Mongolia

Reading several fascinating books about Mongolia. Hearing Birds Fly by Louise Waugh provides a very down-to-earth report of this young English woman's three-year stay in Ulaanbaatar and later in a remote western village.

In the Empire of Genghis Khan by Stanley Stewart is the beautifully written story of a long and interesting journey beginning in Istanbul and culminating in his 1,000 mile trek on horseback across Mongolia.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford is a very readable account of a most unusual and intriguing time period that has influenced the world as we know it. Many of the inventions, ideas, and beliefs that we would consider "Western" have been introduced to the West from the Caucasus region and further east into Mongolia.

The Mummies of Urumchi

Fascinating book by Elizabeth Wayland Barber about the 4,000 year-old mummies found in western China. They are very well preserved, especially their clothing. Some are over six feet tall, with blond or red hair, round eyes and otherwise Caucasian rather than Asian features. Their textiles are quite beautiful and have been extensively studied. Many are similar to tartan plaid.

Starting on March 27, 2010, some of these mummies will be part of an exhibit called "Secrets of the Silk Road" at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA.