The Gobi Gallop

The Gobi Gallop

The first annual charity endurance ride benefitting the Children of the Peak.

Hi family and friends,

Not sure whether Nigel and I have completely lost our minds, but regardless, we are in for the ride of our lives starting on the 4th June and finishing on the 14th June as we are riding across a section of the Gobi desert. 

Basically, we are riding from just near Ulaanbaatar, due south to the Oyu Tolgoi site in the Gobi desert near the Chinese border.

Six ('slightly' crazy) western riders, 4 female (the same four that rode for an amazing 8 day ride last year) and 2 men, one of those being Nigel, will be heading out with the intrepid Baggi and another guide to ride 700 (yes, seven hundred) kilometres to achieve this incredible feat.

We are not only doing it for our pleasure.... or pain, but we are also raising funds for 'Children of the Peak' who are children who have so little in life. These children haven't the opportunities that most of us take for granted - food, water, education and health care of any kind.

The Veloo Foundation has been instrumental in building a wonderful school for 40 of these children to have a safe haven where they learn to play, get fed plus get an education while their parents forage on the Ulaanbaatar Rubbish Dump.

But we need your help to pay for teachers and so many other things that are needed, hence this ride. If you can help please let us know and you can pay directly to the Veloo Foundation or we can organise it to be through us. You can make such a difference to these children's lives

We are also looking for sponsorship for this ride to off-set some of the costs which of course would result in publicity for your company or yourselves when we do a short documentary on the ride when completed.

If you do sponsor us we would delighted to do presentations on our ride, pretty anywhere in the world.
www.myinternationaldepartures.com you can read about the Children of the Peak and of course our rides.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

With thanks

Robyn and Nigel

!

Helping to Save a Life.

The Gift of Life - The BEST story in the world.

On the 27th February this year we went so see a little Mongolian boy called Anand (above) who had multiple heart problems and if he didn't have surgery, which is not available in Mongolia, he would probably be dead before his first birthday. I sent out an appeal for help and many, many people from around the globe responded and we were able to send Anand to a hospital in India. Thank you, to all you wonderful people who donated funds.... know that you have been instrumental in saving a life.

His major issues that were diagnosed in Mongolia were -

TGA - Transposition of the Great Arteries - the arteries around the wrong way.

VSD - Ventricular Septal Defect - hole in the lower part of the heart 

PVS - Pulmonary Valve Stenosis - flow from bottom part of the heart is obstructed at the pulmonary valve .

He had been seen by several doctors and organisations here in Mongolia who, in their wisdom, decided he was too much of a risk to be sent for surgery and that, regardless of what surgery was done, wherever in the world, he wouldn't survive.

An organisation called Promed sent me an e-mail about his condition, asking for help. This is not something IWAM usually gets involved with BUT, how could you ignore this plea for help.

Five of us saw him initially, as I was very concerned that, with the oxygen deprivation (72%) that had been going on for many, many months, he would be mentally and physically compromised and even with surgery, he wasn't going to have any quality of life.

Oh how wrong was I!! What a bright, engaging little man and it didn't take many minutes for us all to decide that there was no way we weren't helping Anand - at least to have a shot at life.

Here on his Mum's knee interacting with Jacob, the only other man in the room, on our initial visit to Anand in the hospital.

We saw Anand on the Wednesday and on Saturday he was in India. It was amazing how everyone who has had anything to do with this case has gone out of their way to help.

He was in India for a week before he was operated on. He was one very sick little boy and Dr Bolormaa, who had travelled with Anand and his mother to India, thought,\ she was going to lose him on the plane on the way over.

Anand in The Apollo Hospital in New Delhi before his surgery. As he did here, he won all the hearts of everyone who came into contact with him. Just as an aside... they don't cut the children's hair here until they have reached the age of three and are passing from babyhood into childhood. I love Anand with his mop of hair.

 Anand was intubated and in ICU for 48 hours after his surgery but the extraordinary news was that Anand didn't have a Pulmonary Valve Stenosis which meant they were able to operate and fix all his problems at once, rather than have to come back in months / a year to have further surgery.

Little Anand looking like any other healthy toddler on the day he left the hospital in India.

Today I saw Anand for the first time since he had arrived back in Mongolia. What a joy!! He is here interacting with Sienna, a gorgeous little girl whose parents are here in Mongolia.

Not for the squeamish the next photo!!

 The wonderful scar that actually means 'life' to Amand.

Who would have thought that 7 weeks ago this little boy was fighting for his life and one of the only reasons I, and others, think he survived so well was his incredibly, wonderful Mum. She has dedicated herself to saving this beautiful little boy. His oxygen saturation is now at 95% on room air which is brilliant although he still has a lung that needs lots of breathing to get it back to a normal size as it has been so squished with his enlarged heart.

 Looking at these photos one couldn't believe he has ever been unwell.

 We met up with Anand, his mother Jamsran and Dr Bolormaa today at my local cafe, Millies.

I also bought Anand a lovely little toy and he was fascinated by it, like any normal little boy, which was wonderful.

 What a joy for this mother, whose son will now have a pretty normal childhood.

 When we saw Anand for the first time he really didn't cry because as soon as he did, he turned blue. Now he cried with very little sound as he was intubated for such a long time from his surgery and after that his vocal cords are still a little stressed. Today he was making normal baby sounds which bodes well for his cords and in a few weeks he should be crying with great gusto.

 Anand with his very, very happy Mum.

The group who was able to see Anand today. Solongo and Saruul from ProMed who bought Anand to our attention, Dr Bolormaa the Cardiologist who has looked after Anand here in Mongolia and took Anand to India, Fiona, Lesley, Ronel and myself and of course Anand and his Mum.

Anand and his Mum with some little Australian animals. He seemed intrigued by them and one day he will know all about them.

Time to say goodbye.... and truly I didn't make him cry!! I am sure he was just sad to say goodbye to me.

One very joyous Mum with a gorgeous little baby boy who will grow up and have a wonderful life. I, for one, and I know there are many others, will never forget the small part we played in helping Anand survive and once again I thank you all for your generous donations. There was some money left over which we are going to create a little trust fund for Anand, plus use some of the money if we ever have another call such as the one we had about Anand. I hope this is OK with you, wonderful people who donated.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - you have given the gift of life.

Beautiful horse rides in April 2013

International Equestrian Club of Outer Mongolia.

There is something about the Mongolian country side, at any time of the year, that makes it always seem beautiful, to me. We have ridden our horses all year round despite very cold temperatures and it has always been a photographers dream. I don't do it justice but the majority of these photos are taken from horse back and my little horse 'Little Tom' seems to know to stand relatively still when I say 'photo'.

Heading out this week for our weekly ride we crossed the Tuul River, very near our ger for the International Equestrian Club of Outer Mongolia, for the first time for ages. Enough snow had fallen that it wasn't slippery for the horses but that is not going to last long, as we are already hitting 10C during the day, even if it is on a very irregular basis.

They were even able to get the Hainag (a cross been a cow and yak) cart across with more timber for those cools nights that we will be having, for awhile yet I hope.

Ronel, Caihnaa, Julie, Annie all walking calmly over the frozen river without a crack being heard.

Julie crossing safely with a very relaxed horse, who is 'Little Toms' brother, as is the horse on the left Little Toms brother that Caihnaa is on.

 Robyn Howell, Elaine and Alison bring up the rear, so peaceful, so quiet.

Heading through the trees, horses are trying to find something to eat as the snow has melted they think there should be grass. We have had an early spring thaw and all the animals are convinced there should be shoots coming through already but they seem happy to eat the dried leaves and what little dried grass there is.

Ronel on the Steppe on Grey Wolf, a lovely horse to ride with a brilliant ambling gait that makes you feel as if you are in a gently swaying armchair.

Heading across another small tributary of the Tuul River and still no ice cracking under foot.

Climbing up from the river we have fabulous views across the Steppe, almost no snow left - just beautiful.

A sad fact of life when you are an expat, is saying goodbye to the wonderful people you meet. This time it is Annie returning to the US to await the arrival of her first grandchild. Very exciting for her.

Annie's 'life long member' T-shirt has been embroidered with a wonderful incident that Annie remember so well. Baggi trying to bring a cow across the river who was not very keen on coming.

Annie in her International Equestrian Club of Outer Mongolia Life Member T-shirt.

The yummy cake for Annie departure and Robyn Howell's birthday that day plus Alison's the following week. Yum.

Annie in a traditional Mongolian deel, and holding a horse that the owner wanted 2,500,000mnt (about $1,770)! They have tripled in price in this area for quiet horses.

My 'Little Tom' looking good in his winter coat.

Bujiin getting instruction from her Granddad on the right way to hold the reins.

A very confident 6 year old riding, as are most Mongolian children.

Little Tom enjoying his roll.

 The hills with a light snow cover.

The following week we head out it is a very different scene after a lovely dump of snow. Good for us mind you, but not so wonderful for the animals looking for something to eat.

Our group heading out for a lovely two and a half hour ride in the sunshine at about -3C, so beautiful. L-R Baggi, Elaine, Kate, Ronel, Julie, Sue and Sascha.

 Sue and Ronel enjoying the beautiful day.

 Kate on Ginger taking snaps as we go.

This stunning scenery will change dramatically in the next 6 weeks and hopefully I will be back here to take more photos and see some green.

 A lovely canter up the hill and more magnificent views.

 Looking north east along the frozen river.

 Looking south west towards Baggi and Sarah's home.

 A group of horses enjoying the milder weather.

 The new babies are beginning to arrive, so gorgeous.

Unfortunately Little Tom hurt his foot again so Baggi doubled up with Kate for the ride home and I rode the horse Baggi was on with Little Tom being led. Hopefully he will be OK for the ride to the Gobi at the end of May.

 Hummm he is not too sure about us but at least didn't charge, which Yak seem to delight in doing.

Baggi has new arrivals, with many more to come, which delights us all.

I don't think I can really convey just how beautiful it is here, so you will just have to come and see for yourself.
Enjoy.