Today I am 28 in Mongolia. But I'm 27 in the U.S. The cooks made a birthday cake and two more for two others.

A sprained ankle threatens my plans to break in Tibet in two weeks and my positive outlook. But just a day at a time right now. No dramas.

I have posted many more photos on Flickr. If you would like to see them, just send me and email and I'll invite you in.


Been running everyday, enjoying the paradise of no fences, no trails, no roads...just open, arid freedom. I would have put up a photo but I haven't taken any during my spiritual quests on foot. And working at night would not do it justice. Running to the top of the hills by camp, I can see 360 degrees of non-stop desert. Still can't get used to it. Feels like a town is on the otherside. But the stars at night that sit on top of the hills are proof that there is no light of any town anywhere nearby, only the light of camp, duller than the Milky Way. We spin around the big dipper and tip it on its side by morning. I didn't realize it for a very long time, but I am a night owl and I love night shift. I love coming home to eat breakfast when everyone else is waking up. Kick around the rugby ball, have brunch everyday and doze off in a sunlit warm ger. It ain't bad at all. Almost antisocial even. But when you live with the people you work with, it makes a lot of sense.