Fin

Well I know that this is a month late, but I thought I’d throw up some final thoughts about my year in SOKO and my brief but significant week in Mongolia.
First, let me say that Korea is as eventful and enjoyable a place as you could hope for. There is plenty to do and see and the year, although difficult at times, goes by quickly. I left a little bit sad, partially because my kids were being so cute (they kept telling me I could stay and live in the school) and because my good friend Kevin had returned from the states to live in Seoul. So although I was so happy to be returning home, I was feeling surprisingly conflicted. I suppose all that is to say that, for all my determination to leave, I was wishing i could spend at least a little more time with my buddy.
Second, I must give a shout out to the other drivers at Korea Kart. In the last 3 months that I was in SOKO I spent many, many hours at the track, improving my racing technique. In that time had become one of the regulars, I had a coach, and a place in the pits. It was a great experience and it just goes to show that you’re never far from the things you love doing.
Third, I was blessed to have met such lovely people and to have made such lovely friends at my church, Onurri English Ministry. If you’re in SOKO and your looking for a church, I’d recommend it.
Okay, Mongolia. It’s the most extraordinary, beautiful and enjoyable country I’ve ever visited. All the hype and all my excitement were justified. Mongolians are kind and hospitable people and there is much to see. I travelled south, to the Gobi desert with a beautiful French-Australian family, whom I met at the UB Guest House (which is the place to stay, Mrs and Mr Kim are quite a pair). UBGH arranged for us to have an English speaking guide (Ayush) and a driver who knew all the roads south (Byraa).
From Ullanbaatar we spent 7 days making a loop through the bottom part of the country. We slept each night with a nomadic family, in their homes which are called “gers” (they are like yurts), and during the day we would drive, sometimes spending close to 7 hours in our Russian van. With only about 200 miles of paved road in all of Mongolia this was something else, especially because we travelled almost 1000 miles. But that didn’t really matter because Mongolia is breathtaking and it’s one of the few places where real, true, adventure can be found. During my trip I scaled a 1600 foot sand dune to watch the sun rise, befriended half wild Mongolian wolf dogs, galloped along a creek on a sturdy pony, climbed to the rim of canyons and scrambled up to the top boulder strewn slopes, I learned about sheep herders and the significance of water, and most importantly I met and was blessed by my traveling companions, both Mongolian and French. It was an incredible week and I cannot wait to go back.
So there you go. A year and a day in South Korea, a week in Mongolia and a more complete Richard. Thank you so much for reading.
With love,
Dickie

PS, I took these photos during my trip through Mongolia, they are sequential, starting on day 1 with a shot of Ullanbaatar.  Enjoy.