The ice is the coldest part of winter is almost over and I must say that I've never been so looking forward to spring and summer. Finally, you can walk the streets safely run around to get freezer burn. (Adelina For example, another volunteer, is a few weeks frozen the ear).
The last deadly cold days I used to ride at the Khovsgol, the second largest freshwater lake in the world after Lake Baikal. The lake is in the same aimag in the north, approximately 800km from Ulaanbaatar. Friday at 10 clock in the evening we set off and have 26 hours needed to reach our goal. We went with 3 Russich UAZ vans, and it has proven quickly that it is very helpful to get the car anywhere and any time can remove. In the final analysis then helps still the Hammer. We certainly have lost 2 hours through many failures of the car. On the way there the van was luckily with me not affected. Instead we had a driver who has after his regular workday down at the wheel and had a 26 hour trip ahead. In the very first night we went Schlengellinien light on the road. On the day it became better as we left the paved streets and worked the sun cheering on his condition. But when the darkness broke again he was slow at the end of his forces was asleep and even a complete, resulting in a 90 degree curve unkontrolierten. The trip started with a high adrenaline level.
Genghis Khan statue of ice
some point we are then more or less safe arrived in ger camp on the banks of the lake. The only way to camp led over the frozen lake. The water is so clear that people can look through more border meters clear ice, dotted with numerous breaks. After a free day, we spent a sleigh ride, the Ice Festival began on Monday on the lake. Against my expectation, many Mongolians present and only a few Auslaendergrueppchen. We were like the biggest. The program was packed with a variety of activities: 200 km Eisskating Racing, Ice-Sumo, Eisbowling, tug of war, sleigh races, campfires, Praezisionsfahren and and and ... In the tug of war we went into with a team, but we had to stand firm Mongols on the icy ground no chance. But most bizarre was the beach party at the end of the first day. On a snow beach at minus 20 to minus 30 degrees at a campfire to English dance music Mallorca and drunk.
Our ger camp on the shores of Lake
We had the impression that the organizers with a slight communist Grundpraegung approaching the matter have gone, because money funds for the festival were hardly zufinden. There was only one entrance fee for the few foreigners and it was not sold for the festival box office. Although some dealers have sold products, including but not remit to the organizers. An ice bar, which certainly brought revenue would have, was not the most visitors notice at all satisfied only after the official end of the festival opened. We knew them only by the good relations of our guides. We were able to taste the wine and vodka from ice glasses at incredibly low prices and let the Icefestival behind us. The next day we relaxed us, some are gone riding, and other travel. I had the driver persuaded me time with the Russian Van running over the lake to leave. For that I almost lost my jacket and had to wrestle with the driver. But eventually I was allowed to rumschlittern behind the wheel and on the ice of the lake.
the Mongols Icebowling
are Thursday We then drove back. This time over a different route. Our car has been broken 13 times. We have frozen a tally at the disk out. Then highlight was the moment when we are expected to be approximately midnight of fuel somewhere in nowhere. After we were told that we should make ourselves comfortable in sleeping bags schonmal you then can still find a little reserve fuel and we could reach the nearest town to refuel. Clock at 6:30, we arrived in Ulaanbaatar, in time to have a shower once, racial, etc. before I had to zurArbeit. View
Icefestival Khovsgol on a larger map
