in mongolia.

as seen from peace bridge.

(and the store exists!)

Sep 11

shaky bridge up to the monastery, terelj national park.

shaky bridge up to the monastery, terelj national park.

Sep 08

UB by night. the global peace festival drew a large crowd to sukhbaatar square for speeches, entertainment, bicycling in the dark, and glow sticks. august 26, 2011

UB by night.

the global peace festival drew a large crowd to sukhbaatar square for speeches, entertainment, bicycling in the dark, and glow sticks.

august 26, 2011

movie nights.

we developed a pretty good system for watching movies in a busy hostel using these tools:

-1 suitcase

-1 netbook computer

-1 headphone splitter purchased for 1000 T at the black market, plus headphones

-2 pillows

-1 bottom bunk

optional (necessary) tools:

-golden gobi chocolate, in the form of crispy rice or coconut

we stood the suitcase upright, with the netbook on top, our legs hanging off the side of the bunk like it was a couch (a much more comfortable option than both trying to stretch out on the twin bed with the computer between us).

movies watched in the UB summer:

  1. Down By Law 
  2. The Adjustment Bureau
  3. The Matrix
  4. The Matrix Reloaded
  5. The Matrix Revolutions (JC had only seen the first one. After seeing the full trilogy, she thinks that might still somehow be the case)
  6. Doggy Poo (South Korean stop motion short. About dog poop. With feelings.)
  7. Serenity (after getting JJ to watch Firefly for the first time)
  8. Raising Arizona (because Nicolas Cage wasn’t terrible in something once)
  9. Harry Potter 7.2 (at Tengis Cinema)
  10. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
  11. On the Waterfront
  12. In the Loop (I think the entire street heard us laughing. And swearing.)
  13. The Apartment
  14. Smokey & the Bandit (JJ had to explain how beer sales used to work. Some of us are young, okay?)

[video]

Sep 05

[video]

the key to being a pedestrian in UB: jump into the street, and be quick about it.

the key to being a pedestrian in UB: jump into the street, and be quick about it.