Leaving on a good note.

Performance 4 from henry james on Vimeo.

Performance 3 from henry james on Vimeo.

Performance 2 from henry james on Vimeo.

Untitled from henry james on Vimeo.

The last performer specializes in traditional throat singing. Pretty remarkable.

dinner from henry james on Vimeo.

#39: See a sunset

Celebrated our final night with a dinner at the Flaming Cliffs at sunset.

#4. Do something I wouldn’t do if not for this blog

A woman ladeled the warm fermented mare’s milk into a bowl and passed it around to the men, who for the most part lacked basic dental hygene.  The woman then handed the bowl to me and like a good traveler, I drank.  It tasted like sour milk. I kept it down and knocked another thing off the list.

Paintings from henry james on Vimeo.

#48: Visit something ancient

Havtsgait Valley, site of ancient rock drawings left by early Gobi settlers for more than 15,000-40,000 years ago.

The nomads live in mobile gers throughout the Gobi. They move around with their livestock in search of food. The winter averages temps of 40 below zero, so I’m still not sure how they survive. They take in any visiter, so we were welcomed with milk tea and sweets. Even when they are not at their ger, they leave it unlocked with food and drink ready in case another nomad is passing through.

82 of the 400 dinosaur species have been found here. There are fossils everywhere. With the help of our guide, we found a very large dinosaur fossil and began to excavate before we thought better of it.

The Flaming Cliffs from henry james on Vimeo.

Camel Riding from henry james on Vimeo.

11: Ride a camel

Rain from henry james on Vimeo.

They say it’s lucky to get rained on in the Gobi. We got really, really lucky.

#32. Sleep in a tent

Slept like a baby in this ger.

Movies from henry james on Vimeo.

#52: Go to One of hardest to reach bars in the world.

The Dino House & Bar.

Wrestling from henry james on Vimeo.

#36 Attend a small town festival.

A Naadam is Mongolia’s twice a year festival that showcases wrestling, horse racing w/ kid jockeys and archery. They are typically held in early July, but we got lucky and took in a very authentic Mongolian celebration. I even drank fermented mare’s milk.

Yol Valley, Gobi Desert from henry james on Vimeo.

Hopped off the airplane and hiked the beautiful Yol Valley in the Gobi.

Into the Gobi from henry james on Vimeo.

Visited the Gandantegchinlen Monastery. It is the only one to survive the Russians’s brutal occupation.

#62: Visit a Museum

The National Museum Of Mongolia

Chinggis Khaan etched into the mountainside outside of our hotel window.

This picture sums up the city. A mix of old and new coexist, but it’s quickly evolving into something else. It feels very Western in the city center.

First impressions are pretty great.

After a nightmare ten hour delay, we finally made it to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.  I was so happy to be on the plane that I almost didn’t mind the way too many visible fire extinguishers in the Russian made Miat Airlines. I did however pay sharp attention to the entire safety demonstration.  The silver lining is that this was a transit day, so the itinerary remains the same.

Spent our last night eating Korean BBQ and walking around the Hongdae neighborhood until we outlasted them all.

The heat and humidity is pretty much debilitating and has knocked us off our usual game. Nevertheless, we’re sweating through it to make the most of 48 hours in Seoul.

So much commerce in Seoul, but the amount of skin/cosmetic shops is mind boggling. Sonia is in love.

Anthony Bourdain’s favorite street food city didn’t disappoint.

The misters were barely a reprieve from the 105 heat index.

Figured out the subway despite there being zero help for non Korean speaking humans.

The gates of Seoul’s largest palace completed in 1342.

IMG_3487 from henry james on Vimeo.

Purveying the street food.

Furthest West I’ve been. Now going East.

Bye, guys.

A million won ain’t what it used to be.

Made the first leg despite the lack of sleep.

Forum from henry james on Vimeo.

Forum from henry james on Vimeo.

We had a 3am wake. up call, but Sonia wanted to stay out until 1am to see Imagine Dragons again. They put on a great show.

Happy 48th to my ageless bride.

#96: Weigh 170lbs

Haven’t been on this side of 170 in years.

I wouldn’t spend an hour cooking for me, but we just spent over three cooking for these two.

I was just a year older than she is now when I met this then two year old. She has forever changed my life for the better.

Starting to go over the itinerary with Sonia. She’s getting nervous.

“While visiting a nomad’s ger, you will be offered food and drinks. Sometimes you will be offered airag, the traditional drink of fermented mare’s milk which has an alcoholic content of about 3%. If you do not wish to drink any, simply raise the bowl to your lips, as if you were taking a sip. Accept drinks with your right hand – using your left hand is considered offensive.”

I assured her she’s fine because she’s right handed and it’s essentially a Michelob Ultra.

“In general, Mongolians speak quite softly and construe using a loud voice as impolite. Please remember not to laugh very loudly while visiting nomadic families—this can be interpreted as if you were laughing at them.”

Oh, no.

#69: Control Blood Pressure

Despite the recent diet I set a personal record today at the doctor’s office. 179 over 116. Meds are inevitable.

IMG_3289 from henry james on Vimeo.

#54 Out of state concert

Imagine Dragons in Nashville.

They put a bus on the hotel’s rooftop.

A must stop in Nashville for some hot chicken.

Jet Ski from henry james on Vimeo.

#30: Spend a day at the lake
#64: Jet ski

Spent an unplanned day on the lake with our clients. It’s been a long time.

A good BBQ should always have a line.

The diet is on vacation.

IMG_2985 from henry james on Vimeo.

IMG_3002 from henry james on Vimeo.