lovely nature

8.22.08
It’s crazy the transformations that we see in Mongolia. Nature has such a presence in Mongolia, even in the Capital. It has been rainy every other day for a few days now and it is absolutely beautiful. With each rain, you can physically see the difference in the land. It is as if you can watch the grass drinking the rain. The day before yesterday was a rainy day, and I was slightly annoyed because the streets in the city turn to rivers, cars splash on you, and I had found myself caught in the rain wearing sandals. (though I have since debated which is better for a rainy day, my running shoes or sandals) My friend and I were taking the bus out to where she lives, in Ulaanbataar, but a little further away from the city center. We were hurrying through the rain and puddles when I hear, “oh my G-d, look at the sky!!” in almost an alarming voice. I quickly stop, first look at my friend, and when my brain registers what she said, I look up, only to see the MOST MAGNIFICANT RAINBOW I HAVE EVER SEEN. I thought I had seen beautiful rainbows, (usually in Mongolia) but all other rainbows do not even compare to the site of that day. The colors were so distinct and bright. It was as full as a rainbow can be. Complete with the second rainbow right below it. We stood in the street marveling over the beauty in the sky, referring it to “complete ROYGBV” or “like a skittles commercial” and wishing we had a camera. It took a minute to realize we were close to her house and HAD to go quickly to get her camera, as who knows if we will ever see something so fabulous. We tried to hurry to her house, but had serious problems getting our eyes off the sky. People all around us were taking pictures. When we finally got to her place, we ran up, put our stuff down, explained to my friend’s husband that he MUST come outside, and ran down, camera in hand. By the time we got back, it wasn’t quite as bright as before, but the second rainbow had changed and it seemed to be reflecting the main rainbow, with the colors going in the opposite direction.


Today, I was in a car driving from Darkhan to UB. It’s a four hour drive, so I brought my book. There I was reading about the torturing of Tibetan prisoners, when I looked up, only to notice the amazing scenery. The lush green grass, soaking up the rain and getting greener with ever drop, the clouds shades of blue, purple, grey, and white; the sun creating amazing shades of pink and purple in the sky; The clouds blocking some of the sun’s rays, so it shown so bright and clear on one side of a hill but with hidden on the other side, only creating a bright green opening in the middle of gloomy rain cloud shadows. It was a scene that even the best artist could not come up with on his own; a picture that can only be painted by nature.


8.31.08
Yesterday, I was walking to my friend’s house and stopped in my tracks, just to look up at the sky. The entire horizon was like one giant rainbow, starting with shades of red right about the mountains (more like big hills) and continuing with each color of the rainbow fading into the next as you looked higher into the sky. And on my way home, I couldn’t help but stare at the stars, causing me to walk crooked and slow, but totally worth it.
The Mongolian sky is absolutely amazing!