So to cheer ourselves up, Chelsea and Susan and I resorted to retail therapy again - I needed new straps for my big bag and a skirt for around the hotel in Seoul, and we all had souvenirs to find. Since I leave this evening, Susan and Chelsea will share the double room tonight, but I can still use it as a base until I go.
Chelsea joined up with the Denver Zoo girls to go to the market in the afternoon, but Susan and I decided to be brave and take a bus out to the Zaisan memorial and back. It was very hot, but we found the bus where the travel office said it would be, and (thankfully) it went where we intended. We got off, and set off up the hill to the monument from the south, which is probably the back way! It was a relief to get into the shade of the big circular memorial to various wars (mostly involving heroes portrayed in "soviet style". Down below, we could see the Buddha Park and the Tuule River, so we decided to go and see them before getting the bus back. We didn't count the steps down the front of the hill, but there were plenty of them!
At the bottom, there's a cafe area and we found the aloe juice that we'd enjoyed in camp - it's really good when you're hot and dry!
We looked round the Buddha park, hit the drum and rang the bell, then on down to the river, where people were paddling, washing clothes or just resting beside it.
The bus (33/43) came quite soon and we got of at Sukhbaatar Square before going round to the Zanabazar Museum. We saw the exhibition are there, but the rest of the museum was closed.
Chelsea got back about the same time and we went out for an Indian meal this time. It was all vegetarian food, and the nan basket was more than generous, so i took one with me for later. Back at Zaya's I showered and changed, and had just locked my luggage when the taxi arrived -half an hour early! So final goodbyes to Susan and Chelsea, and off to the airport...
No comments:
Post a Comment