Lotus Children’s Centre New Year Show

The stage is set.

Seats laid out

The master of ceremonies takes her place.

The excited audience take their seats.

And the show begins……well it might if the lads can make up their minds what to do!!!!

But the girls know how it should be done.

Frosty and WC 3

This morning was very, very cold. WC 3 at least. There was ice formed on the inside of the inside window frame. But every cloud etc……this pattern on the glass.

And a scene from Narnia on the other pane. Gek and I walked out at about 9:30am. My breath immediately froze in a frost on my spectales and when I tried to clean them, the lens came out of the frame. A new WC indicator……the lenses in your spectacles contracts so much they fall out of the frames!!!!!! -25 deg C brother.

The Deel

For Christmas Gek has paid to have a dell tailored made for me. The actual garment took 6 mts of material and reaches down to just above the ankle. It is lined with a sort of quilted material to combat the cool climate here in Mongolia. The sash is 4 mts long and takes a bit of effort to wrap around the thigh. Apparently Mongolians wrap the sash round the hips and the Chinese around the waist. This is such an educational blog.

I love the colours. The sash has a rose emblem on it and the deel a relatively simple flower type pattern. The needle work is brilliant. I will wear it to ……………not sure yet. An appropriate hat and boots are needed to o complete the effect!!!!

Chadraabal’s Paintings

A long shot of the gallery with Chadraabal’s dad on the right chatting to a guest.

I know I should get the titles of the paintings but is difficult you know, taking photographs and clocking the title at the same time.

Mountains and snow featured strongly in the exhibition.

And horses, symbolic of Chinggis.

And my own favourite needs a second plug!

Chadraabal’s Exhibition Dec. 2006

Chadraabal is the son of Adiyabazar, the Mongolian artist featured in an earlier blog. Chadraabal’s wife is Gek’s friend Chuka. I know, complicated isn’t it! Chadraabal is standing next to my own personal favourite from the exhibition.

We have been to three exhibition openings and all have involved the cutting of a red ribbon.

Then comes a blue sash, the presents and the flowers.

Lots of flowers.

At Chadraabal’s opening we were entertained by a Horse Head Stringed instrument performance with throat singing. Throat singing has to be heard to be believed. I love it. Another interesting fact is that the strings are stopped (I think that is the correct term) by the finger nail.

And then the TV interview for the next evening’s news. I do love Chadraabal’s waist coat. Very smart indeed.

Diversity and one crazy person.

This series of photographs were taken during a 30 minute walk. Traditional garb then,

contrasting designs using fur followed by,

a pink bandit!!!! Check out the chap in the top right of this picture. My fingers were already hurting in my gloves.


I have cropped him and he is one crazy man!!!! What was he thinking of?

People Watching From My Window

Using the long zoom from my office window, here are some of the people passing by. Note the blue Mongolian boots. Gek has bought a pair…….purple, of course. They do not have a left foot, right foot. Just position neutral.

Scarves are a big thing and are also worn around the waist to keep your kidneys warm. Well it is W.C. 2 today darling.
Mates. Always arm in arm. Keeping close, keeping warm.

And finally, the trendy young things. I like the grandma, 1920’s hats. Very popular here. And leather has to be trimmed with fur. I really fancy a calf length, black leather coat trimmed with black fur. Very Russian. The State Department Store has them for around $250. Bargain.

New Bronze on the Block

Sunday 10th December 2006 these chaps arrived to set up a new bronze installation just off Chingis Avenue. Judging from the shoes, it is a man. He will be keeping the three horse company but what view he will have is not yet clear.

Not very dignified but at least he has some protection from the cold. Looking at the plinth behind him, I think he may be set up looking over my right shoulder at the library. I will keep you posted.

Night Snow.

Night view of the State Store from our apartment after today’s snow.

Today it has snowed, all day. Not snow flakes as you know them Jim, but very fine dusty type snow. It has been cold enough, probably W.C. 2/3, for the snow not to melt under the wheels of the traffic on Peace Avenue. Unlike in the UK, where armies of men appear as if by magic with machines charging up and down the highways and bye-ways chucking rock salt all over the place, nothing happens. Except that the cars slow down a little bit and the snow gets swirled around in the air turbulence they create. And do you know, hardly anybody bumps into anyone else!!! Amazing. UB drivers are a breed apart. Their spatial awareness and ability to judge distances is truly remarkable. Black ice has no chance, think sheet ice driving without studs.

Same night looking towards Peace. Totally dark outside. Cannon rocks!!!!

Ice Sculptures

CANON

Taking pictures of ice sculptures is not easy. No shadows, no contrast. Flash was the only thing that seemed to get any kind of acceptable picture. That and the wizardry of the CANON software.

DELL

Better result on the DELL installation. Why a monkey and a crocodile, I have not idea. I cannot image that either company is associated with either beastie!!!!!

The New Front to the Parliament.

Very smart. It has caused a bit of controversy in Mongolia but the overall effect is stunning. I like it.
The building work is still not completed but the front of the new entrance was partially opened to the public in time for National Day, 26 November.

After 800 years the main man still figures large in the nation. You have to wonder about the real man behind all the imagery. What was he really like?

These two scary guys are on either side of Khan. The bronzes are extremely detailed and quite magnificent. The wild Mongolian horses are small and they must be very tough to cope with an armoured warrior.

This strange little chap has recently appeared at the back of the parliament building. He is facing into the building keeping an eye on the politicians inside!!!

Advertising Extremes.

About 5 weeks ago, this huge television screen appeared outside the State Department Store. The whole structure was erected and working in less than a week. In runs adverts from about 7:30 in the morning to 12:00 at night. We know because we can see the thing flickering in the night sky from our bedroom window. The most bizarre advert had to be the one for Pepsi. Imagine, if you can, loads of rather buxom female gladiators in a Roman amphitheatre shaking their ample assets and chucking Pepsi into the crow to a Queen rock classic blasting out on the speakers. Rounding the corner of the Store, I am afraid the shock was too much. Uncontrollable laughter. I was almost in tears!!!!.

At the other end of the scale, these guys are doing their job in –15 deg C. Respect.

60th Birthday Bash.

Thanks guys!!! The VSO crowd organised a surprise gathering at John and Mary’s apartment to celebrate mine and John’s 60th birthdays. John’s birthday was on the 8th October with mine on the 11th. On the 8th the four of us had treated ourselves to a meal at the Casablanca in the Bayangol Hotel. This party was a bonus. Thank you.

Boy, it's cold out there!

The children get really bundled. Such little bodies would soon loose their heat really quickly. Babies look like featureless parcels with barely any human shape at all.

And of course, whatever the temperature, -15 deg C for example, the show must go on. I like the fashion here. I have no idea if it is unique to Mongolia, but the ladies here have style to rival the Italians. Just plain gorgeous.
And then there are those who just want to stay warm.

Framed

I love these moment photographs!



Remember it is W.C. 2, and still the sun glasses are on!

Very protective.

I think I might have been spotted.