Ger Grumbles

Part of the attraction of the sweet Ger lifestyle was experiencing a different way of living. A different way of living that is an unescapable norm for many in the world. One billion people in the world don't have access to safe water. While Mongolia's economically improves it status, infrastructure is lacking and there are many without running water at home.

Ger life had been going magically. I enjoyed the extra tasks I had each day. I felt like my home and I had established a symbiotic relationship that led to our greater good. There is a tap roughly 60 metres from my ger. Every morning I go, fill up my little white bucket and return for a bucket wash. I boil water every evening and let it cool overnight for the next day's drinking water. Washing dishes involving fetching water, boiling it and filling my dry sink. The dry sink is a setup with a small bucket with a tap above a sink that is manually filled. After finishing, any dirty water is then carted to a sink hole by yours truly. Washing clothes takes a bit longer and is a weekend activity. My handy shower bucket doubles as a manual, electricity free washing machine. My pit toilet now seems like a sensible option and my thigh strength has improved considerably. I am using less electricity and water than I ever have before. 

Part of the challenge has also been to not look like a person without residence. Camping in the bush and on boats, I am comfortable living basically and consider any form of swim as a legitimate shower alternative. But I am not used to having look hospital presentable at the same time. Added to this pressure is the fact that Mongolians look look good, always. I needed to maintain my business and feel like I have been doing an above par job.

This romance of this symbiosis came to an abrupt holt when gastro arrived. I am normally completed immune to any disease that might possibly make me thinner. Except this one. Only lasting two days, gastro with a pit toilet when it is constantly raining and no running water in your ger is less than average. I did what any sensible human would do, curled up and died (well almost) but not before calling my mum to have a moan.