October 1st was China's National Holiday so we got a few days off and were invited to Mongolia to visit some friends. We took an overnight train to Beijing where I got to visit some good friends from last summer and then took a 30 hr train ride to Ulaabaatar (the capital).

Border Check! In the middle of the night Border Control kicked everyone off the train while they checked our passports and looked for stowaways!

View from my window on the train... passing by villages in China


"Gers"-normal housing for Mongolians

A Shamanistic Mound to worship-people dance in circles around the pile while throwing rocks in

Traditional outfits worn daily-the people were so beautiful there

Went out in the countryside and went hiking!

Whoa!!

P.S. I rode a Yak!!

A Camel! And a horse all in one day!!

Hanging out with some of the girls!

Doogou and I-it was such a great trip getting to spend time with some of the girls

Look closely... see the mountains in the background of this picture--covered in snow!! That wasn't there that morning, all in a days worth- and the reason why we had such a hard time getting back home to China


There are lots more pictures posted if you click on the link "My Pictures" on the sidebar from my trip!