Comments on: Mongolian Food – Got Milk?

By: Soha

Soha — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:21:51 +0000

Hello! I work at a public access television and station and recently did an interview with a lady from Mongolia. I’m scouring the internet for public domain images of Mongolia but I’m having a hard time finding an image of the white foods. I was wondering if I would be able to use the image of the white food drying on the ger in our production. Your website would be given in the credits if you wished.

Thanks! Soha

By: Legal Nomads

Legal Nomads — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:00:49 +0000

This brought back so many memories! That pungent smell of that hard cheese drying in the Ger is one I will not forget (it fall when I was there so not hot enough to dry the cheese outside; they put it on the dung stove inside the ger instead). Great pictures and I look forward to reading some more of your Mongolian adventures!

-Jodi

By: Naadam Festival in Mongolian Villages | Ottsworld

Naadam Festival in Mongolian Villages | Ottsworld — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:36:26 +0000

[...] I loved the competition. The wrestlers were tough, really tough. There was no nicely padded floor, no apparent rules; only the hard, rocky desert ground to land on. They were focused as they began their match often spending the first few minutes simply staring their opponent down. The next move was often taking swipes at the other person, sometimes even latching on to their pretty baby blue ‘jacket’. You were lulled into relaxation as you watched the grown men pawing at each other as if they were puppies playing – then all of a sudden – ATTACK! Before I knew it someone was airborne and you heard a thud. The dust cleared and a winner was declared. The loser brushed the pebbles and dust out of their speedos and graciously watched the winner do their bird dance and receive his prize from the judges – hard unleavened bread/dunts…all of that for bortzig. [...]

By: Anil

Anil — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:47:04 +0000

Ever since I read Long Way Round I’ve been looking forward to visiting Mongolia. People are incredibly adaptable – though not sure how I’d do, I can’t handle dairy! Guess yogurt would work but lactose intolerance would be an issue!

By: admin

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:00:15 +0000

@Jessica – yes – I’m referring to Goat meat. True the word mutton usually refers to mature sheep meat. However in part of the world, specifically Mongolia, they also use the word to refer to mature goat meat. To be sure – I looked it up on Wikipedia too – as you made me second guess myself!! Thanks for your comments!

By: admin

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:58:18 +0000

@Wanderluster – it certainly would be challenging being a vegitarian there…you’d be left with those donuts and cheese mainly. It would be impossible to be vegetarian AND lactose intolerant for sure!!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:29:09 +0000

HI Sherry – I love reading your posts. One question on this last one – I’m fairly certain mutton is lamb, but in this post you are referring to goats, right?

By: Wanderluster

Wanderluster — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:47:50 +0000

Oh my. I would definitely have a problem there, being a vegetarian and all. Could I survive?

By: Emily @ Maiden Voyage

Emily @ Maiden Voyage — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:39:10 +0000

I love your stories! Its so easy to take our Western diets and food pyramid for granted. Sometimes I forget that in other parts of the world, it is totally turned upside down. I can’t imagine living on mostly dairy and hot food/drinks!

You’re brave for trying all of those new foods, though I don’t blame you at all for avoiding the “blood congealed innards”! I was horrified when I was in England last summer and learned what black pudding (and was really glad I found out what it was before I ate it). There are some things I just can’t handle! But that rice dish you had sounds delicious.

By: marina k. villatoro

marina k. villatoro — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:47:48 +0000

I too can’t imagine life without fruits and vegetables. It’s amazing how different our systems are when we live in different places.

Mongolia is one of those places that I’m dying to see! and I can handle a little over dose on dairy:)

By: admin

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:07:44 +0000

@ZHR_SING – wow – a choice between Geneva and Ulanbatar – those are certainly worlds apart in every way imaginable!! Honestly – for ease of life, you made the right decision! Mongolia is like Vietnam – a developing country that can be a blast, but can also be incredibly frustrating!
As for your visit to HCMC, the whole city is very safe, just use your head and keep your bags around your body etc as you would anywhere. There are so many good restaurants in District 1. Just ask your hotel about these and they will point you in the right direction:
Warda – Mediteranean with super atmosphere
Qing – wine bar with foot massage place upstairs
Refinery – for brunch
Temple Club – good vietnamese
Hoa Tuc – also good Vietnamese
La Habana – normally some fun music bands on Friday night – on Sunday night they have swing dancing!
Amber Room – for a good martini
The town is small and these are expat places but they are good; not filled by tourists.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks so much for your kind words about Briefcase to Backpack – we think it’s great of course!
Sherry

By: admin

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:58:17 +0000

Heather – yes – it’s really amazing how we adapt to a taste. I never would have liked sour milk before, but the idea of it no longer makes me gag! That bitter/sour taste was so prevelant in all of their food – even the ice cream!

By: Heather on her travels

Heather on her travels — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:20:30 +0000

It’s amazing how you get such an isight into a culture through the food – You really start to appreciate how we take the widest range of foods for granted. I like dairy and cheese but maybe not THAT much!

By: jessiev

jessiev — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:07:23 +0000

sherry – you write so well of what can be such a difficult time. food is life, and when we try so hard, we’re rewarded in different ways than we think. excellent, excellent article.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:32:12 +0000

The pic of the camel is priceless! Wonderful read.

By: ZHR_SING

ZHR_SING — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:21:41 +0000

I stumbled upon your blog and entry on personal update on HCMC because I was looking for information on HCMC, but your stories on Mongolia are terrific. I was offered a job in Ulan Bator several years ago, but opted for Geneva instead, silly me, and can say that I now rather regret it…Anyway I also read your Briefcase to Backpack which was timely for me because I managed two weeks ago to convince my first-born 17 year old daughter 14 hours before we were suppose to board the plane from Singapore to the US to put her in college to defer college for a year and do a gap year! She has not regretted it yet and she is now furiously researching and putting together her ideas on what she would like the year to be about. I travel a lot for work so I carry a briefcase and a backpack frequently but found your site and the stories on it really inspiring and hope that you keep it up. I am coming to HCMC for the first time in a couple of weeks (Sept 24-27) and wonder if you could give me some insider tips on where it is safe (and fun) for a single 40 year-old woman to hang out and maybe meet some like-minded friendly folks, after my work obligations are done. maybe you have written an entry on this that you could point me to?