Just returned from Yeson Zuil, the birthplace of Zanabazar, the First Bogd Gegen of Mongolia and Erdene Zuu, site of Mongolia's first Buddhist monastery in the post-Yuan Dynasty era. Should have more on this shortly.


The famous 108 Stupa Wall around Erdene Zuu

Main Temples of Erdene Zuu

All the photos of people hitting statues of Saddam Hussein with their shoes has led to the Washington Post story "Worst Foot Forward: A Guide to Foreign Insults, which helpfully points out that while "In Mongolia, you can't lean on the supporting pole of someone's yurt." Remember this, all you folks coming for Visit Mongolia 2003. Anyone else like to point out Mongolian No-Nos?

Now the Killer Virus Is in Inner Mongolia. Ten cases have been reported in Hohhot, capital of Inner Mongolia, where I was in in February. See my Photos. There are at least two planes a week from Hohhot to Ulaan Baatar and also trains.

More Killer Virus News: Hong Kong has had to dump its catchy new advertising slogan: "Hong Kong Will Take Your Breath Away", for obvious reasons. Whew! Talk about bad timing!