Chris and I left the girl's with Natalie last Saturday afternoon and went for a walk. Just down the block from us a market had been set up. It was selling key items for the upcoming lunar new year celebrations (Tsugaan Sar). Key items are an entire mutton carcas, fermeted milk drink and various kinds of dried curds. I was worried about meat quality as the days went by, but then I remembered that outside it is colder than our freezer. I wonder what the girl is texting - "Mum, which headless sheep did you want me to pick up?".
There are little playgrounds everywhere. They look quite cute frozen, but Natalie says they are very dusty in summer. I named the one below "playground apocalypse" with the metal horse shrouded in steam from a hot water pipe outlet.
In the big central square an ice slide had been set up. Kids were skidding down, climbing up and skidding down. We were not confident enough to have a go. In many places black ice coats the footpaths and we have had to develop a kind of sliding step to get through those places without falling over. Locals are very good at sliding long distances.
This is an example of old and new in UB architecture. I am not sure what the big building is - probably a bank...There are new buildings going up everywhere, but the cost of living is growing. Nymae told me that last year it was T150,000 for a truck of coal. This year it was T300,000. Coal is what they burn to keep warm during the winter, so it is an essential item. I guess that with the economic growth, but hikes in the cost of living there will be a greater distance between rich and poor - Welcome to the ways of the west...
