Gobi Desert Greetings

While the terrain down in the south of China where I've lived for years was very similar from place to place with the occasional mountain popping out on the horizon, the terrain here in Inner Mongolia is wild. You'll be in the middle of the plains for hours and suddenly there are mountains rising high above you only to be followed behind by a desert. That's why Adam and I were excited to find that the tour we had chosen took advantage of the varying terrain.

After spending the night drinking and laughing around a poop fire and sleeping in our yurt (seriously one of the coziest places I have ever slept!), we boarded our trusty bus and headed out of the grasslands, passed the big city, left the mountains in the dust, and stepped out in the Gobi Desert.

The Gobi Desert spans across both China and Mongolia. In Chinese it is referred to as 戈壁 (Gebi) and in Mongolian, it is Говь or "Gevi." The Gobi Desert is the fifth largest desert in the world and the largest one in Asia at 500,000 square miles. It is both sandy and rocky and it tends to be a very cold desert (I know! I assumed all deserts were hot too... until I was freezing in one!)

We were in the part of the desert called Ordos Desert. You can see the city of Hohhot to the northeast of us.

The Gobi Desert is the home of many different species despite the harsh climate including gazelles, Mongolian wild ass, and sometimes even snow leopards, wolves, and brown bears! And of course, a desert would be incomplete without camels. 

There are two species of camel in the world. The one humped dromedary camel, also known as the Arabian camel, is from (you guessed it!) the Arabian Peninsula and is found all through Northern Africa today.  The camels found in Inner Mongolia are known as Bactrian camels and are only found in small pockets in Central Asia. They are considered critically endangered in the wild and are almost entirely domesticated today. 

The Bactrian camel population VS. the Arabian camel population.

Now it's been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl with hopes of being an Egyptologist to ride a camel through the desert. Fourteen years in the making, you can be darn sure I was going to get on the back of a camel while living in the middle of the Gobi Desert. 

After putting on unnecessary protective covers for our shoes, we hopped into a large (for lack of a better word), sand dune rover (it almost resembled those amphibian trucks that can enter into the water on those super touristy Duck Tours). The driver with no fear of hydroplaning (or the sandy equivalent), zoomed down the road and up and over the dunes. As we traveled further from our bus and deeper into the desert all vegetation seemed to vanish and nothing but golden rolling sand dunes surrounded us for as far as we could see. 

We arrived at a little oasis where we were greeted by our own little herd of camels. I was the first to hop up on a camel's back and I quickly dubbed him Clyde. 

Fun fact: when camels stand up with you on their back, it is terrifying. You lean forward and then fall back, all the while with this massive creature beneath you. But my heart quickly stopped pounding from fear and started beating for the incredible views I could see from Clyde's back. 

Cross off #103 from My Life List! 

Following behind in a perfect little line (except for Clyde who didn't like waiting his turn), we wandered through the desert. The wind was brutal and the sand got everywhere (seriously, I am still finding it, three showers later) but the relaxed amble of the camels and the wave-like patterns in the sand were incredible. 

I've always had a love for horses (I think many girls go through a stage in their younger years where they dream of owning a horse before they actually realize the cost behind it) but for some reason, I've found that my love for riding a camel runs far deeper than riding a horse (it could be that the horse's trot was merciless on my bottom and the camel's slow stroll pitied my bum). You can see why for thousands of years different people in different parts of the world have chosen the camel as their companion through the harshness of the desert. 

Being a girl from Buffalo, New York, I am very much familiar with sledding. I had my Pocahontas sled growing up that I would take down to the river with my mom and my brother. It was wet. It was cold. It was white. 

If you can sled down a hill in the snow, why not try it in the sand too?

Taking one of the super beat up, broken, and completely falling apart "sleds" one by one each of us conquered the dunes of the Gobi Desert. Standing at the very top, it's a bit intimidating. You see how steep the hill is. The wind beats at your back, threatening to push you over before you're ready. But you know how it goes--when in Rome! 

I only managed to slide down twice because once down, we had to climb back up the hill. It sounded easy but about halfway up, myself and a young French girl just turned and looked at each other and decided that right there on the dune was a perfect place to die. 

It's just incredible seeing sights like this--they belong in books or movies or your imagination. How can they be real? How can you touch them? Hear them? Smell them? As I push myself down the sand dune, I couldn't help but feel like Rey on Jakku from The Force Awakens (sorry for the major nerd out but it's true!). 

I can see the similarity.

While the grasslands were beautiful, it is the desert that I would demand that everyone gets to see at least once in their lifetime--to see that what is harsh can also be beautiful and life changing. 

Until Next Time,
Amanda

PS: Happy Hump Day!! See what I did there? ;)
55 days... 

The American Adventure: Minnesota

I had managed to keep my arrival in America a secret from my brother, graduation was a huge success, the 4th of July was filled with food, family, and fun, and after 10 days of being apart, it was time to reunite with Adam in a part of the country I had never been to before--the Midwest!!

I have been actively traveling for over 10 years now. I have been all over Europe, the Caribbean, and eastern Asia. I have been up and down the East coast and even visited the West coast once...  but for some reason I had never made it to the middle of the country; the closest I got was waving down to it as I flew over. It had been sort of a nonentity--I never really paid much attention to that part of the country, not really having any deep desire to get there (no offense). So when I started dating Adam, I got to know a bit more about the Midwest (even though I still struggle with labeling them all on the map correctly), and I soon learned that I would be traveling there.

With a bit of drama in regards to my flight (add Southwest to my "I will never give you my business and fly with you ever again" list), I got in about eight hours later than originally planned... ah the joys of travel. I looked down as I flew over the Twin Cities (not Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, but Minneapolis and St. Paul) and started spotting all the lakes--now I know that the name, "Land of Lakes" is not too far off!! I got ready for a whole lot of cheese, cheeriness, and "You betcha"s: I was in Minnesota, home of the Vikings, cheese curds, and the Minnesota nice (which makes us New Yorkers look like such jerks)!!

What are some things to do in Minnesota, you ask? Plenty, don't'cha know!!

#1. The Spam Museum

Don't lie--that Monty Python song is stuck in your head now. Spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, WONDERFUL SPAM! WONDERFUL SPAM!

Now, I will admit, I am not the biggest fan of spam. Unless it is a hot dog (judge away), I don't really like the idea of meat from an unknown part of an animal, chopped up, and smushed back together into a new shape. Spam is the poster child of that. My brother LOVES spam (he eats it raw sometimes) and I got into the habit of eating it in China because it was one of the only ways to actually get a substantial piece of meat (sad, I know...). However, spam was invented in Minnesota (don't'cha know!) by a man who had moved there from Buffalo (cool beans!).

Enough of the history lesson! Spam was invented in Minnesota, I was in Minnesota, therefore I had to go to the museum. The air smells like hot dogs and the building has that classic yellow and blue all throughout. You learn the history of Hormel and spam. You look at the impacts during World War II. You see how different cultures and cooking styles use spam. You can take the Spam Exam. You can practice putting together a can of spam. And (best of all), you can get free samples. Is it silly? Yes. Is it kitschy? Definitely. Did I thoroughly enjoy myself? You betcha!

#2. The Jucy Lucy

I had heard tales of this burger for months leading up to my trip to Minnesota. A burger filled with melted cheese. How could you not love the sound of that? I tried a lot of different foods (real cheese curds that squeak, the butter burger, and cheese and meat EVERYWHERE) but the Jucy Lucy was probably my favorite thing.

We went to Newt's in Rochester, MN, home of the original Jucy Lucy. Not even bothering to look at the menu, Adam and I both ordered the Jucy Lucy and when it came, it was one of the most beautiful burgers I have ever laid eyes on (the best one probably at Slim's in Hangzhou after having not seen a burger in 10 months). Adam's advice: Cut the burger in half so you don't bite into it and have molten cheese shoot down the back of your throat. The cheese just oozes everywhere, getting all over the bun and the fries. It is ooey, gooey happiness on a bun... and I miss it so much.

#3. Red Wing big boot

I have never heard of it but I also know absolutely nothing  about shoes but apparently, the little town of Red Wing, Minnesota is known for making shoes (expensive shoes if you ask me!). Adam understands my love for kitsch and so he made it his mission to find the big boot in Red Wing. We actually stumbled upon it by accident and I stood in all the boot's kitschy glory.

While in Red Wing, we also found the Uffda shop. "Uffda" is a word that I had never heard of prior to going to China last year. Then, I heard my Adam and Other Adam say it over and over and over again. I finally learned that it basically means, "Oh my gosh," or even, "Holy $h!t." It is such a fun part of the Midwest culture, there is actually shops that sell Uffda merchandise... and I wanted to buy something. I ended up with an Uffda sweatshirt (which I have not taken off since then since this summer feels more like October) and a headband from Adam to keep my ears warm when we adventure to Harbin next January.

#4. Lark Toys

Yes, it is a toy store. Yes, it is awesome. We actually passes it on the highway and made a U-turn to check it out. I wish I had been seven because this place is huge and it is awesome. They have books, a science section, sports, shells, dolls.

They also have a hat section:

A puppet section:

 And llamas:

Awesome.

#5. Whitewater Fire Tower

I love hiking. In China, there is a lack of locations and opportunities to hike (and when you do find one, it is crowded, on a road or paved sidewalk, in highly manicured nature). So when Adam took me to the White Water State Park to climb the old fire tower to look out over the whole park, I was a happy Amanda. It got cold, the wind had started to blow, and the clouds seemed to threaten rain so Adam and I quickly made our way up to the top of the hill and then made the terrifying climb up the fire tower to the very windy top. What a gorgeous view!!

#6. Lake Harriet Elf House

This was something that I had put on my bucket list a few years ago but in my mind I thought to myself, "When am I ever going to get to the elf house... Why on Earth would I go to Minneapolis?" So I definitely think it is a funny twist of fate that I met someone who lives about an hour from the elf house. When I started making the plans with Adam to come visit him and his family, the only request I had was to find that darn elf house!

I brought a small letter that I had written with me with a self addressed and stamped envelope to leave at the elf house, Adam tried to find directions online, and we actually found it within two minutes of walking around Lake Harriet!

It is a tree right between the bike path and walking path with a collection of flowers planted around the base of the trunk. It has a small, functioning door at the base just filled with letters. I was thrilled that we found it so easily!!! I left my letter behind and crossed it off My Life List (#223).

The coolest part of the whole thing was that a few weeks later when I was back in Buffalo, I actually got a response letter!! It wasn't even a simple sample letter that they send out to everyone--it specifically answered the questions I asked in my letter. So cool!! If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis, I would HIGHLY recommend leaving a letter at the Lake Harriet Elf House.

#7. The Sculpture Garden (AKA: The Big Spoon)

For some reason, a giant spoon with a cherry on it is practically the symbol of Minneapolis. I. DON'T. KNOW. WHY. I had my freshman classes choose American cities to report on and one group chose Minneapolis... and they kept showing that darn spoon. When Adam was showing me photos of what we could see in the city, I kept seeing that darn spoon. So even though I'm not a huge art girl, I wanted to see that darn spoon. Then, and only then, could I say that I had been to Minneapolis.

#8. The Mall of America

I'm not a huge mall person (always brings back awful memories of one of my first dates... ::cringe::) so if I ever have to go to the mall, I am in and out ASAP. But I have heard so much about the Mall of America and not checking it out would be like going to Orlando and not stopping by to see the Mouse (kind of the same...). So we wandered around the mall, checking out the food court, the American Girl Doll store (sorry Adam), board game stores, the Disney Store, LEGOLAND, and the amusement park.

We visited every part of the mall (except for the aquarium) and we did it all in three hours... LIKE A BOSS!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

On top of these crazy adventures, Adam and I also made a road trip to Wisconsin for a wedding and a visit to see Other Adam and DH. Along the way, we stopped at every cheese market that we passed and bought so much cheese... too much cheese (if that is even a thing). If that is not the definition of the Midwest, I don't know what is!

I had gotten a glimpse of life in the nice, old Midwest... now it was Adam's turn to have a go in the wild and crazy New York!!

Until Next Time,
Amanda