Yesterday after a few hours of rest we caught a ride into Dalanzadgad, the nearest town of any size, which is about 30 kilometers south east of Hanhongor.  The city has changed in many ways since 2009 and in amazing ways since I first went there in 2002.  All of the main roads and many of the roads going to the ger districts are now paved and have street lights.  There are new fancy playgrounds all over town, there is a large Sukhbaatar like square near the Naadam stadium, and fancy statues sprinkled here and there.  There are at least 6 cranes working there now and several buildings 4-6 stories high have sprung up, including a hotel with rooms costing upwards of $600 a night.  The number of stores has increased dramatically and the selection is almost as good as Ulaanbaatar.  Living in the Gobi will be much easier than before in many ways.

My first trip to the aimag yesterday brought back memories of my absolutely first trip there in 2002.  I was met at the airport by my school director who put me in a van with my luggage, water filter, and Nigel.  I am sure that they told me that I should go buy food and household goods and that we would be in town until the late afternoon, but I didn’t understand them.  Instead, I sat in the van for hours wondering when we were leaving and if I would ever eat again.  That was definitely a stressful time.

Compare that time to yesterday.  Not only did I know what I wanted to buy, but I had friends to give me a ride to town and to show me where all the new stores were.  We bought food, ordered furniture for our ger, checked our bank balance, inquired about wireless internet services, and got a comfortable ride home in a friend’s land cruiser.  Totally stress free and highly productive.  I wish the 2002 Sadie could see the 2011 one.  I think she would be jealous of how easy things have gotten-and happy to see how many friends she has.