SOMEONE ASKED " WHAT DO YOU EAT?"

Cooking In Mongolia is not as challenging as it was made out to be. Moreover, maintaining my vegetarian diet has not been as difficult either. There are many things accessible here in Mongolia. Although I am in an Aimag center, which has a generally good food market, I’d reason that this would be possible in the countryside too. Peace Corps issues a cookbook to all volunteers that is edited each year and all of the recipes are either updated or I would assume discarded if another is similar and better. In the cookbook there are different sections Hoodoo, and Posh-corps. These perspective sections offer alternative-cooking methods for one living in the countryside verses the one living in a town or a city.

My experience with cooking did not start here. Once I decided to become a vegetarian four years ago. I had to fend for my self the 1^st year. Besides my aunt who enjoys cooking any and everything thing (Trina) and the occasional veggie dish from T-Hurt (step mom), I had chosen an interestingly independent path. Actually, my friends were good about it too… But it works and I love it, even more in Mongolia. A few of my staple dishes or regulars are Pizza, Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Fried rice, Curries, Vegetable Soups, Breads, Bagels, Granola, Yogurt and Peanut Butter. Lately I have explored biscuits, cakes and bean burgers. My downfall is that I try them over and over until I get it right, leaving me tired of that particular recipe. Yet, I find that there is a peace and joy in cooking and even more when the cooking is done with and for others.

What are some of your favorite easy recipes? Lets Share!

Peace,

Clifton A. Hurt

5 DAY BACK-PACKING TRIP

So how do I describe this trip?

It was a good learning experience filled with adventure and brotherhood. Ben, Cameron, Cody and I had a blast. We arrived to the lake in late afternoon with our bags and plans up in the air. We walked through town to gather our last few items from the local stores and headed to our first campsite. I lead us to this one that I knew O so well from my previous travels up to the lake. This first night was good!

In the morning we rose and gathered our things for breakfast. There was coffee, oatmeal, and whatever else we personally packed. Did I mention coffee was in the mix. I appreciate a good cup of Joe in the morning. The day would be filled with traveling as far north as we could. Little did we know, the Crazy Cliffs lie ahead. On the Cliff’s, that were width of three bricks side by side and other times a bit wider, we climbed and at times crawled toward or destination. However, we did not get as far as we expected on this second day. Yet, our dear friend Ben seized the moment during lunch and while sitting on the shore, he swam in the lakes freezing cold water.

Our living quarters for each night consisted of a 4person tent. After the first night we decided this did not work for us four. Ben, being the height of a NBA center and four huge sleeping bags made our quarters quite tight. So the next day Ben decided to sleep in a scout made tent using a tarp and sticks. Ben is quite the EAGLE. I was impressed with Ben and Cameron’s Knowledge of the out doors and what to/what not to do will traveling as we were.

There was a dog that tagged along for the whole five days. The name of the dog changed many times and as I remember, we never settled on a name. We all had our names for this friendly dog. I’d like to think of this dog as our guardian angle… This dog was loyal for so little food. After the third day or so it was in order to make sure she had water and food. The most impressive event was her hiking up a huge mountain. She went the whole distance. Man, the loyalty of dogs, I digress…

Although it was the end of the summer, Lake Khuvsgol’s water never changes from cold or frozen. I had to take my opportunity to get in while it was cold. So, One day when the sun was, well, not as consistent as I’d like, I took a dip. The water was fresh and clear like being on an island except very cold. I guess it was my only bath during our hike too… It was the Real Deal, Fun, and just enough time in the outdoors for me!