The goatherd found the city goats

This morning, we got lost in the Gobi desert. Actually, it wasn't us, it was the driver. We spent the best part of an hour lost and driving across ever more scary crossings, including one where we got stuck in.

However, in the Gobi, in most places, there is a 2G signal, and so the driver called our host a few times and got guidance. That meant looking where the sun was and trying to derive the correct direction. That didn't work, so the host, a goatherd, came on his motorbike and led us over more very stony scary non existant roads.

He is used to doing this for his goats, as they roam over vast distances. In the late afternoon, he looks for them in his binoculars and then goes on his motorbike to bring them back to the modest farm. In the evening, they stay put, even without a fence.

So today, for him, the only difference was that he brought home city goats.

The kids loved the afternoon playing around the farmyard and alongside us using Google translate to understand how they live. We also had a laugh with them and the odd vodka shot or two.

The welcome at the nomadic farmyard is warm and generous. The food may always be goat or mutton, but we haven't been tired of that yet.

Check out the toilet ( plastik seat on top of a hole) about 60m away from our yurt. A painful pee run when it's cold at night.

The dog kennel is also original. An old Russian mini bus wreck, thàt looks a bit like a VW camper.Read more