Hot Pools are great :D
The day didn’t start so good. First we had to say goodbye to Hendrik and Kathrina, the danish dudes, and then we had to introduce our driver to the new itinerary. That ended up in calling Dawa, for translation help. Finally on the road I realized that I made a bad deal with Emma. I have an appointment in the far west of Mongolia. A seven days car ride from Ulan Bator and four from where we are now. Our trip was supposed to bring me there and Emma would go the same way back to Ulan Bator with the driver. Because of our change I have to buy a flight from Ulan Bator to Bayan Önjüül … which will cost me another 400 dollars. I first thought I can compensate this with the money we save by returning earlier, but thats not true, because Emma was supposed to pay after I left. So I am not that happy about it. Of course I don’t judge her, but for me it would have been easier and cheaper to just follow the first plan we had. I needed a serious talk, but we are fine again.
I am really happy that we were able to solve this problem like grown ups. That is so important to enjoy the journey and work together as a team even if you want different things.
We arrived now at the famous Tsenkher Hot Springs. The accommodation here is much more expensive, but gives you unlimited access to the hot pools in the camp – and they are amazing … and hot … I’ve burned my feet during our first try. :D
Later on we joined a funny group of random mongolian people in the pool and had all eyes on us. After a lovely «sain bainu!» (hello) from our side, the atmosphere turned to be as relaxed as it should be in a hot spring. The stars came up in their full brightness, but still not shiny enough to see each others faces. We stayed for hours in the now perfect tempered pool, till we were the last ones to leave.
One thing about the weather. It is just fantastic. The declaration «land of the blue sky» does not lie. Almost no rain … hot sun and chilly wind. Everything cools down during the night and the rhythm starts again in the morning. In china it already heats up to 40 degrees … and here it is just perfect. A big heart for Mongolia and its stories. What an adventure.
