"Bike Trouble' Quiz

I've been hearing this squeaking noise. Not at any regular intervals but fairly frequently and loudly! I oiled and greased but still it continued. I began to think it was beyond the realm of my mechanic capabilities when the noise persisted after the bike had stopped. I thought I was going nuts out in the middle of nowhere all by myself. How can I be hearing this squeaking when my bike is not moving? Please don't be concerned for my mental health. I've figured out the problem. Can you?

Today I am still in Kharhorin. The wind was so strong I had to walk sideways to the internet place, which was "setup by Government of India." Did you know that India gave aid? I didn't. Unfortunately they didn't give enough for me to be able to upload photos. So I decided I can leave tomorrow.

Just because there's a line on the map doesn't mean there's a road.

There is a reason the Tour de France isn't in Mongolia. This place was built as a test ground for four wheel drives. If there ever in my life were a time that I wished I'd had a hummer it would be now. Needless to say I've been walking my bike a lot.
But it is still worth it. The views are incredible. The sky goes on uninturupted like no place I've ever seen before. The days that I'm up past ten o'clock I'm treated to unreal sunsets that belong on posters that say 'Jesus loves you'. And along the dirt tracks, glistening vodka bottles tossed out the window by truck drivers add a little sparkle to my day. I'm also having fun startling goats and sheep with my Taiwanese recycling truck horn. Despite the shortcomings of my phrasebook, everyone is very friendly and I'm often invited into gers for bowls of warm milk and the odd unidentifyable meat product.
I'm currently in Kharhorin. Now it is just a cluster of about 30 cement buildings tucked at the end of a large valley. But once it was the famed capital of Chinggis Khan's empire. Im aiming to be in Tsetserleg in a few days. There, I hope I can post photos. For now you can just go out and rent (or download) "The story of the weeping camel" for a visual.

Ulaan Baatar

A friend told me that there's nothing in Ulaan Baatar. I disagree. It's big boulevards are lined with large concrete buildings painted optimistic pastels. The ground floors of these carribbean colored monstrosities offer up a variety of shops selling everything from rice cookers and waist wigglers to Korean fashions and North Face knock offs.

There are no McDonalds, Starbucks or 7/11s. Instead there are several "Berlin Burgers" and countless "National Fast Food" restaraunts offering gristly mutton and beef served with many different sidedishes. Including coleslaw, carrots and potatoes! Pretty tasty as long as you get there early enough in the evening, before they run out of the more popular menu items like omlettes or dumplings!

Wait, I haven't even gotten to the best part. Chinngis Khan. He's everywhere you look. He's on bill boards advertising energy drinks and bbq 's. (watch out George Foreman!) He's on packages of potato chips and bottles of vodka. There's even the Chinngis Khan Irish pub a few blocks from my guesthouse. He's so popular they carved him into a hillside nearby!

Other fun sights in UB include payphones and manholes. The payphones are people on the sidewalk with telephones (often doubling as lollipop and cigarrette vendors) At first I couldnt figure out how they were connected. Then I saw a cell phone taped to the side of one. Aha! This system is very convienient since Mongolian currency doesn't have coins and we all know how finiky those bill feeders on vending machines can be!

Manholes are also another urban obstacle. Just like in Guatemala, they dont have covers. So you really have to watch your step! Today I saw a car tire stuck in one. There was a crowd watching one man trying to pull the car out with a rope. I hope it worked out for him.

Thank you for all your comments! The weather has warmed up a bit. Everything looks good for me to start cycling on Friday. Then the real fun will begin. Stay tuned!

Things That Spin

Tibetan Buddhism is really popular here and there are temples with squeeky prayer wheels all over town. It's got me thinking about things that spin. Why are they so entertaining? It's no surprise when it comes right back around again. Still, it always manages to put a smile on your face. Since Im a compulsive list maker, I started this one:
Fun Things that spin
-the earth
-bicycle wheels
-merry go rounds, ferris wheels and the tilt a whirl.
- tops
- office chairs!
Things that spin that aren't so much fun
-my head at the immigration office on the second day (the first day the electricity went out) filling out several forms that I didn't end up needing anyway!

Fun with the Phrasebook!

I have to say Im pretty disappointed in the Mongolian phrasebook. There is no section on hobbies or what to say when you're drunk or touring with a band! I have managed to put together several fun sentences though. It only took these kids about three minutes to figure out I wasn't really a profesional wrestler.