Christmas 2006

mongolians generally do not celebrate Christmas since they are buddhists by faith/religion. but even so, one can still see Christmas trees, lights and decors on display in the stores, restaurants and even residential places at this time of the year. only they are not as spectacular as those we have in the philippines. a festive atmosphere is lacking. and so judging from what one sees around, it does not give you the same feeling as what you usually have back home. (and at that time, there was not even enough snow to make up for that!)

i spent my Christmas eve with other foreign volunteers. we gathered at a british couple's flat. i cooked some rice noodles (pancit a la filipino). others brought pizza, couscous, eggplant salad, bread and dip. beers and wine were also present. the host prepared some mulled wine. it was actually my first time to taste it and i liked it.

we sang some Christmas carols. one guy had new lyrics for the 12 days of Christmas, and we had great fun singing the new version - "on the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a trip down to the Gobi..."

we had agreed to bring something for kris kringle that night. all the gifts were placed in two big bags and everyone took turn to get his surprise. there were ankle bones, vodkas, chocolates, etc. i got a ceramic potholder. it was very reminiscent of childhood to see everyone got excited over opening the gifts.

i compiled some disco music for the night because i know we cannot just be chatting and drinking until midnight (plus the fact that i know most people loved dancing too!). everyone got on their feet when 'dancing queen' started playing. since one can see the list of the MP3 music on the tv screen, everybody started to request which music is to be played next. i was in charge of this and it was just so hard to please everyone.

a few minutes before midnight we went back to more singing of some solemn and joyful carols. at 12 o'clock, we kissed and hugged together with our Christmas wishes. it was a different sense of belonging, being in a country very far from home and family. but it was all that we can have at the moment, aside from our memories and letters from our own countries.

a New Year's party before Christmas day

it was on a Thursday night. i attended the new year’s party (and this was even before Christmas) of most of the auditing companies in UB. It was held in a government hall for social functions. Maybe there were around 200 guests present. It was a formal affair – the women in long gowns and glitters, and the men in suits (some even wore tux). It seemed that every social gathering for most if not all Mongolians (particularly the women), was an opportunity to transform one’s self and put on his best in terms of physical aesthetics.

i was asked to sit with the organizers, including some of my colleagues. Our table faced the improvised stage, and was in the middle of the hall. There were the usual drinks – vodka, whisky, beer, juice, water and this time red martini. What do you expect from a $40 ticket invitation? The appetizer was potato salad (adapted from the Russians as I was told) – now becoming a favorite teaser for my palate. Served next was chicken roll with egg slice filling and gravy. The main course was roast beef served with rice and bread. I was not able to have dessert because we started dancing.

it was another awards night. the companies had a sports competition and they gave out the medals and trophies to the winners. Some of them even had them on while they were on the dance floor later. Also, there was a tango dance competition where I tried to take part but the music finished shortly after I and my partner just started doing our moves.

there was a raffle draw. We were asked at the entrance to pick one bill of 10Tg. Prizes given were food steamers, irons, rice cookers, vacuum cleaners and scarves. My number almost got lucky (if you believe in luck, and I do not) to be drawn. An auction for a roasted suckling pig was also held. It got sold for more than $2,000 and was discounted later by $500.

there was a short musical comedy show with local actors and a member of the audience. It was about flowers and butterflies. Everyone had a good laugh and though I did not understand what the actors were saying, I had my share as well. Comedy does not need language in order to be funny.

the dancing got wilder as the night moved on. I just found it strange to see people disco dancing in gowns and suits. I got to go around the dance floor and met a lot of interesting people. At one time, I got lost in the gyrating moves and sounds, not thinking that I was a foreign volunteer in the land of nomads and chinggis khan. I was just an ordinary person enjoying the times of his life…

belated birthday celebration with friends and volunteers 2006

it had been set a week before that saturday night. we were going to strings bar to have buffet and some band music and dancing.

it was on the wednesday before that weekend, i was told that buffet had been stopped because of foreseen holiday functions. i called the manager with whom i was a bit familiar, re-introduced myself and explained that our group was expected to consist of at least thirty people - all for the buffet. i knew that we were good business for that saturday night (except that we would not be like others out for the splurging) with our 'big' number. and so we got confirmed.

my vols colleagues who were having their first time at strings

the very good buffet meal which was enjoyed very much by those who came

the filipino band who played regularly at the bar. they did a good rendition of 'manila' by the hotdogs.

my filipino friends (some came in later)

it was dance to the max!

it was kind of a milestone celebration for a milestone age. two consecutive nights to commemorate reaching the top of the hill. it felt great. only with a different group of friends, loved ones, fresh and new relationships - hoped to be cherished and treasured until the twilight of memory...

1 celebration: financiers' day and my birthday

venue was at ulaanbaatar hotel.
financiers' day (more associated with accountants) is annually celebrated on the second week of december.
tickets to the affair were sold at around $45 per person.

the band was playing traditional mongolian music

the celebration hall for around 500 guests

appetizer and drinks upon arrival.

an unusual skill of the waiters holding 6 to 8 dinner plates for serving

























awarding of outstanding accountants


dancing followed after dinner. beer, vodka, whisky and wine overflowed...

to the edelweiss

(in Manzhir)
by joe

what a beauty
i thought
you had.
yet the cotton-like
delicateness
of your white
petals
caught me
unaware
of the symbol
you have.
eternal love
i was told
is what
you mean.
are you
for lovers
wanting more?


a girl i met
caught my eyes.
she is as
delicate
and pure
as you
i thought.
wrong i was.
i stumbled.
love (maybe)
it was
not.
but here
i kept thinking
of her smile
which struck me
- haunting
my memories
like the ruins
where i first
plucked you
from the
steppes
i walked.
she is
just like you
i want
and more.
i have
fallen
for that smile.
she stays
in my dreams
i would not
dare
to wake up from.
i wish
she will be
there
as you are
in the eternity
of my consciousness.
i wish
i can have her
just like you
even
for a moment
not just
in my dreams.

picture courtesy of www.scenequest.co.uk

volunteers' conference: the checklist

this was the last day of the conference.

it started with the checklist.

talked about the checklist.

listened about the checklist

still about the checklist...

IT WAS A LONG DELIBERATION ABOUT THE-----

WELL, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS DISCUSSED. and it was OK after the -----....

Indian meal for lunch and 'twas great!

after lunch - 'twas about World AIDS Day...

medicinal remedies - local prescriptions

for a bad cold

a fellow volunteer was suffering from a bad cold. she was told to get a wolf's tongue and have it wrapped around her neck. cover it with bandage or gauze. leave it there for a few days. remove it when it begins to stink. and that is very effective as mentioned.


for an upset stomach

take about 50 ml of vodka or whisky. straight and no chasers. i have never tried it though.

a farewell party for a volunteer

one of the filipinos - a lady volunteer had already spent more than two years of service in mongolia. now she has decided to go back to the philippines. this was a send-off party for her. we had filipino beefsteak, lumpiang shanghai (fried spring rolls) from scratch (wraps and all), fresh lumpia, vegetable salad and steamed rice.

the supposed buffet table with candles. however after all have taken servings, we started swarming around and just ate on it as well.

dance time!

opposite directions....why?

singing duo

karaoke time

go! feel!

watched tv too (or was it a movie?)

people

a bystander standing in front of a variety store. it's like the mongolian version of the filipino 'sari-sari' store.

a closer look - together

woman vendor at gandan

sunset at zaisan tolge

a view of ulaanbaatar from zaisan tolge

sunset

dusk

















twilight
















vesper

all the same, the visual panorama at sunset gives a sense of unusual tranquility

ulaanbaatar on a saturday tour

the meeting place was at sukhbaatar square, 10:00 a.m. we boarded two buses in front of the opera house. the itinerary consists of visits to different museums, the central library, the gandan monastery, and the russian memorial monument.

this is the main square at the heart of the city. a large statue of sukhbaatar, the famous patriot characterizes the square which was named after this historic figure.

the UB city hall facing sukhbaatar square

an edifice nearing completion to house the monuments of chinggis khan and his sons

the parliament building

at National Museum of Mongolian History

http://www.nationalmuseum.mn/

gandan monastery

the view that welcomes you as you enter the gandan complex - the temple doves flying amidst visitors to the monastery...

guests cannot help but to be friendly with the birds too. here they feed them with some nuts available upon purchase at the entrance.

the janraisig datsan

this imposing building has become a symbol of independence for the mongolians. it is a temple for the veneration of janraisig, the bodhisattva of compassion. it ws built in 1911 at the time of bogd khan, the 8th jebzundamba. the janraisig statue stands inside this building, at 26.5 meters. it is made of copper from erdenet mine and is gilded in gold.

for more information visit http://www.gandan.mn