the central library of mongolia

the central library is found along chinggis avenue. it houses about 3 million books and boasts of several antique records.

at the lobby

the main staircase

one of the reading areas

shelves in a room for european books

the storage rooms have been sectioned like this for easier access by the librarians

shelves for old and delicate books and records. they are covered with silk-like materials similar to or if not the same as the textile used for 'dels' (mongolian costume)

writings on wood

some writings on old paper, delicately bound and covered

zaisan memorial and russian monument

the imposing statue on zaisan tolge

the mongolian logo

entrance to the russian monument

incense lit by visitors and pilgrims

the incense stall

the statue at close range

the peak can be reached through a walk on a 612-step concrete stairway, or a drive on a paved road.




















a view from below

few steps to the top

the monument

an 'ovoo' on top of the hill

sunset at zaisan tolge

saturday tour

it was a tour annually arranged for foreign students in ulaanbaatar. i was invited by a colleague who just finished attending a mongolian language course in a local college.

we were on the bus at like 11 a.m. with a group of russian students. the bus guide was basically a russian interpreter, and we were assigned one whom at our first stop, we discovered to our dismay can hardly speak a whole sentence of english.

approaching peace bridge from UB.

midday

doves at gandan temple

sunset on the bus

lunchtime...and it was free!

potato salad, boodz in a soup, beef patties with rice and coke.

playing game in front of the national museum of mongolian history. it was a number game - in mongolian.

the penalty! kisses corresponding to the number missed!

overlooking part of UB from the russian monument at sunset

the culminating fellowship at mongolia international university

the emcee

a solo song

a human beat box

a mongolian dance by a russian student

a mongolian girl played on the piano a french love song

interpretative dance of a christian song

one of the tour guides - a mongolian student, thanking all who have come and participated

the MIU students singing an MIU song composed by a russian student

it was a great day! it was fun meeting a lot of new people, and having that feeling-young-once-again kind of thing being with students.

a party for a new building

this was a party in celebration of a new residential building for my colleagues at the workplace. it started around 11 a.m. and i got invited around this time as well. i felt that i was obliged to attend and so i went with a colleague who does not live in the new building. we brought along a bottle of chinggis gold vodka. it was my companion's choice and i trusted his judgment. as we arrived in the place, a singer was already singing. i was told he is a famous singer. older guy but very good in his singing. i can tell by the complicated inflections of his voice as he rendered his own version of local folk and traditional songs.

the singer with an accompanist beside a lama.

the lama said some prayers during the program.




a large jar of fermented horse milk (airik).
this is usually served in big bowls to visitors as they arrive. it is bottomless...












the horsemilk being served








the main meal initiated by the lama and officials at the workplace.









'ide' - the traditional mongolian cake for special celebrations and holidays







chopped roast mutton

tsagaalga - a dessert made of animal butter and raisins

the flat owners were individually called and served with horsemilk.

the horsemilk on the same bowl is supposed to be shared with the other guests.

giving of fermented horsemilk

and 'hadag' - blue scarves.

some guests and owners