a day in Darkhan

Yesterday I went to Darkhan to make a presentation to the students that will present their bachelor's thesis.
So it's me in the bus going to Darkhan!

Before that Duya helped me to get to the bus station. It took us 1 hour!
The bus ride to Darkhan is 3.5 hours (very long)! But the bus is quite comfortable so that was ok!

In the middle of the way we stop at some station, I found this statue funny!

this is the bus, half empty or full, depending how you look at it!

and if you are wondering, yes it was cold outside, it was snowing that day! But of course!!!

and windy as you can see on the ground!
But in the bus it was hot, except that all the windows where frozen...

After the presentation and before my way back, I went with my former colleagues to have a drink. It was really great to see them again!

And this is the cocktail they offered me, so nice!
And then back to UB, arrive at home 11pm exhausted!!!

Buddhist ceremony

I went to a Buddhist ceremony this week-end.
We had to bring a bowl with sweats that we like and then eat them in 3 days. This is my bowl :-)

There were 9 lamas! Reciting the prayers that we have ordered before.
The ceremony was about 1 hour, it's held in only specific days.
It was a really great ceremony!

:-(

This is what I use the most for the moment!
Why???
Because since I am back almost every evening the electricity is stopped, well actually not stopped but not working !
It can be a quick outage  (30min) to a long one or very long !
And what does it mean?: in the dark of course, that's why the lamp, no cooking (dinner is always late lately) and me more and more upset!
And this is not everywhere, my room and some others!
I hope the problem will be fixed soon otherwise I am the one to have an outage!!!!

Big tower

This is going to be the biggest tower in UB!
This is the stand from end of last year
I have to say this is too cold now for me to make a check on the advancement!
But one thing is sure in UB they are building like crazy… let's see how it looks like!

La galette

I brought from France the galette and another french cake that we have eaten today!
I am red because this is extremely hot in this room and if you open the window this is extremely cold, just choose :-)

I guess who got the feve? Me of course, I wear the crown!
And this is some of the teachers that were there !

And back for Tsagaan Sar!

After 1.5 month in Europe I am back in Mongolia!
The Jetlag and the cold/pollution are a bit killing me but I am ready for my 3rd Tsaagan Sar or white month or the lunar new year!
For that occasion the special "cake" is prepared.
Depending on the size of your family you have more or less layers and at the top some tseven.

After that you put all possible candies on it!

And this is another one!

This small one is for god!
Notice the french candies and Lu on it! (somebody was in Europe :-))

After that you put on the table more things like a big piece of meat, fruits, alcohol, ...

This is a bigger table

With Airag (the fermented horse milk), just delicious!

And some milk products, with the famous aaruul, for those who know!

And course there was buuz to eat and one of them was containing a lucky coin! Not for me but ok!

There is also the new year calendar, this is mine (I am a rabbit) and seems I will do pretty good this year!

So the Thursday night we have eaten a lot and the next day was the greeting day, were you give your respect to everybody and where you receive some presents.
These are mine: Chocolate, magnet and house shoes, just what I need!
I am very happy with it!
This was a great Tsaaran sar!!!