Unfortunately, Chinese internet controls precludes us from readily posting pictures.  Locally, here in Hailar, access to this site has been blocked on a sporadic basis.  Typing in the site address gets to a search engine age with results for goodrich family in Mandarin.

We all arrived in Hailar yesterday and were met by the entire family.  They are all very nice people.  Lots of statutes celebrating Mongols and Genghis Kahn whose wife was from here.  The weather was a pleasant change from Beijing, very dry, still hot, and minimal pollution.  Past the city all we can see are grass lands – very cool.

After checking into the hotel, an event unto itself, the entire entourage headed a few blocks down the street to a local restaurant for what was one of the finest chinese meals on the trip to date.  Free range beef and lamb, local fish, everything was very fresh and less oily than Beijing.

After lunch we drove about an hour into the grass lands.  Past a large coal strip mine which is big out here and to a Mongolian place where we where greeted with a customary VIP (that means we got white sashes to wear around are neck, something you might see in a graduation ceremony and the Koreans from the tour bus did not) where we flick rice wine (a bit stronger than vodka) in three manners to represent something and then enter the building.  The staff are all wearing traditional Mongol garb and live in the nearby yurts.  Peter, Andrew and a few others went horseback riding (sort of) and Tom Leary rode the camel.

We then drove out another 45 minutes further into the grass lands for a traditional Mongolian Dinner at the best place around.  Everything was locally grown, slaughtered, prepared (maybe) and cooked.  The specialty is boiled lamb and because we are the guests of honor, we were served the spine.  To eat the lamb, you hold the bone with a plastic glove, cut off a piece of meat with a pocket knife, dip the meat into the local sauce concoction and it it.  A lot of work for a little food, but it was very fresh.  The mutton dish I found much more flavorful.  For both lunch and dinner we were served blueberry juice which was sort of like blueberry grape juice.

Well time to head out to the buffet breakfast where I doubt there will be any western food.

I will keep posting if the site is not blocked, and there is one other cumbersome angle to try posting pictures.