On election day I noticed that four more nations had joined the rolls in the flag counter at the right. Tonight I see yet another. So here are flags and tidbits from numbers 145 and 145. (147-149 are yet to come.)
A hearty welcome to our first visitors from Mongolia and French Polynesia.
I have been to neither though my road buddy Bill did visit French Polynesia earlier this year. He did pencil sketches of some of the volcanic hills of the islands.
In the heart of east central Asia lies Mongolia, land of Genghis Khan. Mongolia is now a parliamentary republic and Ulan Bator is its capital. The Mongolian language exists, beyond its utilitarian role for the people of Mongolia and parts of China, to remind me how easy Russian is. Both are written in the Cyrillic alphabet, though there is a Mongol script used for Mongolian in China.
Mongolian Incredible Throat Singing 呼麦
bayasgalan - botgon duu
ARIUNAA - Talijn Mongol Ajl (Mongolian music)
Of French Polynesia we learn this from Wikipedia:
It is made up of several groups of islands, the largest and most populated of which is Tahiti.French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity of which the official languages are French and Tahitian. The capital is Papeete.
The island groups are:
Austral Islands
Bass Islands often considered part of the Austral Islands
Gambier Islands often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago
Marquesas Islands
Society Islands (including Tahiti)
Tuamotu Archipelago
Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Bora Bora, Hiva `Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti, Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai.
Bora Bora (because we all need to hear some French from time to time)
TOA'URA (Slideshow, music) [so we can hear some Tahitian too]
OK, let's have some fun!
Fenua sing "E vahine maohi e" (lyrics here)
If you want an exercise video for your hips, my friends, check this out. I think I sprained something just watching.
Enjoy!
--the BB
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