Beyond Ulaanbaatar

Of the approximate 2 million people living in Mongolia, half of them reside in urban Ulaanbaatar.  The other half live as rural herders or in a dozen smaller towns scattered across the nation.  The smallest villages, like the one below, consist of just a cafe, maybe a petrol station, and a few gers, the traditional felt tents most rural Mongolians call home.  Below are some images from a recent trip south of UB.  We stopped at the cafe for tsuivan, a traditional homemade noodle and mutton dish, and suutetse, a warm and salty milk/tea drink.  I've eaten well this summer.

The cafe, and in the background, a woman washes clothing outside her ger.

Solar panels are a hot commodity in the countryside.  So much of Mongolia is under-developed, with no running water or electrical systems.  An important domestic task is to move the panels throughout the day to soak up maximum sunlight, which is converted into power for satellite tvs, mobile phone chargers, computers and more.  You can see the panels above charging a car battery.  Yay solar power!

I've asked around about wind farms, as it seems to me that the broad steppes would make an excellent spot for conducting wind energy.  The common answer is that that companies have yet to invest in wind projects, and the government budget can't yet support these types of energy diversification programs.  Mongolia gets a majority of gas and electrical energy from Russia.  The current Russian regime may have their own reasons for keeping Mongolia energy and financially dependent.  

I took this photo through the window of the cafe, which explains the cloudiness.  He's wearing the typical robe, called a del, worn by herders.  I adore the bright touches of color that accent most Mongolian costumes and design.  The vibrant oranges and yellows are everywhere, a nod to colors and traditions in Buddhism.