The Mongolian version of Ed (For Sunni and Ed)- random goodness and wrong number

Stupid wrong number woke me up.

I forgot to write that I saw this Mongolian guy who looked exactly like my friend Ed would look, if Ed happened to be Mongolian. I think Mongolian Ed thought I wanted to flirt with him, because I was so surprised that I just kept staring at him.

When Dorothy found out that I found a copy of the new Harry Potter, she said, "There's only one copy in the whole entire country and you're taking it away!!

I have a friend who looks like Harry Potter. He went to Japan to teach English and was apparently frequently mobbed and chased by Japanese girls who followed him for that very reason.

I am such a cliche

My own predictability sometimes annoys me. If you know me, you'll be able to identify things that I will like, and will easily know what will affect me. It's almost always obvious.

Case in point, a couple of years ago, friends gave me a cd to review for their yoga magazine. (http://www.ascentmagazine.com)

The cd is on Peter Gabriel's label "Real World" (aka kickass world/fusion music). It's "Vajra chants of Lama Gyurme."

I love this cd. It's got Buddhist chanting with new age music arranged by a French composer. This is one of my desert island cds, because it helps me fall asleep. In fact, when I was trying to review the cd, I kept putting it on and then falling asleep, which made reviewing difficult.

Anyway, since I move about so much, I always have to have this cd with me. When I was in Ottawa for two months, I forgot it behind and was worried, as I didn't know if I'd be heading home before I came to Mongolia. Fortunately, I flew home and managed to pick it up.

Please hope it works for me tonight.

Lesson learned last night

A cd of chanting will not have a soporific effect if a puppy comes in and starts licking you on the nose!!

It's nice out today, which makes me quite happy. I've got some plans for my final day in Mongolia....

(no subject)

The BBC has this new series where they ask artists (writers, painters, musicians etc) about some defining moments in their lives. I love this!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3090481.stm

Read a tribute to fair "Kate Hepburn" yesterday. I adore her. You've gotta love a dame who was called "wickedly smart and unapologetically opinionated."

If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun
-Katharine Hepburn

Next trip scheduled....

Here are the travel arrangements for the next trip.... aka journeytothewest.com (Copyright- obscurer 2003)

1. Leave Saskatoon for Edmonton on August 22 or 23. (possible Wainwright stop)
2. First Western Canadian glitter girl gathering!!
3. Stay with family friend for 1 day. Will be calling you soon.
4. Fly to Vancouver on August 25.
5. Stay with best friend's relatives- expect to be forced to listen to world music, eat sushi and talk revolutionary authors. (oh torture, please save me)
6. Hang in Vancouver- check out Lululemon, Womyn's Ware, Banyan Books. Buy Chinese slippers, if possible. See friends, Ricepaper people and play trivial pursuit.
7. August 31/September 1- Take bus to ferry. Hang with relatives in Victoria. (Yes Aunty Mar, that means I'm coming to see you!!)
8. September 5- Go to Ottawa for debriefing. Hang with intern friends, and have fun meeting next year's interns.
9. September 8-Home and back to the real world!

Last day in "The Land of Blue skies"

I wanted to do something different and special for my last day here. I couldn't think of it at first, but finally it came to me.

This morning I went to the palace of the Bogd Khan. He was a Buddhist king who reigned in the early 20th century. (Think Dalai Lama, but with a lot more political power.) Toured the summer temples and winter palace, which included "The Temple of Embroidery" and many Buddhist statues.

After this, I walked to Zaisan, the Russian monument. I climbed up the mountain on a steep slope, ignoring the stairs because I wanted to do it the hard way.

When I got to the top, I looked out over the city. Then I went over to the ovoo. An ovoo is a sacred cairn, made up of rocks, stones and other debris. It is believed that a god lives in the ovoo, and you give him offerings for luck.
I stood by the ovoo and pulled my Chinggis vodka out of my bag. Following Mongolian tradition, I dipped my ring finger in the bottle and offered drops to the sky, and to my right side. Then I touched my third eye.

After this, I thought about my wishes and my thanks, and I circled the ovoo three times, keeping with Mongolian tradition. Each time, I placed change on the ovoo, and when I got to my starting point, I took a swig of vodka.

At the end of this, I poured the rest of the vodka over top of the ovoo, splashing it in all directions.

Then I walked back down the stairs, since things don't have to be done the hard way all the time.

Now that I've done that, the rest of the day is inconsequential.

I've finally arrived in Mongolia. The weather is bad, the economy is stagnant and the food is awful. Since I'm British, I feel right at home.

-Clive Anderson

Tomorrow I head back to Canada and "The Land of the Living skies."

In which I get all mushy, gushy and generally sort of cheesy

As this adventure begins to draw to a conclusion, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your support, encouragement, and sympathetic ears (or eyes). Thank you for sharing your lives and wisdom with me. There were times when the past four months were incredibly difficult and stressful. At some points, I felt scared, and like I might go nuts or get depressed. However, I knew that I wasn't alone thanks to all of you and your support. This applies to both people I know online and off. Some people probably aren't reading this, but I wanted to mention them anyway.

( here's where i thank everyone, but the academy )

( online friends )