Ring of Fire

Day 713

After three days travelling around remote Mongolia with only a field or a deep hole for a latrine, my body was very controlled and held on to the number twos (sorry, this is going to be a bit base). By the time we got back to our hostel, you can probably imagine the build-up in my intestines.

I was suffering from a cold, so stayed in the warmth of our hostel in the morning catching up on sorting photos, doing some writing, and sitting on the white throne several times.

Eventually, we ventured out for some late lunch and found a vegan restaurant. I wanted something relatively light and chose Tom Yum soup. Now, the waitress did warn me that it was spicy, but I flicked my hand and said, “That’s fine”. Was it Lindsey? Was it really fine?

After food shopping, Tim and I went our separate ways. He went to the National Museum of Mongolia, while I went back to the hostel for a few domestic chores.

Tim shared that the museum was a great representation of preserving the Mongolian history, from Stone Age up to the Democratic times, and the traditional way of life, showing their rich culture. Sadly he couldn’t take any photos; however, there were beautifully made, but ornate, everyday items used by Nomads such as sheaths for not only their knife but also for their chopsticks. There was an incredible array of clothes from the many different ethnic tribes, each with their unique costumes, hats and boots.

Later we went out to another Vegan restaurant, with this beautiful painting in it. We'd visited it beforehand when we first arrived in Ulaanbaator and saw another couple there who had also returned. Great minds think alike. (See Day 714). I think my poor stomach, by this time, was saying Nooooooo. Something needed to happen. And it did.

When we arrived back in the hostel, I won’t go into too much detail but oh my, talk about a ring of fire! I had to ask Tim for our bottle of water to douse the invisible flames coming out of my backside! I was very grateful that it happened in the comfort of our hostel bathroom and not on the train the next day. Phew! And in the words of Johnny Cash:

Tom Yum is a burning thing And it makes a fiery ring Bound by wild desire I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire I went down, down, down And the flames went higher

And it burns, burns, burns The ring of fire The ring of fire