first snowfall

it was the weekend. the night before, it rained a bit. as i was entering my kitchen to prepare for my late breakfast, i saw through my window snow falling - not much but it was all over. it was the first before winter and autumn has just started. the aspen trees near my flat have just started to turn yellow. again i say, this is mongolia.

i did my laundry as i was having breakfast. cleaned the flat a bit. took a shower and i was off on the streets - to do some food shopping later. i wished i had my cap with me though. my ears were beginning to feel numb because of the cold almost-winterlike breeze. i dropped by my office first to check on my emails.


there was a small ger district near my building. i saw some of the chimneys puffing out smoke. it seemed it has really started to get cold again.

see you again aaron, mc!

the most recent batch of volunteers (february) walking along portion of tourist avenue, to margie's place for the set dinner. everyone brought something as well (see those bags?). the dinner was also meant to be a farewell bash (kinda) for aaron and marie claude from canada. it's like welcome (for the new) and goodbye (for the old) at the same time!

FOR THE STOMACH: beef adobo, steamed rice with beans, asian salad and cornick (deep-fried corn)

jim, aaron (bye superman!) and sarah

rayso, lindsay, mc (back) and christianne



alain and lindsay



christianne and willy

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/