Dawn
The Gobi sun starts and ends each day by bathing everything in a dust-softened, red glow. Some of us start each day with a jog down the road at dawn. Our quarters are sumptuous by Sahara standards. We have coal-heated water at all times, and electricity for several hours each day. We set-up our base camp next to the compound of a Mongolian family, renting several rooms for our kitchen and some of our lodging.

The Mongolian family who rented us rooms during the storm pose for a photo in their living room.

Entering camp, one first encounters the generator tent on the left and the equipment tent on the right. The Chinese team ran electric wires throughout the camp, so that the kitchen, lodging rooms, large tents and library room (where I am currently at work) have working light bulbs. The car batteries that power the laptop computers and satellite communication equipment in the library are charged by the generator. We also use solar-powered lanterns to extend work hours in the library when the generator is off.

Goats--always curious, friendly and hungry.

Upon stepping into the morning sun, one is usually greeted with a "blaaaaaah," which means in goat language "Hi, how are you doing, anything for me to eat?" There are dozens of goats quartered behind the compound that often wander into unwanted places, like the library. No manmade material is safe around these voracious munchers. Cardboard, for example, is quite tasty. Sheering wool from this shaggy bunch is a very entertaining operation. A dash of color on their horns provides identification, should they wander off the premises.

Breakfast Chinese style, dinner without desert
The greatest challenge any Westerner faces while eating in China, besides chopsticks, is the fact that breakfasts more closely resemble lunch or dinner, and dinner ends with rice or steamed bread, not desert.

We adapted quickly to the breakfast menu, which usually includes several other mutton-laced vegetable dishes, served at 7:30 am. The meat is always mutton, sliced in small pieces like the vegetables. The cook, Gao, prepares an amazing array of dishes in minutes.

Click here to learn about "Jiaodz", a camp favorite

Regarding deserts, it's slim pickings for chocoholics like Paul, who has survived with occasional miniature candy bars from Mike's personal stash. We often eat a piece of fruit for desert. In general, the meals are vegetable-rich and very healthy, compared to typical American fare.

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