The Fourth of July, Mongolian Style

Happy Fourth of July!

Right now many of you are waking up, preparing for a day filled with hot dogs, guacamole, beer, and fireworks. On this side of the world I am sitting in an Internet cafe in Ulaan Bataar writing about what I am doing for my Fourth of July...which is nothing. Really, this would have been a great place to celebrate the independence of the United States. Mongolia is one of the strongest democracies in the region, and based on the lifestyles of the youth here in UB, they are lovers of western culture as well. Moreover, the weather here is incredible and there is an abundance of pubs and bars which would have been ideal places to have celebrated this wonderfully American day. But then this happened:

Ulaan Bataar on Fire

The result was a state of emergency here in the capital. What that really means is that everything closes early and no beer is being served for four days. Yep...no booze. Our founding fathers would have been pissed.

Instead, Kyle and I ate dinner and are now just surfing the Internet, waiting until bedtime. Happy Fourth!

So Mongolia...this place is BEAUTIFUL. And that is after only being here for a day, and that day being spent in the not so attractive capital city of UB. However, judging by the scenery we saw from the train, and the mountains which surround UB, this country has a lot to offer...and if all goes well, we will be taking it up on that offer in the form of horseback riding through the steppe for the next five days. If everything goes right we will be heading out tomorrow and riding for five days across the open Mongolian plains and through some gorgeous Mongolian mountains.

A couple more things about Ulaan Bataar:
1.) This city, while note attractive whatsoever, has a wonderful vibe. People are extremely friendly and the weather is wonderful. It is definitely a place one could settle for awhile...until winter of course.
2.) Believe it or not, there is a Mongolian BBQ here in UB, just like the ones we have back home. I find it funny that there is a restaurant here serving non-traditional (at least in the contemporary sense) Mongolian food to Mongolians. I even read an interview with the owner. He spoke about having to sell Mongolians on this new type of food and an American type of service model Does anyone else find this at all bizarre?

That is it for now...stay tuned for stories from the steppe, and of course, the famous Nadaam Festival that will take place upon our return to the capital. MONGOLIAN WRESTING!