Today is Bituun, or Lunar New Year's Eve. Tomorrow starts Tsagaan Sar (White Moon), the three-day lunar new year celebration as marked on the Tibetan calendar, and the unofficial start of Spring. It's arguably the most important Mongolian holiday. The city is a ghost town as people finish preparing for all the visiting, buuz eating and vodka drinking that will occur in the next three days. The markets have been a zoo, sold out of nearly everything and what's left has doubled or tripled in price. People are taking out massive loans to comply with the food and gift traditions. And there are plenty of rituals that will happen tonight in Mongolian homes. Tomorrow, the first day of Tsagaan Sar, has it's own Christmas morning-like rituals, and is reserved for visiting family. Therefore, I won't be doing any visiting until days two and three.
As it's another "warm" day here in C-town, I decided to take full advantage of my time off and take Bambuul on a long (90 minute!) walk down to the river to run free. To get to the river, we walk about 200 yards south to one of the two main roads, cross it, dash behind the Mormon Church and we're in the openness. Another 300 yards or so and we're at the river. No people = off leash = happy puppy!
Fun times at the river!
The riverbank.
Bamers on the ice.
One of the deeper holes.
Hangin' out in a hole.
When we were done at the river, we walked a bit more east (although I live to the west) to check out the progress at the housing development.
They're building Western-style multi-family homes, complete with yellow siding over the brick!
The Mormon Church through the trees.
The riverbank.
Bamers on the ice.
One of the deeper holes.
Hangin' out in a hole.
When we were done at the river, we walked a bit more east (although I live to the west) to check out the progress at the housing development.
They're building Western-style multi-family homes, complete with yellow siding over the brick!
The Mormon Church through the trees.
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