Woke up this morning, looked out my window and a flock of sheep were headed down the road. Even though Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital you shouldn't be surprised to see cows or sheep, here and there, munching away or just lying in the grass.
It looks pretty cloudy outside, almost an opaque look. Might rain. It's a little cold, too. Basically, it's a typical Seattle spring day. Clouds within clouds, light rain and wind.
Enkwayar didn't come. So much for an 'old familiar face'.
I forgot to mention that when I had been in the Manzshir Hiid Valley (it was the valley where the destroyed monastery was) Enkwayar told me he had been in Beijing during Tiananmin Square. He was working for Juulchin at the time. I think he said that he had seen all those people, too.
The police want me to get in touch with them, but they don't speak English and I'm not too swift in Mongolian. I tried calling them twice with a Shuren(Monkey Business) guide, but no answer. I'll try again when I return from Hentii. BeeBee will be back as well. I hope they found my harmonica.
The 'responsible lady', as BeeBee calls her, told me that I could leave my extra belongings with her while I was gone. It makes me nervous, but I have no choice. Knock on a ton of wood.
Read 'Little Prince'. It was very good. Don't worry my vain little rose, I'll be back. Only one rose like you.
The hotel staff pretty much knows me. Hell, I've taken enough Polaroids of them.
I decided that when I get back from Hentii Aimag I'll call Tracy from Ulaanbaatar Hotel. Should surprise her.
You know, if I were a Mongol I'd be pretty fucking depressed. No jobs. No goods. Currency that has less clout than a ball of cotton. Nothing to do. Not much variety of anything and if there is, it's overpriced. Everything so expensive. Maybe, I'd go back to the country if I could, but a good horse costs US$136. Might as well be US$1,000,000. And no one knows when it will get any better.
So I was robbed. It still pisses me off, because I was violated, but at least I was robbed as an American, not a Mongol. With US$500 I could live here for a year. At home I have the opportunities and the resources, but they do not. I forgive you Mongolia, and I wish you happiness.