I got word that my ger was finished and ready for me to make it my own. I went to check it out. It was magnificent. A five wall beauty. Huge by Mongolians standards. People were amazed that I was going to live in it by myself. The people who were renting it to me had gone to much effort. It had a fridge, dry sink (more explanation later), a hot plate, a traditional stove (with chimney), sofa, armchairs, tables. The stove had been installed with much insistence for fear I would get cold. I feel I am at much greater risk of burning the whole thing down. Firing the stove may need to be a supervised activity.
In a wave of excitement, I raced down to the local market to grab a few fundamentals. My priority was a few Mongolian posters. I had admired the poster in the kitchen at Leah and Andrew's and was thrilled to find out there was a whole poster industry. Think bright colours, photoshopped foods, horses and gloss. After purchasing an excellent kitchen poster and a requisite horses galloping in gold frame poster, oh and a couple of knives and forks, I was ready. I moved the rest of my clothes in and claimed my Mongolian palace.
In a wave of excitement, I raced down to the local market to grab a few fundamentals. My priority was a few Mongolian posters. I had admired the poster in the kitchen at Leah and Andrew's and was thrilled to find out there was a whole poster industry. Think bright colours, photoshopped foods, horses and gloss. After purchasing an excellent kitchen poster and a requisite horses galloping in gold frame poster, oh and a couple of knives and forks, I was ready. I moved the rest of my clothes in and claimed my Mongolian palace.
For further explanation of my new home, a ger is a traditional Mongolian tent used by the nomads. There are similar version of it right through Central Asia. It is comprised of an inner lattice attached to a door. The number of lattices determines the size. Mine is five wall or lattices. Wooden roof slats are then attached between a big wooden circle that forms the centre of the roof and the lattices. A canvass inner goes on the outside of the lattice, then a layer of felt and then a waterproof outer. The amount of felt determines the warmth. Winter gers have a serious amount of felt. The whole thing is a remarkably simple and effective structure that has served the nomads for eons. It can be assembled in a day and be carried by yaks or camels (though trucks tend to be more popular these days).
nb. None of these gers are mine. It is coming- just you wait.
(My radical neighbour in some ger buidling action)
No comments:
Post a Comment