But before I watched that concert, I went shopping for tires with my uncle. In Mongolia, to buy tires for cars, one must go to one of the many auto repair shops around the city or go to the flea market, which has many tires. We did both because we were looking for the best deal. According to my uncle, Chinese tires are the cheapest, but their quality is questionable. Korean tires make the most sense; they're relatively inexpensive and have high quality. Japanese tires are the best quality, but they're quite expensive (did anyone know that Bridgestone was a Japanese brand? *Shock*) AND I learned what the three numbers on the tire means. Most shops have humongous signs outside but aren't very big inside, about the size of a classroom. Inside, they have glass counters with various auto parts from various cars inside. On the wall, they have the bigger objects, such as front bumpers, lights, and seat covers. Tires are stacked high next to the counters. The flea market bustles with people who shop, haggle, and make a living in this epitome of capitalism; some are dressed very nicely, and some look like the hobos in downtown San Francisco. Everything is dusty, but the prices are cheaper. The biggest one in Ulaanbaatar is probably about five football fields. I bet you can find anything at the flea market. It has everything from live chickens to a coffee table to brand name clothes. The section with the tires takes up an entire side.
Here are some pictures of the flea market:
(the guy waving is my uncle Khudree!)
Mongolian society is changing so much and so fast. A small part is getting extremely wealthy, and another part is getting even poorer. However, the good news is that I notice that a stable, growing, educated middle class is emerging. When I left Mongolia nine years ago, no one had any money. Almost all of the income went to food and other necessities; no money for fun. But, today the situation is different. People are going to the movies, shopping for nice clothes, buying tasty food, and even travelling to other countries for vacation. Things are improving, but it will take time. There is also so much movement going on; life here is exciting. Let's see what happens during the four months that I am here.
Well, after I went to the flea market (and bought four new Korean tires), our family went to see a concert with traditional Mongolian music and dancing (as the title of the post suggests). It was very entertaining, and the costumes were bright and colorful. The audience was mostly foreign tourists, and I think that was to whom the concert was directed. There are better shows, but this was a good introductory concert. I'm definitely going to more. In June, I'm going to go see a Mongolian Opera!
Here are some pictures that I took at the concert (with the flash off, of course):
The lady in the first picture is dancing with three cups balanced on her head. The second picture shows Mongolian contortionists. The third pictures shows the orchestra that provided the traditional music. The fourth picture is of my brother watching.
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