Heading to the Gobi Desert

Heading to the Gobi Desert

Mongolia
Monday, July 10

Today we leave Ullan Baatar and head to the Gobi desert. We are going to spend a few days there in a lodge right in the heart of the desert.  I am excited. 

There was an air of excitement all around us.  The prime minister from Russia was coming.  And multiple police were on every corner.  He was staying at our hotel so traffic was annoyingly congested. Today is the day of opening ceremonies for the national  Naadam Festival.  And all of the activities were happening right near our hotel.  People were everywhere and most people wore their ceremonial dels (jackets)  and hats. 

We left town and headed for the airport.  And then we had to wait and wait and wait.  The prime minister came in his private plane while we waited. And I think that delayed things for all of us.  We ran into another tour group and listened to their tales of woo.  They went up to the Lake District which was flooded because of the rains.  Their driver drove right through the rain and a low lake and nearly drowns everyone on the trip.  As we were introduced to each person in the group, the story was told and retold again and again.  I lost interest in the story. I just wanted to get going and get to the desert.

We arrived in Gobi around 300 PM and it was very windy.  We struggled to get  to our jeep which took us 45 km to the Three Camel Lodge.  The ride was great.  Once we drove out of view of the airport, we did not see anything until we were in view of the lodge, 30 minutes later.

We could just see a flat horizon ahead of us for miles.  Occasionally we would see animal skulls which served as destination markers.  We saw some gazelles but not much more.

Our lodge was wonderful. It is all made out of grey stone.  There is a huge, open dining room which has spectacular views of the desert.  I have my own tent (ger). The ger is great. It is big, clean, dry, roomy, and pleasant. I have my own personal attendant who has asked me twice if there is anything he can do for me. I think I will ask him to start a fire for me later this evening. There is a small bar – The Thirsty Camel.  That is built underground and similar to the caves in the country.  The lodge lobby shows movies and we have already watched the Weeping Camel.

The desert is beautiful.  It is peaceful, massive, intimidating, windy, powerful, frightening and inspiring.  It is like the ocean.  It can cut you down to size pretty quickly and it can humble the best of most, if not all, egos.

I went out to shoot photos of the shepherd herding his flock home for the night.  But the whole time, I paid attention to my bearings. The camp grounds were not going to go out of my sight of vision.  Without the lodge, I would have had no bearings whatsoever.

We were supposed to take a road trip after dinner but the winds were too strong. Elaine thinks we could have trouble if these winds continue like this.  Personally, I would like to see a strong, wild wind storm, provided I do not have to suffer any consequences.

1030 PM:  I just got back from my massage.  It was wonderful. Now I am lethargic and filled with a gleeful delight in myself and my predicament.  I wander outside and take in the moment.  There is a full moon which lights up a small portion of the desert.  The rest of the desert is dark and black.  There is a strong breeze and I have to put my jacket on.  The cool air feels great.  The wind is loud and rattles inside my head. I am on top of the world, In the middle of nowhere.  If I wandered off by myself, I could be lost in five minutes and never found again.  I better stay put.