First Blog of 2007!

Well, I am sorry about the delay but I am finally able to begin this years blog. Things have been so hectic but have settled down now that Amina and Tugsu have returned to the states. However, that is getting ahead of myself and there is a lot to say so I will begin from the beginning. We arrived safely after a long flight but the brief hotel stay in the Seoul Airport really revived us. The difference between the Seoul and Beijing airports is like night and day! We had a wonderful stay there and were quite comfortable without all the hassle. Our arrival in UB was much less an event this year as we had told everyone to stay away from the airport, we had arranged a driver to meet us there and that was plenty. Well, not even the driver showed up! We were stuck getting a taxi but it went smoothly and before we knew it we were whisked away to Tugsu’s family home in UB's remote first district.

What took place over the next two days was chaotic and horrible! So much to arrange in so little time. Visa issues, police registration, supplies to buy, travel arrangements to make, a conference for Tugsu to prepare for, and finally of course family to meet. We managed to accomplish most of it but it was awful! Finally we got out to Huvsgul on June 20th (after arriving on the 18th). The plan was for Tugsu to head up to Tsagaan Nuur and do some work with the Reindeer Herders (Tsaatan) to help her prepare for her August 3rd workshop with them and they would drop Amina and I off in Renchinlhumbe to begin my work establishing a market there with BioRegions. However, apparently the road to Renchinlhumbe was washed out so it was on to Tsagaan Nuur for everyone. What a wonderful thing to have happen, it made for a lot of fun for us all! What occurred will have to follow, but it involved Reindeer Polo!

This is Tugsu in front of the Reindeer Herder Center in Tsagaan Nuur. You can see our tents out in the back.
Another beautiful vista from the Tsagaan Nuur downtown. The next post will take us all the way to Renchinlhumbe (June 27th), oh well, we will eventually get to the present. Till then,