Fabric shopping at -24 °C

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Saturday, January 9, 2010

I am not quite sure what possessed us, but I went silk shopping with a friend this afternoon in the middle of a serious cold snap here in UB. While we were out at the warmest part of the day (at 2:00 PM it was -24° C /-11° F), shopping at an outdoor market in these temperatures is serious business. I can't say we really lingered over the many, many gorgeous fabrics. After about 15 minutes, we could no longer feel our feet and taking off mittens to pay for things was painful, to say the least.

I am still marveling at the fact that these market workers work OUTSIDE all winter long in temperatures down to -40° C/F.

Mongolians are a tough people.

For sale: Buttons worn on the traditional Mongolian national dress called the del.