June 28, 2014 - Mongolia 2014

Currently heading off to do a back-country camping and horseback riding trek, and road trip through Inner Mongolia for thirteen days.

The road trip portion takes us to our horse handlers’ nomadic home on the Mongolian Steppe, which is about 500 miles from our starting point of Ulaanbaatar, the capital city. This will take us about two days where we will visit and spend a night in the former capital city of Kharakhorum.

The horseback riding trek leads us (my fellow travelers and I) past eight different lakes, over three different mountain ranges and camping each evening near nomad families on these lakes.

At the end of these six days, our driver will pick us up and we will make a three day journey back to UlaanBaatar, but not before stopping to experience the traditional Naadam Festival.

This is an annual three day festival to test the endurance, strength and tenacity of its participants in archery, horse racing and wrestling. This test has been going on each year for generations dating back to the 12th century. At that time, it was a contest to display military prowess.

I am so thrilled to be able to do this trip. It’s been a long time coming. A little over ten years ago, I lived in South Korea teaching English for about 3 years and was planning a trip to Mongolia with a lovely couple I worked with. Unfortunately, our plans fell through but my dream of going to this vast and wild nation has never left me!

So, I’m just sitting at an internet cafe in the Honolulu International airport after spending two nights here. I stayed on a wooden ship in the Honolulu harbour with some really cool people including Ari, the hostess, who is a painter and a marine biologist. She is currently setting up a committee to protect the oceans from companies, which make their money from the sea and yet are intent on destroying the source of their livelihood. Go figure!

I went for an amazing swim this morning at 6:30. There were already surfers out past the reef, and a few paddle boarders giving me a quiet “Morning!” as they were floating by me, careful to not disturb the peace found in hearing the waves flow in and out.

As I swam leisurely and ventured out further than I could touch, I suddenly felt something hit my leg. Well, of course the first thing that I thought of was the movie, “Jaws”. And immediately, the theme music pounded in my head as I swam towards shore, “almost” calm and deliberate strokes, though whispering to myself over and over, “No need to panic! It’s a beautiful day!”

When I finally made it to shore and was drying off, I suddenly saw a turtle popping his/her head out of the water in front of me. Very cool and surreal! And a welcome relief, for sure! We shared a really awesome moment together before he/she headed off as another swimmer came into our vicinity!

It made me realize that I was swimming in waters where great beings live, and just how much there is to be done to protect all who live in these beautiful waters. I was the visitor here!

Yesterday, one of my boat mates had a rental car and some time to spend before his flight last night so he took me on an island tour. John used to live here. At the time, he was stationed at Pearl Harbour and so he knew the area very well.

John took me on a fabulous adventure visiting the hidden gems of restaurants he came to know during his time spent here, and the rugged, Bohemian surfing villages at the north end of the island. We even went to a really amazing art gallery showcasing the great talent of the local artists and artisans. It is so cool to see how the Hawai’ian traditions and the tropical influences made their mark on these creative works.

Such a diverse and remarkable landscape, people, and weather. Great humidity, and sun showers. The seafood is pretty awesome too! How could one not be happy living with such beauty?!!

So now, I'm waiting for my flight to Seoul, South Korea with Asiana Airlines. In Seoul, I will spend one night before heading to Mongolia to meet my small group - 3 other people - and begin a trek into the heart of a country with our Driver, our Guide, and our own Personal Chef.

I have been curious for a long time on what to expect - following in the footsteps of Genghis Khan, traveling through untouched wilderness with no fences or telephone poles in sight, visiting with local Shamans, and camping out with nomad families hundreds of miles in the middle of "somewhere!"

On the return journey I head back to Seoul to visit with a long time friend from my teaching days in South Korea, exploring and wandering around the city before heading back to Honolulu. Two nights on a catamaran in the same beautiful harbour, and then home.

I will write more when I can. Hope all is well with all of you!

Cheers, Jae