Freddy learned some Mongolian words from bagsha (Teacher) Batmunkh. He also picked up some Russian and Japanese words.
Sain bain uu, Freddy?
Bagsha’s granddaughter was very happy to see Freddy.
Freddy and bagsha’s granddaughter – take note of the gold medal that she won in a sports competition at her school.
For a snack, Freddy was offered pink soup – it was actually mutton soup with red beets and mayonnaise.
Red beets, mutton and mayonnaise soup
After lessons, Freddy went to Zaisan, to visit the giant Buddha statue, and other landmarks in the area. More selfies, of course.
Winter Palace
The latest entertainment place in UB
I’m dwarfed by Buddha
Giant Buddha statue in Zaisan
That’s the Zaisan Memorial behind me
Freddy and his friends continued driving, moving toward Tuul river. Some parts were icy. The river is located near our school.
Another landmark
Freddy observed people fetching water from an underground spring. He was surprised to learn that it had magic powers. The spring continues to flow, even in wintry temperatures of -40C/-40F.
Tuul river behind Freddy – take note of the people fetching spring water.
Freddy looks at a khorkhog cooking container – a khorkhog is mutton or goat’s meat sealed and cooked inside a big metal container. Vegetables are added. Clean red-hot, river rocks are also placed inside the can, to hasten cooking.
They continued driving, until they reached Sky Resort. Freddy watched as mountain bikers raced up Bogd Khan.
Mountain bike race
Pedalling hard
New bridge over Tuul river
Shorlog lunch – grilled pieces of mutton. Yum!
After a hearty lunch of flame-grilled mutton, salad and bread, Freddy and his friends headed home.
Dear Freddy,
We have some questions about the city you just visited.
We’re wondering how the water didn’t freeze. Is it salt or fresh water?
Why did the people think the spring as magic?
How did they put the hot rocks in the metal container if the metal didn’t melt?
What would you normally eat?
Is your town big or small?
Do you walk a lot? What do you use for transportation?
Do you have more old-style buildings or modern buildings?
How did Freddy like the mountain bike racers?
Does Freddy have a lot of friends.
Have a safe trip to California
Your Phoenix kids
Hello Phoenix Kids,
Freddy here, though I am on my way to California.
It was freshwater, but it was not that cold, but I was told that later, maybe in November, the Tuul river is going to freeze. Children will be going there to ice-skate. Some people dig holes, to do ice-fishing.
As for the underground spring, it does not freeze, even in the deep of winter. Also, people think that if they drink that spring’s water, they will be energize, stay healthy, and strong. They believe it has medicinal value.
It is very interesting. For the khorkhog, the Mongolians choose really round, good-looking, clean rocks, which they heat over open fire. When the rocks are kind of fiery hot, these are gathered, and become part of the layers of ingredients inside the milk jug.
First, some meat pieces are placed inside the jug, followed by some of the red hot rocks, them more meat, then more rocks, until all the meat is used up. They then add whole potatoes, yellow beets, thickly chopped carrots, also white cabbage, onions, salt, pepper, some red powder mix, and some water. They then seal the milk jug and this is carefully placed over hot coals. The khorkhog cooks for one-two hours. When it is ready, the jug is opened, and the rocks are passed around. One must be very careful in handling the very hot rocks. You kind of juggle the rock from one hand to the other. It is supposed to be good for blood circulation, and also to clean your hand when there is no water around for washing. The meat is yummy and tender.
Well, Ulaanbaatar is a big city, growing very fast, lots of food. Aside from khorkhog, which is a special dish, we eat khuushuur or fried dumpling, sometimes the size of your hand, or bigger. It is like empanada. It is normally stuffed with ground mutton meat. Some people use ground beef. Now we also have the vegetarian kind. We also eat tsuivan, or noodles with sliced mutton, or beef. The noodles are handmade. Of course, there’s buuz or steamed dumpling. For Tsagaan Sar or Mongolian Lunar New Year (sometime in February), we make thousands of them! Then there is shorlog, or barbecued mutton/beef/chicken. Some people like cooked sheep’s liver and roasted sheep’s head. Sheep’s head is fine. The best part is the eyeball. But if you are tired of eating eyeballs, you can always run to KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King, or get sushi, sashimi, bulgogi, fried fish. My friends like to splurge at the Shangri-La Hotel’s brunch. But no sheep’s eyeballs there.
For transportation, we love to ride horses, but they are not allowed anymore in the city, except in summer, during the national festival, Naadam. Thousands of cars and lots of buses now. Dangerous for the horses. People walk a lot, too. I am fortunate to have a friend who drives me around.
The buildings here are from all different times. You must have seen my photos. Old, Manchu-style temples and modern glass buildings. Also Russian or Soviet architectural designs.
I can bike, but not as fast the mountain bike racers. They were like the wind!
I have a lot of friends, and I’m sad to leave, but I have to come see the children in California, then you.
Did I answer all your questions?
See you later,
Freddy
Hi Freddy,
What is the population of the city you just visited. We have about 40,000 people in Salem so we are a little city. It sounds as if you are a bigger city?
We would love the recipes for milk tea and the pink soup because we think we can cook it. W are also going to try the mutton dish in a crackpot.
Have a safe trip to California. See you later.
The Phoenix kids
Hello again, Phoenix Kids,
I love replying to your questions.
Well, Ulaanbaatar (which means red [ulaan] and hero [baatar] ) has a population of 1.3 million, living in various accommodations: felt or wooden gers, high-rise apartments, townhouses, and log houses.
Khorkhog will cook well in a slow-cooker, your crackpot. Really tasty, if cooked with fatty pieces of mutton. Salt and black pepper for seasoning.
Milk tea:
Boil water, add green tea (or black tea) bags – cut off the string. Let it steep for a few minutes or so. Add full fat milk. Stir. Add some salt. Serve hot in bowls.
Pink soup:
Melt butter in a pot, medium heat. Add chopped one-two medium-sized onions and thin slices of fatty, boiled mutton. Stir-fry for a few minutes. Add water enough to fill the pot halfway. Add thin slices of boiled red beets. Let the mixture boil, then simmer for half and hour or so. Season with salt and black pepper. Pink! Serve warm with a dollop of mayonnaise.
Enjoy!
See you soon,
Freddy