Happy Holidays from Mongolia!

The beautiful Christmas trees are everywhere with their bright lights glittering off the snow and out into the night sky enchanting all of us.  Holiday cheer is upon us!  Please enjoy these unique Mongolian scenes.

Just the other night I enjoyed a Christmas dinner at a favorite restaurant with my former PA, Boogii and her family.  Sweet little Huchit is 3 1/2 and adorable!

A few of us went to the highly successful IWAM Christmas Fair and I couldn't resist taking this photo.  Dolls on one side and frozen chickens on the other!

Well, you know it's the holidays when a Bond movie comes out.  I don't think they'll hire us as the next Bond girls, but....

We enjoyed the new, very plush movie theatre in Zaisan and saw The Good Dinosaur in the VIP Lounge which seats about 25 people.  It was 30,000T which is about $15.00 and included Lazy Boy chairs, popcorn, soda and a blanket, of course!  



Christmas time at the Shangri La Hotel with a father and his two children enjoying the music.

On Sunday we had brunch at the Shangri La saying goodbye to a friend who studies Buddhism.  She invited four monks from one of the local monasteries.  Again, I couldn't resist taking this photo--two monks checking out their smart phone.

One of the door greeters at the Shangri La.

Betty's Memorial on Friday, November 13, 2015

My cousin Betty passed away in October and I was very fortunate to be able to fly home for a few days and participate in her memorial, a celebration of her life.  Family and friends gathered on a spectacular Southern California day and we truly ended up celebrating her life from the graveside service at 10am until the Disneyland fireworks at 10pm which she loved.  We shared many stories with laughter and with tears.  Please enjoy these photos.

Service in Rowland Heights

Betty loved Balboa Island so we took a cruise around the harbor.

Her brother, Fran

Her brother, Joe and sister, Margie

Her son, Matt

Her son, John

Her son, Billy

Her daughters, MaryAnn and Janet

We left the harbor and went out into the open ocean and tossed roses in the beautiful blue Pacific saying our goodbyes.

Her daughter-in-law, Sarah with Margie and Diane



Betty loved Starbucks so Margie and I took a ferry over to the Island and enjoyed her favorite, Iced Latte.

Dinner was a fun time for all at the Spaghetti Factory in Newport.

What a great way to end a wonderful day!

Family and friends are the best!

The next day I was flying out, but I always have time to watch my granddaughter Shayne's soccer game (she scored a goal) and grandson Bodhi's below....

Wow!!!

When I left Mongolia, the weather was good and of course, then flew into the warm sunshine of California.  However, when I returned to Mongolia, temperatures had taken a nosedive, -26F when I walked to school on Thursday...yikes!!!  But anyhow, I love this sign about "Black Friday Sale."  Mongolians don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but hey a sale is a sale!!!  So Happy Thanksgiving to you all...and enjoy your shopping!!!

  

Halloween in UB

Five of us from the American School went to an IWAM Halloween Party last night at a Mexican restaurant called MexiKhan.  Now there's a mixture.  It was great fun!  I love Halloween:)

I didn't even recognize myself!

Out and About in Ulaanbaatar/Changing of the Guard

It's Fall Break and I'm off for a week with more exploring of UB.  I tried for the third time to get a video of the Changing of the Guard at Chinggis Khan Square (formally Sukhbaatar Square which I had just learned to pronounce), but alas it's not working!  I think I take better photos than videos so please enjoy what I've captured.  To witness this in person with the guards moving to the music you sense that the statue of Chinggis Khan could awaken at any time and once again march through the Mongolian steppes and beyond.  *Note:  I may try for a fourth time!

The boots are designed to symbolize gentleness and harmony with the earth. At the tip of each boot, the toe is turned up to avoid digging into the earth with each step.

 

I topped the day off with an afternoon tea at the new elegant Shangri La Hotel enjoying the soothing music of this quartet. 

 

500px Global Photo Walk in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Sept. 26

This is an annual worldwide event where thousands of photographers come together on the same day to celebrate their local communities through their love for photography.  As you can see from the photo we had a lot of fun not only taking pictures, but getting to know each other and the community.  You can view my photos at 500px

New vs Old Country vs City

Many times we take photos of only the "beautiful" things and not the day to day activities/changes that go on in any place that make it what it is or will be.  I live in an area of Ulaanbaatar called Zaisan and when I was here the first time it was mainly country, not city with a few small buildings and the Buddha statue.  Our school was the tallest structure around.  Well, that has certainly changed.  Mongolia's economy is not what it used to be so we're not sure where the money is coming from to build these huge apartment buildings.  But that's another story.  Change has its good side and not so good side and a whole lot in the middle that no one is sure about.  By the way, all these photos are within a mile or less of my school/apartment.

This is the way I walk to the bus etc. and this is supposed to be a sidewalk, but cars seem to rule.

Same walk to the bus and this wire has been hanging since last spring!!!

Trash has always been a problem in Ulaanbaatar, but maybe it's worse with all the new construction. 

Off to the right is a very luxurious apartment complex and off to the left are mainly gers.

This is the same apartment complex and further down is a very nice and new hospital.  Inside the extremely tall fence on the right is the juvenile detention center.

I took this photo for the contrast, but also because I never see numbers on buildings etc. and sure enough there's number 47 on the fence.  But I don't think the road has a name.

These are the children hauling water to their gers.  A very common sight.  Most of the time I only see the children doing this--two of them maybe 5 years old.  

This is one of my "haunts" Tom 'n Toms for tea/coffee.  It's right down the street from my school.  To get to it...well, see below.

They somewhat improved the roads over the summer, but still no sidewalk for us pedestrians. 

This little guy is trying to get across before any cars come.  He knows they don't stop!

Part of the problem with all the new construction is that it's taken a toll on the roads.  This is right where I walk to get back to my apartment.  It's always a challenge, but we've learned to say, "it's Mongolia!"

Ah! I found a new place, close by at the university and voila someone is growing sunflowers.  So beautiful!!!