Into the Semi Gobi Desert, Communal Living in a Gur (Nomadic Tent) and Camel Riding
It was a short ride, by Mongolian standards, to the next highlight of the trip…Dune walking at sunset. We were blessed with a beautiful late afternoon and made the most of it.
So as the day was drawing to a close we headed for dinner with the Nomadic Family. On the way I tentatively raised the subject of a cold beer, but out of politeness stepped backwards.
But the gang had other ideas so I was quite happy to go with the Group Decision.
Eventually we reached our destination which was a cluster of three Gurs. The main one was where the family lived and was decorated in a local style with paintings and carvings. There was also electricity and an internet connection. This is where we had dinner which consisted of steamed rice with some vegetables and (I think) cheese. The Gur was warm because these things are insulated with the finest cashmere in the world.
After dinner it was time to retire to our own Gur which did not have any electricity – only an LED lamp powered by solar cells and batteries. No running water, but a stove which used cow dung as its fuel.
As mentioned in a previous installment of this story, we were told very little about the Group and the accommodation. We were now approaching the moment upon which Carlos and I had briefly pondered during the day. Whenever I have booked an overnight train ticket, or a tour, the operator has made it clear that I may have to share accommodation with a stranger, and that the sexes may be mixed. Not so here, as we entered our communal lodgings.
In the event there was little or no embarrassment and there was more concern when Carlos reported back following his visit to the toilet. The toilet was, apparently, as expected with the hidden danger of an extra hole before the main hole.
In the Gur we could hear that the horses were restless in their enclosure and hoped that they would not make a racket all night. Any concerns about communal living were dispelled when Carlos reported that there were wolves in the area. That was probably what was agitating the horses. Anyway the noise abated.
We enjoyed a cold beer each, as conversation moved from social media platforms, to working from home and management styles in different parts of the world.
I did not have to visit the toilet and was able to clean my teeth and complete preparations for bed standing a few metres from the tent. No shower or change of clothes, sleeping in what I was wearing which was the same for all of us.
However, there was one ritual which could not be abandoned, even in extreme circumstances….that was makeup removal. Amid freezing temperatures, and the sound of wolves in the area, Tomo and Yuki were a great team as they helped each other remove their makeup. In extreme circumstances they maintained their dignity. Carlos held the torch and I took the photos. Teamwork.
An early start the next morning and a climb up the local rocks behind the Gur before breakfast.
Breakfast consisted of biscuits, white sliced bread, a sweet spread and milk tea.
After leaving the Nomads we made a quick detour to climb up to the ruins of a Buddhist Temple with some inspiring views.
And finally it was time to ride two humped camels in the semi Gobi Desert. Being committed to my creative project (and concerned about my antiquity), I volunteered to shoot the video, with some pleasing results.
