Shards of Mongolia

New perspectives: photography from China and Mongolia

2008-08-15T22:12:00.005+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

(c) Grace Gelder.

Glimpses of other people's lives are always fascinating, so it's unsurprising that the two photographers in this exhibition chose to document everyday existence in China and Mongolia.

Grace Gelder hails from Wolverhampton, and graduated last year with an MA in International Photojournalism, Documentary And Travel Photography. She hopes to counteract misconceptions of Mongolia as an under-developed country, and her series of striking colour portraits, each depicting one woman in her professional context, follows up a UN report last year that placed Mongolia first in a league table for women's participation in the workforce.

China, Mongolia duke it out in sport pistol

2008-08-15T22:03:00.002+02:00

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As U.S. coach Sergey Lugov predicted, the women's sport pistol event came down to a battle between the Mongolian team and the Chinese. Gundegmaa Otryad of Mongolia set an Olympic record in the qualification round—coming from the middle of the pack after the precision stage, where she fired a 291 out of 300, to drop just a single point in rapid-fire for a 299/300 and a record 590 aggregate. But she couldn't hold onto the lead during the finals as China's Ying Chen turned in an incredibly strong performance to capture the gold.

Olympics judo-ex-wrestler gives Mongolia its first gold medal

2008-08-15T21:57:00.004+02:00

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Mongolian wrestler-turned-judoka Tuvshinbayar Naidan upset a string of more fancied opponents to win the men's 100kg title on Thursday and give the windswept central Asian nation its first Olympic gold medal.

Twenty-four year-old Naidan, who switched to judo in 2000, used a traditional Mongolian wrestling technique to humble Athens heavyweight champion Keiji Suzuki in their opening bout, and then trounced Kazakhstan's Ashkat Zhitkeyev in the final.

"There are no words that can describe my happiness," Naidan told reporters. "After winning this gold my first thought is to thank my parents, my coach and all the people who have supported me in the past."

While not lacking in skill or technique, the burly Mongolian's success was largely built on brute strength and determination.

After arrogantly throwing Suzuki off the tatami for ippon and automatic victory, Naidan bullied, barged and bruised his way to the final where a hapless Zhitkeyev was the victim of three scoring throws.

For second time, oil prices rise for Mongolians

2008-08-12T12:16:00.003+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

As in the rest of the world, the cost of petroleum products for Mongolian consumers is rising.

In fact, for the second time in weeks, the price of oil has increased in Mongolia.

Mongolia purchases its oil from Russia. As of last week, the price for Russian oil being sold in Mongolia had increased to reflect world prices of $115-130 per barrel.

In real terms, this is translating to costs of a liter of АI-80 petrol being set at MNT 1260 ($1.09 USD), АI-92 - at MNT 1400-1405 ($1.21 USD) and diesel fuel - at MNT 1630 ($1.41 USD).

D. Amarsaikhan, head of the Minerals and Oil Authority, has said that Mongolia has opened up border checkpoints at Yarant, Khavirga and Bulgan to increase Chinese oil supplies.

D. Amarsaikhan added that oil reserves have been maintained to guarantee fuel will be available for the Mongolian harvest season.

Mongolia's aspiring sumo kids

2008-08-12T12:12:00.003+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

Mongolia's young sumo wrestlers compete at the "Future Championships" in the country's capital of Ulan Bator.

It's a sport usually associated with Japan, but now it's Mongolia's youngsters that are taking an interest. More than 900 children turned up at the "Future Championships" sumo contest. Contestants took to the ring at the 12-day long event with the support of their families cheering them on. Later this month the Japanese Sumo Association is organising its first training tour in Mongolia where some 120 wrestlers from Japan are expected to show off their skills.

"Great Construction" exhibition opens

2008-08-12T12:00:00.003+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

On Thursday, Mongolian construction companies opened a specialized exhibition "Great Construction" in the central cultural palace of Mongolian Trade Unions. More than 40 construction companies displayed their products at the exhibition and are taking bookings of new apartments with discounted prices and are offering professional advice.

At present, 140-150 apartment buildings are erected in Ulaanbaatar. These buildings will be put into operation by 2010 and the price of a square meter field has been comparatively stable, but has been different depending on their locations, infrastructure and construction materials. The "Gandirs" company erects the most expensive buildings and the price of a square meter field is $2500. The price of a square meter field of the "Urgakh naran" and "Solongo" apartments being built in suburbs is $720. It is the lowest cost. An average price of a square meter field of apartments is $800-900.

The exhibition provides wide-ranging information about what construction companies are erecting what apartment buildings, when the apartments will be put into use, how to conclude cooperation deals, and what companies are building the highest quality apartments.

The exhibition which will last for five provides opportunities to have comprehensive information about credits of houses, building insurance, and commerce and mediation of houses and real estate.

Day of Fathers to be marked

2008-08-08T09:35:00.001+02:00

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Men have it hard in Mongolia. Not only are they on average lower educated, they're also discriminated against when applying for jobs. Unemployment, the subsequent lack of respect from society, depressions... it all too often leads to alcohol abuse. And alcohol often lies at the root of many family problems. Mongolian men suffer from a bad rep.

The truth is more nuanced. Mongolian men work hard, drink hard, live hard. Add a pinch of countryside machismo and tempers can easily flare. This can result in physical abuse of wife and children but also in fist fights.

The thing is that Mongolian men don't really have a different role model to follow, unless you count the Mongolian sumo wrestlers. Therefore, this proposed Day of Fathers could be a good step in the right direction. Raising the prestige of being a father, a good husband, and a good provider, with the increase in respect that comes with it, might just be the push young Mongolian men need. They have a lot to gain. The Mongolian women have a lot to gain. And Mongolia too.

Let's hear it for all the good men and fathers out there! Khuree! Khuree! Khuree!

Mongolian Men's Union started celebrating the Day of Fathers in 2005 with the intention of raising the prestige, duties and responsibilities of fathers.

The Day of Fathers was marked on Thursday in the central cultural palace of Mongolian Trade Union. At the event, awards were granted to the best fathers, more than ten hospitals is starting free of charge diagnose all kinds of men's diseases and the "Yalma" beauty saloon is providing permanent beauty saloons for men. Besides, a competition was arranged among children to write letters for their fathers and the state honored lecturer Ts. Tuvshintugs have a lecture titled "Home - Father - Country" for new couples.

The third national contest to select Mister Mongolia will be administered in September in Ulaanbaatar city with the purpose of improving the ethics and cultural level of young people, developing their talents and abilities and becoming known advantages of Mongolian men to the public. Men aged until 27 will participate in the competition and will compete by their abilities, knowledge and talents.

Engaging Citizens on human impact on ecosystems

2008-08-07T16:11:00.000+02:00

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The Asia Foundation in Mongolia has launched "Securing our Future," a program to engage citizens in resource use decision making that affects their lives.

Faculty and students in 18 schools from eastern-most Dornod aimag (province) to western-most Bayan Olgii aimag are participating in a river monitoring program which is building a body of empirical evidence that supports an enhanced science curriculum, and contributes to meaningful citizen engagement.

This research is complemented by rigorous scientific analysis conducted by experienced Foundation scientists, who are working with National University of Mongolia faculty and students to inventory all of Mongolia's rivers.

In 2007, the science team sampled nearly 100 of Mongolia's rivers, of the total of 400, that criss-cross the country. By using experiential learning and "action research" as a tool, and using internationally accepted methods of biological monitoring, citizens are able to assess their aquatic ecosystems. This effort contributes directly to a nationwide effort to better understand the human influences that impact water quality and quantity.

Over the past 17 years, The Asia Foundation in Mongolia has supported democratic and market-oriented reforms in partnership with public, private, and non-governmental counterparts. Foundation programs strengthen public and private institutions, and promote justice, accountability, and prosperity. At the same time, programs also improve governance and transparency, economic growth and investment. Key program areas include: responsible mining and resource use, combating corruption and human trafficking, and promoting education for the next generation of leaders through the Books for Asia program.

Owen Lattimore: Past, present and future of Inner Asian countries

2008-08-07T16:07:00.000+02:00

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The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), together with the International Association of Mongolian Studies (IAMS) and the National University of Mongolia School of Foreign Service will organize a conference entitled, "Owen Lattimore: The Past, Present, and Future of Inner Asian Studies" in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on August 20 and 21, 2008.

Owen Lattimore played an important role in the development of political and cultural relations between Inner Asia and the West, and he is widely recognized as the father of Inner Asian Studies in the United States and England. His research and writing continues to have a profound impact on generations of scholars and intellectuals interested in Inner Asia. This conference has a duel purpose. First, it is meant to help record the memories of those who knew Owen Lattimore or were directly influenced by him, and offer scholars who are new to the field the opportunity to learn more about Owen Lattimore's role in the development of cultural and political relations between Inner Asia and the West in the 20th century. Second, the conference is intended to build on Owen Lattimore's legacy by providing a forum for new research related to the region. The conference marks the first of a series of annual conferences planned by the ACMS in Inner Asia to promote scholarly exchange between local and international scholars and to explore emerging research topics related to the region.

This section of the ACMS Library website provides comprehensive about the conference, including the schedule of events and list of paper presentations, as well as additional information about Owen Lattimore and his work as a scholar.

Monetary policy implementation of Bank of Mongolia

2008-08-07T16:04:00.000+02:00

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According to the quarterly of the 2008 first half year of the Bank of Mongolia, inflation rise, which started from the second half of 2007, is spreading around the world and is also affecting Mongolia.

Economy affected by unfavorable and mostly supply side adverse impacts such as disruption of supply of some imported goods and worldwide price increase influences an environment, where relatively big portion of consumer basket consists of imported goods. The BOM is implementing its monetary policy by considering the above factors. It is now the main objective of the Bank of Mongolia not to feed the inflation by monetary growth and to ensure better co-ordination of the monetary policy with the fiscal policy.

Travel to Mongolia

2008-08-07T15:58:00.000+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

I replied to the article Travel to Mongolia on tripsdestination.com.

I have to suggest a few corrections and additions.

lonely tuaregs wondering on the camels through the great Gobi desert

There are no tuaregs in Asia. Tuaregs live in northern Africa.

Although in most of Ulan Bator you can still see the former communist regimes scars, the city is in full economic development.

While I understand the use of the term "scars" I have to disagree that these are scars. Lack of maintenance after the fall of the Socialist regime has caused many of the buildings from that era to deteriorate. However, many have been renovated both inside and outside these days and sell like hotcakes. What disturbs me nowadays in Ulaanbaatar is the proliferation of modern but shoddily built apartment blocks and high rises. Many are worse than eye sores. Most wouldn't pass the building codes of the US or European countries. Most are also far inferior to the houses from the Socialist era.

One of the most beautiful is Amarbayasgalant Khiid.

I haven't had the pleasure of visiting this far, far away khiid, unfortunately. But right in the middle of Ulaanbaatar is the magnificent yet small Choijin Lama monastery museum. IMO a much better choice for the time strapped tourist than Erdene Zuu or Gandantegchinlen. Both are easily visited (Erdene Zuu is located some 200 hundred km west of the city. Gandan is a 10 minute walk from Sukhbaatar Square) but Choijin Lama monastery is more deserving of your precious time.

Manshir Khiid and Tuvkhun Khiid are also good choices. Manshir Khiid is only a hour's drive south of the city. Tuvkhun Khiid is a 1-2 hours' drive from Khujirt and involves walking up the mountain on which the temple is perched. Beware, this is quite a heavy climb of about an hour.

The story of theresurrection of the takhi, or Przwewalksi's horse, is wonderful. See this article ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takhi ) on wikipedia for starters.

The place can be seen in its natural beauty whit all the green forests and wild life because as it is considered sacred and the locals never kill an animal or destroy nature in this palce.

While the area remains beautiful it's no longer true that it's unspoilt. Illegal logging also takes place in this region. And poaching for fur and valuable birds is on the rise all over Mongolia. Too few people benefit sufficiently from the growing economy.

Other areas of Mongolia are now suffering from mercury polluted rivers from illegal gold mining; water drunk by the herds of the people in the countryside.

former capital that Ginghis Khan built at Karakorum in 1220

When does a camp of tents become a capital city? That's the core question here. Until Ogedei Khan the place Karakorum didn't have walls. And though Chinggis Khaan has spent time there, he was mostly on the move waging yet another war. Where the Khaan went, is where the seat of government was, which was mostly not in Karakorum during the reign of Chinggis Khaan.

Gurvansaikhan is the most popular place in the Gobi desert. From here tourists can go visit the local tribes that still live in isolation, see the hundreds of species of birds here, leopards and wild camels and they can go on hiking trails in the superb surrounding mountains where ancient dinosaur remains can still be found.

I have to warn people that it is strictly forbidden to hunt for dinosaur remains without proper permits. And smuggling dinosaur remains carries a hefty penalty! Also, the dinosaur remains aren't easy to find and the Gobi is a cruel mistress to those coming unprepared.

Stick to the trails to look for ibex, wild camel, leopards (though there are only a handful in the Gobi), antelope, gazelle, birds and the wonderful landscape. Go to Gurvansaikhan National Park in June or July (at the latest) to see the glacier in Yolin Am valley. Yes, a glacier in the desert!

Mongolia Group on LinkedIn

2008-08-06T16:44:00.000+02:00

Shards of Mongolia created the Mongolia Group on LinkedIn.

The Mongolia Group is a LinkedIn group for everyone with a connection with or an interest in Mongolia: Mongolian citizens, expats, business people, educators, photographers, social work, travellers, etc.

You're invited to join the Mongolia Group on LinkedIn. Joining will allow you to find and contact other Mongolia Group members on LinkedIn. The goal of this group is to help members:

* Reach other members of the Mongolia Group
* Accelerate careers/business through referrals from Mongolia Group members
* Know more than a name – view rich professional profiles from fellow Mongolia Group members

Here's the link to join: Mongolia Group on LinkedIn.

Hope to see you in the group,

— The Mongolia Group Team

BTW. Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

More Mongolia on Shards of Photography blog

2008-07-27T12:43:00.001+02:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

Mongolia group on LinkedIn

2008-03-27T21:27:00.002+01:00

On LinkedIn, I created the Mongolia group.

I invite everyone from or with an interest in Mongolia to join this group. I know a lot of you are already on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is about building your network. So that sounds like a good reason to join the Mongolia group.

And it doesn't matter if you're a from Mongolia or a tourist who his heart to the country. Or whether you do business there, work there, are a volunteer with the Peace Corps there. Or whether you just like Mongolia. You are all welcome! So, join me in the Mongolia group.

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

What micro loans miss

2008-03-12T21:15:00.000+01:00

People who know me (or have visited the Shards of Photography blog regularly) know that I'm quite interested in micro finance and what it can do to better the lives of people around the world.

Over the past few years I've heard of the debacles early on in the existence of micro finance, the stories of failed projects and insolvent micro financiers, the high amount of non-recoverable loans, etc. And in the past few years how this financial niche has grown to become mature, stable and effective and, most of all, how micro finance is hugely successful combating poverty.

However much that may be true, the What microloans miss article in the New Yorker opened my eyes to a new reality.

There's no doubt that microfinance does a tremendous amount of good, yet there are also real limits to what it can accomplish. Microloans make poor borrowers better off. But, on their own, they often don't do much to make poor countries richer.

This isn't because microloans don't work; it's because of how they work. The idealized view of microfinance is that budding entrepreneurs use the loans to start and grow businesses - expanding operations, boosting inventory, and so on. The reality is more complicated. Microloans are often used to "smooth consumption" - tiding a borrower over in times of crisis. They're also, as Karol Boudreaux and Tyler Cowen point out in a recent paper, often used for non-business expenses, such as a child's education. It's less common to find them used to fund major business expansions or to hire new employees. In part, this is because the loans can be very small - frequently as little as fifty or a hundred dollars - and generally come with very high interest rates, often above thirty or forty per cent. But it's also because most microbusinesses aren't looking to take on more workers. The vast majority have only one paid employee: the owner. As the economist Jonathan Morduch has put it, microfinance "rarely generates new jobs for others."

This matters, because businesses that can generate jobs for others are the best hope of any country trying to put a serious dent in its poverty rate. Sustained economic growth requires companies that can make big investments - building a factory, say - and that can exploit the economies of scale that make workers more productive and, ultimately, richer. Microfinance evangelists sometimes make it sound as if, in an ideal world, everyone would own his own business. "All people are entrepreneurs," Muhammad Yunus has said. But in any successful economy most people aren't entrepreneurs — they make a living by working for someone else.

I found this notion really interesting. It means there's more to do when it comes to micro finance than just promote it and facilitate it. The next step seems to be to take micro finance up a level and get the micro entrepreneur to become a macro entrepreneur. I know it can happen. Oikocredit, amongst others, takes justified pride in the success stories where a single micro entrepreneur builds a thriving company with 1-5-10-dozens of employees and a $100K turn-over. But these success stories are, as we all should realise, only the really big success stories. But what about all those other micro loaners - who really do pay back their loans? According to the New Yorker article they don't build companies with more than 1 employee... the owner. Why is that? And how, if micro finance is to help build national economies, can we change it? For me those are interesting questions and answers. I hope the questions will be posed more often and more urgently. I hope the answers will come sooner rather than later.

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

Happy Tsagaan Sar

2008-02-08T21:21:00.000+01:00

Find more postings on Mongolia on the Shards of Photography blog.

In the meantime... Happy Tsagaan Sar!

Changes

2008-02-05T10:21:00.000+01:00

It's been more than a year since I last posted anything here. Reasons? Many.

Anyway, I'm going to change the way I approach this blog.

First of all, I'm not going to report on Mongolian news anymore. At least not on a regular basis. There are far better places for that, that put much more time and effort in it than I ever can or want.

Secondly, my passion is photography and photography will be the most influential angle for my ramblings on Mongolia. That means that most postings on Mongolia will appear on the Shards of Photography blog.

And last but not least, most postings will happen when I've had the chance to visit Mongolia again. I don't have unlimited resources of money and time, so be prepared to find long gaps between my visits to Mongolia. Alas.

However, I'm always available to answer any questions, respond to any recommendations or remarks, or make suggestions you ask for. Just leave a comment on this blog or contact me by email.

Mongolia wins medals at Asian Games

2006-12-13T07:58:00.001+01:00

Mongolian athletes have won two gold, three silver, one bronze (judo wrestling) and other one bronze (shooting team) at the Doha-2006 15th Asian Games.

Boxing athletes have satisfied the conditions of one silver and two bronze medals.

Thus, Mongolian athletes have had a total of ten medals.

The boxers E. Badar-UUgan (54 kg) and U. Munkh-Erdene (60 kg) will play for silver medals even for gold medals. Other boxer Z. Enkhzorig (57 kg) will compete with an athlete from the Republic of Korea for the champion of the Asian Games.

Photo exhibition on human rights opened

2006-12-13T07:54:00.000+01:00

For the International Human Rights Day, a photo exhibition has jointly been featured by the National Commission on Human Rights and non-government and public organizations, which are acting in this sector.

In particular, the Gender Equality Center has earmarked its exhibits to the topics Prevent yourself from sexual violence, the National Center against Violence - Ward of violence in family, and the Center of Children's Rights - Children free from hard labor.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

WTO essay writing contest announced

2006-12-13T07:50:00.001+01:00

The tenth anniversary of Mongolia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is taking place on January 29, 2007.

On the occasion of the jubilee celebration, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has announced an essay-writing contest among the third and fourth courses' students of trade and economic higher schools.

The contest with an award fund of Tg 500 thousand aims to raise knowledge of students on the WTO and supporting their intellectual works.

Students who have an interest to participate in the competition could write an essay on advantages of the WTO and multilateral trade agreements, results achieved by Mongolia by using the multilateral agreements, positive influences of Mongolia's accession to the WTO and ways of developing the national production within the scope of the WTO agreements.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

Hydro trials in Mongolia

2006-12-09T14:21:00.001+01:00

Trial operations have begun at a 960kW capacity hydro power station on the Uyench river in Khovd aimag, Mongolia.

The station - developed by the Khovd Tulga company - has the capacity to supply energy to the Uyench, Bulgan and Altai soums of the aimag.

The station will be put into permanent use after review by a working commission of the State Professional Control Authority.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

Government has to be transparent

2006-12-09T14:12:00.001+01:00

MonInfo reports:

The Open Society Forum organized a forum called "Government's transparency: Social wealth allocation" yesterday [December 7, 2006] in order to assess activities implemented by the government and citizens, to define difficulties and to discuss ways of further implementation. The Mongolian government, civic society and representatives from local and international businesses have participated in the forum and discussed numerous important subject areas, including: transparency which is a peer principle of democracy, legal and judicial framework to provide transparency of law, state budget and process of tenders, Ulaanbaatar city land issuance and transparency of the extractive industry.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

Call to Citizens to Report Human Rights Violations

2006-12-09T13:58:00.001+01:00

Amnesty International will give the opportunity to all citizens of Mongolia whose rights have been violated to write down accounts of his or her opinion and will submit them to the relevant authorities to mark International Human Rights Day this Sunday.

Amnesty International officials said anyone can write about woman's rights violations, food and medicine safety and other issues on December 10, the day for human rights which this year has a slogan of, "Being a human and respecting human beings."

"Anyone can express his or her opinion on this day. We will write a letter about human rights violations to the related authorities. If people agree after reading it, they will sign. In particular, we wrote a letter and call to action to L. Gundalai, the Minister of Health. Of course everyone who agrees with this slogan will sign," said B. Altantuya the director of Amnesty International's Mongolia office.

"Our letter is mostly about food and medicine safety. We are launching it so everyone will write a letter to protect his or her own rights," said Altantuya.

The human rights organizations organize this campaign each year on International Human Rights Day. 438 people wrote about their rights on this campaign and 315 of them were delivered to the related authorities and organizations and solved last year, according to the officials.

"Our organization widely participates in issues about kidnapping, the death sentence and torture. About 100 people appeal to us to solve their problems and complaints every year. Thus we pass it to the President, Parliament and the Ministers of our country," said the organization officers.

According to their speech, this organization did research about human rights protectors and woman's right during 2006. Journalists, prosecutors, judges, and defense lawyer's rights are the most violated according to the research.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

Mongolian citizens demand justice from Malaysian government

2006-12-09T13:52:00.001+01:00

As terrible and shocking the murder of Sh. Altantuya was, Mongolians shouldn't reproach Malaysia for doing not enough to establish justice. Mongolia's police and legal system is probably more corrupt, incompetent and fraudulent than Malaysia's is. In stead of putting so much effort in condemning another country, Mongolians should put in loads of energy to make their own country's police, legal and judicial systems transparent, competent and just.

A public gathering entitled "We demand justice" took place Wednesday in the National Information Technology Park in Ulaanbaatar. Mongolian NGOs, which run their activities for the protection of human rights and women's and children's rights, arranged the above gathering with the purpose of demanding to fairly judge the case regarding to a Mongolian citizen Sh. Altantuya, who was brutally murdered in Malaysia on October 19.

The gathering attendees appealed to combat for justice by establishing a temporary committee for the solution of the unimaginable murder case. The attendees also discussed issues related to delivering a petition to the Malaysian court by demanding to stand for justice and letting an advocate of Mongolia take part in the official trial, which will take place on December 14 to solve the revolting case.

The petition reads that "In the event that the case was not solved fairly, the Government of Malaysia will be considered as an accomplice of the criminal. The Government of Malaysia must remedy the damage caused to the family of the late Sh. Altantuya, because the murder was a contract killing committed by two Malaysian policemen".

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/

UB's trolley buses

2006-12-08T11:25:00.001+01:00

UB's trolley buses are a mishmash of Korean, Japanese and godknowswhatothercountry buses in more or less dilapidated state of repair and maintenance. They're ugly, smelly and slow yet ever so useful and cheap. I wouldn't give them a second glance but someone does. Meet the UB trolley bus blog. :) Presented this way, these trolley buses all of a sudden become kinda cute.

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Shards of Mongolia http://shardsofmongolia.blogspot.com/