Well, I'm back

Mongolia was amazing! We had to change flights in China to get there (10 hours:upset. For the first few days we collected supplies at the Black Market, for our trek and journey.

Next we headed to the Lotus Centre, an orphanage, where we spent four days playing with the kids, giving them toys, cloths and attention, which they so rarely get. For the first two days we took them to the Naadam Festival (state celebration), including horse racing and archery. After avoiding a dust storm, we went with the kids to the circus then back to the centre. The second day we took them to the State park, teaching them football and 'ultimate frizbee', ending with a trip to the opera theatre, to hear true Mogolian singing and instruments. That was bloody amazing

We took them to summer camp next, set up a ger for our group to sleep in (17 in one ger, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS). We sat around fires singing Wonderwall, Fionn and I saw an amazing view from the top of the hills. Finally we left the kids and set off for Renchelum and our trek.

Mongolian transport is a must try No roads, no brakes, no speed limit. My life flashed before my eyes at least fifty times Reaching Renchelum, we set off on horses. May I take this time to say "my god, my ass, my god, my balls!" Oh, Mongolian saddles and wild horses do cause chaffage I first had Aoife, who was too slow, then I had Judas (from the name you can guess why I got ride of him), next was Nelly, far more sturdy but still not perfect, finally there was Jeremy, who was just right These are horses by the way

We killed a lamb for food and had that with rice on day two of the hose trek. After a rest at a lodge, we set off on foot, to meet the Tsatan people. It was VERY hot there, so we often rose early, leaving by 6:00 am, to get our walking done by 2:00pm, when it just became too hot to carry on. After three days of this, tempers did flare a little

Meeting the Tsatan was a once in a life time thing. So different from anything I've seen, sadly we only had two days to spend with them, but it was well worth it. Back-tracking to Renchelum, where we had a caberat night, I actually sung.

We were now on R and R (one week left), so we headed for Lake Kovsgol, at Khatgal. It was beautiful. The lake was as blue and clear as Jamaica, surrounded by lush green hills and pine forests. Really, really nice.

Back to Ulaanbatar (the capital), by train and we visited the Ghadan Khiid (main monestry) with all the monks and a fat ass big statue of Buddah in gold, seriously it was like 15 feet high. We visited the Winter Palace (a truly magnificent Chinese style building). We ate at a magnifiecent restaurant and spent a drunken evening kareokiaing

Back to Beijing for two days, where we visited the Silk Market (great for cheap bargins), Tiananman Square and the Forbidden City. But, what trip would be complete with a hike up the Great Wall? So we did that, which was knackering, but great fun For our final meal I ate dogmeat (which was surprisingly lush, YUMMY!!!) We left today and I got back at 10:00. I'm tanned, some what fitter, rich with pressies and, just maybe, a little bit wiser