Nadaam and Terelj and Selenge, oh my!

WOW. So much has happened. Here's the breakdown:

Nadaam festival was insane! We made it into the stadium for the open performance which consisted of the President, two orchestras, costumes galore, contortionists, a porsche filled with a famous singer, horse acrobatics, military role-playing, ribbon dancing, children gymnasts, traditional clothes from every ethinc group in Mongolia. There were so many people packed into the stadium that it was impossible to move or get out during the opening performance. I was feeling a little nauseous after eating sheep yogurt from the country, earlier that day, so I was snapping photos and trying not to puke on all the nice camel hair outfits.

Then came the large men in red sports bras and blue undies. Wrestling was their game. Me and some fellow waygukins broke out of the stadium seating and rushed the wrestlers (tiptoeing). I put up some photos on el facebook. When the 3 year old wrestlers came out I felt a little strange. It was time to move on. After wrestling we went to archery. Wow. More later.

The second day of Nadaam I was invited by my Polish friend, Daria, to adventure out into the country via public transportation, so I ditched the horse races of Nadaam, and hopped on the city bus to Terelj national park. Two hours later (including a rock shaped like a turtle and one shaped like an old man reading a book) and 2,300 togrog poorer (1.5 $), we arrived somewhere. If you are ever in Mongolia and thinking about doing a tour here, don't. Do it yourself and save the cash. For about 10$ US (including transportation and all the food I could eat) I got there and back, but some people I know paid over $50!! The skies and the cows and the yaks were plentiful (yes, yaks), and I think I might have found a tie for the most beautiful place I've ever been.

The sky god is such a powerful diety here, and you can really feel why when 3/4ths of your vision is sky. [There are more photos on fbook.] I got back to my bed later that night and there was a beautiful blue scarf. A secret admirer! I put it on and wore it into the lobby. I was suprised, as you can guess, to see faces of shock as people started running toward me, pulling the scarf off of my neck. I guess it was a prayer cloth to the sky god. FYI, you aren't supposed to wear them.
Thanks to my new san fran friend Jane who gave it to me though; it is supposed to guarantee a safe journey.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Selenge (senlegeye something). It is the northern central part of Mongolia. I am going to camp in my tent outside of some gers, milk some camels, and ride horses along the most beautiful scenery in the land. I'll be out of contact for the next 6 days (no electricity), so I wanted to put this post up before I left.

I love and miss you all. <3