Shopping in UB

The State Department Store on Peace Avenue is one of the best places to shop for every day personal and household goods. There is also a large supermarket on the ground floor stocked with many different brands and foods not available in Australia. Outside sits this ger.

I had not seen the Mongolian horse hair ceremonial standards before. The ger was closed.

We have been looking at boots and wondering if we will need to buy another pair for the freezing conditions expected. These are made in Mongolia and in the Mongolian style with a slightly curled toe.

And some in cow? hide. I have chosen to show you the more exotic boots. There are the regular styles also and many rated for -25 or -32 degrees C.

Not something I've seen in Australia- tea in jars ad looking like jelly.

Yoghurts.

Lots of sausage and salami available, plus very white eggs, wonder if they have been bleached?

I love the chandelier in the aisle, looking very special.

 And at the checkout the usual temptations. Prices are in the thousands of Tugreks, local currency and there are no coins just notes which range from 10 - 20,000. Perhaps there is a larger one than 20,000 but we haven't seen it.

 

Just cute

The Tsagaan Alt wool shop has the cutest felted slippers for little ones! I visited the store several times when I was here in 2012 and will do the same again this time as I am quite fascinated by their beautiful felt products made by Mongolians.

I bought this coaster set and have plans to hand stitch on them.

But the cuteness factor lies in the slippers.

It is going to be hard to resist!

 

Life in a Freezer- day 4

Knowing the temperatures will drop even lower next month, I went shopping for a new coat. A coat with down filling was recommended and luckily I had the expert advice of the lovely Ugtaa as I was hopeless at telling the difference, by feel, of either a down fill or polyester fill! We did look at many coats but came back to the first two to make a decision! Isn't that often the way?

No, that's not my coat but it is a fun but serious coat for -25 degrees C I think. The coats have a hood which is essential for the wind chill.

I am toasty warm in my knee length brown coat. For me the great thing is the inner zip closure down the front and then press stud closure after that with a bit of wiggle room! Plus a snug fitting hood. With the very dry conditions the static electricity made my hair stand on end and it was very funny to have a halo effect after taking the hood off!

Also had the valued assistance of our good humoured driver Samdaan  who willingly held bags and coats and carried out the new coat. He tells me shopping is one of his "hobbies", I think forced upon him by the number of times he has driven company members on shopping expeditions. That's good because warmer shoes may be next!