Gandan Monastery

Sunday checklist

• wake up with a massive hangover and the taste of a dirty kebab poisoning my mouth
• begin flashbacks of previous nights behaviour...and try to go back to sleep to forget such flashbacks
• realise that I lost my phone at some stage last night and it is now conveniently switched off
• have house mate continue to make flashbacks more detailed and frequent
• meet crew for a massive feast at Adesso where even more people can help said flashbacks including dancing on tables and falling into the wall
• purchase new phone and get discount from a lovely Mongolian man because he said volunteers are good people
• have a continuous headache for most of the day
• eat goulash at Ix Mongol
• be annoyed by a drunk Mongolian biker
• watch Ultan Urag 
• come home and eat raw cookie dough with housemate

Done and done.

Just another Saturday night out on the town...

hot house pre party 

holly rocking my new love

k bird looking very Russian DA!

Sutra love

big red little red

hat competition...sorry Hannah I think you just got dominated

visors on right liz...

Lurcan looking soooo happy to be the thorn between two roses

this looks like pre-bite attack

lovers

imma party an party an party

hydration is so important

more lotus love...

Bus love

Australia day!

Only thing this Australia day had in common with any other ones I've experienced was the mandatory broadcast of JJJ's hottest 100.  Difference was it was being streamed over the internet and instead of it being 37 degrees it was -37.  

My prediction for JJJ's Hottest 100...

Prediction for the number 1 spot tomorrow...Angus and Julia Stone - big jet plane.

Today was spent with some gorgeous cherubs at the Kindergarten No 10 with Liz, Vicky and Sam (vols at Lotus).  I will be spending Tuesday arvo's there each week to work with the Mongolian Social worker that is based there. She is passionate, energetic and creative within the field of disability in Ulaanbaatar but is unfortunately trying to work within a system that has no supports at all for what she is trying to achieve for these special little people.  I think this will be an interesting little collaboration and one that may need the help and expertise of those I worked with at CARA back home!  Keep an eye on your inboxes girls!

Also got to skype with two very special friends, Mich and Loz.  I love you girls...more than you know.  Thank goodness for the internet is all I can say as our gossip sessions can still exist no matter the distance...and boy did I have some stories to share.  Wish you were both here to cause trouble with me.

Happy Australia day for tomorrow friends...although I wont be there I will be listening to hottest 100 through my lap top and pretending that the warmth from the central heating in my apartment is actually the warmth from an Aussie sun streaming through.  One thing I will be happy to avoid this Australia day is anybody wearing the Aussie flag as a cape and shirtless bogans showing off their southern cross tattoos.  

Final shout out...Props go to Nick for discovering that our 2 lounge chairs and couch are actually fold outs!  Hello movie nights, sleep overs any type of group sitting necessities.  

       

Monday snap shot

ice skating rink at Sukhbaatar square

superstar news readers

Just a wee drink for Cass

Small gathering at the American burger place to watch Cass ad Karina read the English translation of the Mongolian news.  Superstars for sure!

how to keep warm on a Friday

Hot house warm up ritual in preparation for the D-floor equals a little trip to master foods to cover the pre-snack, pre-drink and post hydrate.  -35 BAH!  Girls just wanna have fun right!

Thursdays are for Mexican food and Cranium...

New visitors at Lotus

We have two lovely volunteers at Lotus for the next few weeks.  Vicky and Sam.  The kids are fascinated by them.  Vicky has long dreads and piercings and Sam has tunnels in his ears.  Didi is away on a trip at the moment and I was joking with one of the teachers saying that when she comes back all the kids will have pierced their own ears and started to dread their hair.