Giddeeyup!

Riding a camel is a bit like ridding a bike. A bike that has had the seat removed. Imagine sitting on a triangle, the pointy end. Then shake the triangle from side to side while moving it up in down in a jerky motion. You have just described a camel ride. Thankfully it only lasted a few minutes or I would never be able to have children. Thus started our second day on the Gobi Desert. I should mention that I just milked the camel so she may have been a bit cranky.

Fermented camels milk, or as it is affectionately known "white beer". We were served a mug while visiting the ger (pronounced gar) camp of a family of camel breeders. They wanted to get us drunk before we met the camels we were to ride. I realize now why. Nonie wins the prize for drinking all hers while I made it till the chunky parts. Will it catch on in North America? I don't think Molsons has anything to worry about.

Then it was off to the Black Mountain for a quick climb. You can see the Mountain from miles away as it is the highest point in the otherwise flat terrain. Climbed to the top for a great view. But men only. Women are not allowed to climb to the top. Some religious rule. A rule probably started by a Mongolian wife who did not feel the need to follow her husband up the hill on a hot Mongolian summer day. The upside, is if you get to the top, you can make a wish for yourself. I still waiting for mine to happen. If anyone hears that Shania is touring in Estonia in the next week, please let me know.

We did manage to fit in a quick visit to a site where they had discovered some dinosaur bones. Rory the five year old, son of our fellow travelers, the Taylor's, Aaron and Shelly, had been promised that we would be looking for dinosaur bones. Well if it is one thing the Gobi has, is lots of bones laying around. Despite its bucolic look it can be a tough place to live. To a young five year old, they were all dinosaur bones. He filled his backpack a couple of times over the two days. Mom and Dad had bought a real prehistoric tooth in Taiwan which was artfully seeded for him to find. He was ecstatic, thankfully as he was not taking all those other bones home. I can just see the look on the face of the customs guy who looked into that suitcase if he had taken them all.

Back to the ger (pronounced gar) camp for lunch, a nap and then on to the train station for an overnight to Ulaan Baatar where we are to enjoy a day at the Nadaam Festival then on to another ger (pronounced gar) camp which I am told is nicer than the first one.