Mandaloopy does China

[OhOh]

Now, while we are on the subject of the smog,

I used to drive into Calgary, Alberta every morning, from the east. The similar dome of smog was over Calgary every winter's morning. I presume it's the cleanness of the surrounding atmosphere which allows the contrast to be observed.

[Mandaloopy]

Spend the last couple of days trying the restaurants at The Kempinski hotel in UB, tried the KK Bar and Sakura for Japanese- a lot of expats moan about the quality of food here- compared to Myanmar I'm in heaven from a food point of view.
At KK bar I went for slow cooked beef cheeks and polenta- excellent and full of flavor- actual herbs not just salt, which is a pleasant change

Cost was about $12
Today I was in the mood for Japanese, so went along with coworkers for lunch


Around $30, which considering the fact they have to fly the sushi in and it is prepared by a Japanese chef is a pretty decent price.

[Maanaam]

doubled it.

[Maanaam]

slow cooked beef cheeks

Ten - fifteen years ago considered as offal, but, as with most once-cheap cuts, now en vogue and rightly so.
It pisses me off. I used to enjoy the things once disdained, such as beef cheek, lamb shanks, pig heads, pig hocks, chicken livers, deer hearts etc. They were the cheapest meats but delishimo. Now I have to pay as if they're prime cuts.
Bloody celebruty chefs making these things popular!

[Mandaloopy]

Sheep's head is a specialty here, I want to track this dish down. Finding somewhere that does it well is the real challenge according to my local friends- the best Mongolian food is to be found out on the steppe.

[foobar]

I used to drive into Calgary, Alberta every morning, from the east. The similar dome of smog was over Calgary every winter's morning. I presume it's the cleanness of the surrounding atmosphere which allows the contrast to be observed.

Driving into Granada from the Sierra Nevada is the same. A huge nicotine plume on the horizon which dissipates as you get closer.

[OhOh]

nicotine plume

More likely heating and vehicle emissions in Calgary.

[Mandaloopy]

Speaking of driving...


Not my cup of tea at all, bit of a prom date car. There are some seriously nice motors in this town. Hoping there is a Mongolian who wants to trade their Brabus V12 G Class for a kidney and bit of liver- I'd happily donate.

[misskit]

the best Mongolian food is to be found out on the steppe.

My husband had a project somewhere in the Mongolian steppe once. He thought he would die from lack of food. All he had to eat was mama noodles, goat and sheep. No veggies at all. He said the locals barely had enough for themselves. Got out of there just as soon as he could.

[Mandaloopy]

The odd thing here, you will lose weight, and that is despite that large portions, everyone slims down over winter- never knew that you burn more calories in the cold. Here in UB, you don't need to go without, if you can pay up that is. A solid portion of my food allowance is spent of fresh fruit and veggies rather than meat- total opposite of England.

[HuangLao]

Mandy, I'm presuming that's Mongolian beef?

Or not?

[Mandaloopy]

It is indeed Mongolian beef, nearly always excellent. Very tender and they just live on the grass on the steppe. That said, demand is now very high for beef within Mongolia and it is messing the grasslands up something crazy.

[Mandaloopy]

When I wanted a new winter scarf these little dudes were not what I had in mind

[Mandaloopy]

After an incident we now have to give safety instructions on using a pencil. Brats can just write with wax crayons, over it- bring on the holidays.

[hallelujah]

Ten - fifteen years ago considered as offal, but, as with most once-cheap cuts, now en vogue and rightly so.
It pisses me off. I used to enjoy the things once disdained, such as beef cheek, lamb shanks, pig heads, pig hocks, chicken livers, deer hearts etc. They were the cheapest meats but delishimo. Now I have to pay as if they're prime cuts.
Bloody celebruty chefs making these things popular!

Is there anything in the world that you are not an expert on?

[tomcat]

Is there anything in the world that you are not an expert on?

...his English usage is a sore point: something to do with Fiji...

[Luigi]

Visa and work permit knowledge is a bit lacking.

[Luigi]

After an incident we now have to give safety instructions on using a pencil.

Ahh, the ol' 2nd Grade shiv of choice.

Which body part was it used on?

[Maanaam]

Visa and work permit knowledge is a bit lacking.

So is yours, rat.

[Luigi]

Ahh there he is, g'morning Manny.


Do you need a work permit to legally work there Mandy?

[Latindancer]

So is yours, rat.

I think he's more of a sloth than a rat.

[Maanaam]

I think he's more of a sloth than a rat.

Well, a sloth-like brain, but a squealing rat.

[Mandaloopy]

No work permits here, just works visas. From my understanding the company just needs to want you and you have to provide a police check from your home country. Qualifications are up to your employee- there is no list of jobs non-Mongolians can't do, although many would require you to be able to speak the lingo to native level.

It was a very easy process and I got it in under a month of arriving, just had to exit the country to pick the new visa up at the airport on my return. I had a nice boozy weekend away in S.Korea

Yup, one of the darling little second graders shanked another in the middle of a lesson for a disagreement that happened yesterday in the canteen. Incidents like this are why we have several social workers employed full time, it's not uncommon for these kids to really go for each other. I got an open slap to the face for breaking this one up.

[Maanaam]

shanked another in the middle of a lesson for a disagreement that happened yesterday

You have to wonder about the adults. Disconcerting stuff.
Is it very patriarchal there or are the women firebrands too?

[Mandaloopy]

The women can be fierce here,too! But on a serious not domestic violence is a huge huge social in Mongolia for both men and women. Thing is, a lot of women are the breadwinner in the house, while the men just stay home and drink- it is not uncommon for women to beat them out of frustration and anger. Quite a different culture to anywhere I have visited or lived.

Did have an appraisal of sorts- to my surprise it was fine, admin seem happy I am instilling rules and responsibility to my classes. It is still the case that first grade are far more emotionally mature than second grade.