Trans-Eurasia 2005 Part 11
Trip Start
May 20, 2005
1
10
14
Trip End
Aug 05, 2005
Beijing,
China
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Lets see where was I? What should have been my last night in Hotv I met
an American who was born in NH. Where I grew up. He spent a year in
Northern Russia teaching English and before heading back to the states
to get a real job he's back-packing across Mongolia. So he, my
guide/translator, ad myself have dinner together. Only the restaurant I
want to eat at has the president of Mongolia inside and they don't have
any more food for us. Imagine walkig into a small restaurant and
meeting face to face with President Bush before beig escorted out? Not
much security here.
Anyway we find another restaurant ad during the meal I mention that I
wouldn't mind some company on the ride to Ulaan-Baatar if he felt like
coming along. He's headed towards Moscow to catch a flight back home.
But my guide volunteers to do this ride if I buy him a used Ural. Used
Urals are going for under US$ 400.00. So it's a done deal and we agree
to meet the next morning at 8:00 AM to hit the bank for some cash and
buy a Ural at the market.
He asks me for M10,000 (about US$10.00) so he can take a taxi to his
village and get some clothes and a bedroll ad he'll be back in the
morning.
So at 8:00 I'm outside with Chris the other American, and I'm still
there at 9:00, and I'm still waiting at 10:00. But I'm not completely
stupid, so at 10:30 I head off for the market to buy some fresh oil,
tires , and wrenches to replace the ones that were stolen and I'm outa
here.
I get all this work done, ad I decide to take a shower at the public
bath house. Only I don't kow where it is. So I pik up a old man on the
back of my bike and ask him (in pantomime) to point me to the shower
house. He does this fine ad the shower, after 3 days without one is
great. So afterwards, I'm bringing him back to where I picked him up
(he even stayed and guarded my bike while I was showering). On the way
back a Hyundai taxi waved me down, ad inside is the guide/translator
with his mother, father, and younger brother.
He brought them along to prove that he really did try ad meet me this
morning but the taxi broke down. Either way is OK with me, if he wants
to ride to U-B or not. So I tell him this ad he seems sicere that he
wants to do this ride and receive a bike for his services.
So I hit the bank for some cash and we head to the used motorcycle market.
I find a 1995 Ural that looks in fairly decent shape. I agree to his
price if he will put on 3 new tires, supply a used wheel and tire for
the spare, put in a new battery, and install a new clutch cable. This
all gets done in about an hour (because the seller is bitching the
whole time) and now it's almost too late to leave for Altay about 400
kms away. So we agree to leave at 7:00 AM sharp the next morning. The
guide/traslator has a name, but unless it's written down in front of me
I can't remember it, so I call him Tim.
Tim tells me he has somewhere to go tonight ad he'll meet me at 7:00 AM
sharp the next morning. I'm now skeptical I'l ever see him again, but
I'm leavig tomorrow at 7:00 with or without Tim.
Surprise, Tim is knocking on my door at 7:00 AM sharp.
We're off for Altay.
