Good food made better with "old" friends....

I have always thought a dream vacation dwelling would be a plush hotel room overlooking the Eiffel Tower or one of those little huts over the water…and I still think they are…but trust me…add Mongolian Ger to the list. Although we all love Ulaanbaatar, it was universally sad to leave the Steppe countryside this morning.

Returning to the city did give us things that we were unable to get at the Ger camp…warm shower…decent food…so my disappointment was short lived after the first drops of hot water touched my skin. Desperate to find a meal of non-mutton, we headed out to a popular restaurant with the ex-pats in the country…it essentially was a Mongolian Olive Garden – all that was missing was the breadsticks. I try and eat traditional when I travel…but that first bite of Italian food was pure heaven.

Some more reliable readers (I am writing mainly to Staci here) will remember my description of the crowds that lined the streets of Ho Chi Minh City when Christopher and I unknowingly booked a Vietnamese holiday over Tet. Well this time, my vacation coincided with “Mother and Children’s Day” in Mongolia. This means that people dress their kids in fancy dresses and take to the streets. Similar to most National Holidays there is eating, playing but no drinking. Well as North Americans embrace dead Monarchs or Presidents as an excuse to toss back 2-4, Mongolians recognize this day as a day to celebrate on the streets…sober. Bizarre idea…

After a suitable amount of museum visiting and souvenir shopping (I bought more ridiculous things in Mongolia than anywhere else in the world – just wait to you see my winter jacket next year) we returned to the 24 bank (still open, even on National Holidays!) to prepare for the next leg of our trip…China.

There was just one Mongolian must do before leaving…we still had to eat at a traditional Mongolian Bar B Q restaurant. The only thing I really knew about this country before arriving is that they have sparked a number of BarBQ establishments in the Seattle area. Food like this is better shared in a large group…we hadn’t seen the Dutch folks in a while and were hoping to meet up with some of our earlier acquaintances…the Americans. We had been just missing each other for over a week now, so it was a desperate last ditch but we sent an e-mail letting them know our dinner plans.

It would have been an amazing meal anyway (seriously – try a Mongolian place near you – or visit me here and we’ll go together), but getting a chance to catch up with ‘old friends’ made it all the better. We heard all about their crazy Siberian adventures and what life was like on the third class section of the train – and we told them of our escapades. I won’t reiterate their stores but for a good read check out Karen, Michael and Blake’s own blogs (and AMAZING photography) – top three listed at the bottom of this page.

My friend Betsy and I once discussed the concept of travelling friends…and it’s true. People that you would never spend time with at home because of age, gender, geography etc…they are your best friends on the road. You share information, recommendations, warnings and stories with them. They are a source of comfort, amusement and sometimes frustration. Some of them you will never see again and some will be lifelong pals…but they all make the journey more interesting.

Buyer-la for reading!