Hotel Mongolia

The Entrance to Hotel Mongolia

Today we went to the second most interesting place in Ulaanbataar.  Hotel Mongolia, located outside of the city about 10 km, is one of the most interesting hotel/restaurants in the city.  Richard's boss, Jicardo, brought us there for lunch.

Door knockers

They have the coolest doors here.  I'd like one of these on my apartment door! 

Welcome to our home!

Take a tour with me of the Hotel.  There are many interesting things to look at.

The Khan's

The Hotel and surrounding property

These pictures were all around the ceiling

A Display case of former life in Mongolia

This is the Restaurant

I've been told that in Chinggis Khan's day those bowls under the statue were filled with Vodka!

See the elaborate dragons?

This is a hotel and those ger's are the rooms - it cost $100 a night to stay here

This was taken from inside one of the rooms

The entrance to the ger

Even had a TV!

They were obviously preparing the room!

The Restaurant

Cool Leather Menu

The grounds

Richard's boss, Ricardo

Richard's wife!!

The lovely river

Birch trees

For some reason these trees remind me of Dr. Zhivago

As you can see it was a beautiful day and I had great company!

They even had a beach with a volleyball net!!!!!!!!!!!

That truck on the right is the Ice Cream truck!!!

Lastly, beautiful paintings displayed in the hotel

Lovely, yes?

Are you ready to visit Mongolia yet?  Our doors are always open and our hearts are wide open!  We have an extra room and maybe will even have door knockers when you arrive!  Come soon!

Vast Land and Big Sky

Sheep Station

The countryside of Mongolia is beautiful with its green rolling hills and the blue blue sky.  It is something to come out of the noise of the city to this quiet place and feast your eyes upon the beauty of God's creation!  This picture reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah, " He shall lead His flock like a Shepherd, He shall gather its young in His arms, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."

Birch Trees

My favorite tree, Birch Trees, grow up and alongside the mountains.  They are a hearty tree, must be for the winters are -40F here.  One has to be hearty to live in Mongolia.  The contrasts of life are great.  One truly appreciates the passing of winter and emergence of spring in a place like this!

Tiara Ger Resort

 We spent a weekend here in Tirelge Park, a preserved park just outside of Ulaanbataar.  Yes, we slept in a ger, the traditional Mongolian home and found it to be very comfortable and adequate.  Many people come to the countryside in the summer for their holidays and enjoy hiking, relaxing, riding horses, and playing games.

Lei Teachers Staff

Richard and I went with his office staff to Tirelge Park to enjoy the weekend together.  It was very enjoyable and a lot of fun.  We did some hiking and went horse back riding on the famous Mongolian horses.  The horses are smaller than horses in America but very fast. 

My horse wanted to go faster than most of the group

Here I am trying to hold back the horse and wait for the others!

Most of the horse or the riders were to shy or afraid to let the horses gallop off.  Knowing a little about riding from many years ago, I tried to re-aquaint myself with riding and slowly progressed from the walk, to trot, to half gallop, and then finally without warning my horse took off in a full gallop.  I almost flew off but thankfully grabbed hold of the saddle handle and went flying off into the distance.  It felt like flying!

The Ger's were exceptionally clean and very nice inside.  Take a look at the Ger where Richard and I stayed.  They are heated by a wood burning stove.

The gers at this resort were exceptionally clean and nice

Queen Size Bed!

And a sofa too!

Some beautiful shots

There are wolves in the hills!

Horse kill!

 

 

 

 

Boxes arrived!

Our boxes arrived from America last weekend.  I believe it was Friday morning that we had prayed, "Lord, please send our boxes!"  We were really needing our things for cooking and our spring clothes.  We set off for work and came home at quitting time.  I was hoping to get home in time to see the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  We got home and Richard turned on the TV remarking with a gasp, "they are walking down the aisle!"  So we watched some while making dinner and just sat down to eat when the phone rang.  It was Ganna, the Secretary at MIU.  She was so excited - "Your luggage is here and can you come right now and pick them up?"  Of course, we were jubilant!  "Yes!"  She said she'd pick us up at our apartment.  I was trying to explain over the phone that we needed a van because we had 8 BIG boxes.  "Yes, yes", she said.  "Be downstairs in 10 minutes and we will go!"  So, we went downstairs to find her in a small taxi!  I told her there is no way we could fit 8 large boxes in this taxi.  So she called MIU's driver who came in the minivan.  Off we went across town which is normally a 20 minute drive but this was now 6:15pm.  Rush hour!  It took us 1 hour to get to the cargo company and there were our boxes in a heap outside the building.  All present and accounted for without damage except for one which was slightly opened but nothing missing.  We fit them all into the van which was in itself a small miracle and set off for home. 

I unpacked all the boxes that night - it took me 2 hours!

It was like Christmas opening gifts!

This picture is taken in the entrance hallway of our apartment

    Richard took a few pictures of the apartment afterwards with our stuff from home.  Not sure if it looks much different but it sure feels more like home!