It has been a few very interesting days leading up to this point, two days before I leave for Mongolia. Tim is leaving on his big Great Pacific Shame Odyssey today (www.timsilverwood.com) and is frantically packing his bags at this very moment. I am sitting back, waiting for the chaos to ease before I step in to pack up my mess.
We have had a few beautiful and memorable Goodbye Australia days, with surfing, horse riding, sailing and socialising, all in the sun. A film crew from California came over to do a short documentary on Tim and we have been taking them around the small stretch of coast between Terrigal and Lake Macquarie since Friday. It’s always fun to show foreigners ‘your’ country and watching their expressions when having dolphins jumping around the sailing boat, when driving through gum tree dressed roads and when surfing almost empty beaches made me feel a bit sad leaving this rich country.
But my adventure awaits me and I am very excited to experience something I’ve never experienced before. Firstly, to travel with four other girls is something I’ve never done before and it is a bit nerve-racking, but we will make it work I’m sure! Secondly, seeing images of what the nomads normally eat is even more worrying, I mean, I’ve been told that they eat everything but the stomach of animals before, but seeing photos…gulp… makes the conception of it a bit more ‘in your face’. And having to pack for both Mongolia and Sweden under 20kg, is a struggle!!
Thank you to everyone who have helped me raise $310 for my journey here on Indiegogo, and also to everyone who donated enough for one packhorse at the fundraising night at Salawi.com.au the other week and Thanks to my parents who have helped me with all the security things I need to get and think about. Travelling to Mongolia, renting a horse and gear is the easy option, it might even be cheaper than to buy a horse, but I still feel that I want to contribute a lot more to the people who will open up there Gers for us, who will keep us awake with their throat singing, who will kindly give up their delicate boiled goats eye balls for their guests… I want to give back to them what they treasure the most – a horse.
I have seen communities that have been used and changed by tourists, I have seen communities that look on tourists as an open-for-all-wallet, and I don’t want to leave footprints like this when I travel. I want to join the culture, live it and give back to it. But at this moment, this is something I cannot afford and I am still looking for help to buy these horses. One horse cost between $100 - $500, a saddle about the same. If you feel that culture and traditions are important to you and you have something to spare, please help me achieve this by donating little or more on following link http://www.indiegogo.com/Nomads-of-Mongolia I have found a film camera from 1974 that I will bring along with me, the lack of electricity in Mongolia has helped me realise that going back in time in the way of living also means I should go back in time in the way of shooting. Although film is a lot pricier, I am looking forward to the results I will get. Perhaps your donation will be rewarded with a photograph taken with this camera. Or if you feel that you don’t want to donate money to this cause, maybe you’ve got the time and equipment to help me with printing and development once I’m back and ready to set up an exhibition. Or maybe you just want to wish me good luck.
Whatever you choose and whoever you are, I’m thanking you and am hoping to see you soon.
Lisa Lowenborg
lisa_lowenborg@hotmail.com
