Winning Recipe: Top Chef Blends Culinary Skills with Business Acumen
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – We all remember a despised supper dish that sat in front of us as youngsters, untouched. Our parents lurked nearby, threatening, “No dessert unless you finish your meal.” Decades later, imagine how I felt sitting in a private room at the five-star Mongolian’s Restaurant as a guest of the country’s top chef, […]
Small Business Owner Exports Mongolian Handicrafts – and More – to World Markets
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – When I met Telmen Luvsandorj at his office in Mongolia’s capital, he quickly defused any notion that he was a stereotypical business owner. Cerebral, soft-spoken and thoughtful were my initial impressions of the man who founded Mongulai, a Mongolian version of Etsy focused on selling the country’s handicrafts to global markets, in particular […]
Nomadic Family Retains Traditions, Accepts Changes to Survive
JARGALANT, Mongolia – We left the capital, Ulaanbaatar, by vehicle early on a mid-summer morning, traveling northwest on a surprisingly fine asphalt highway. Vast, grass-covered plains stretched as far as you could see. Brown mountains with gentle slopes, looking more like massive hills, enhanced the scene. Along the way we passed small communities of Mongolians […]
Obstacles – and Worse – Threaten Environmental Activist Determined to Speak Out
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – When I met Sukhgerel Dugersuren it took about 30 seconds to know we would be having a serious interview with little light-hearted banter or small talk. For starters, she was a reluctant participant. The reason? Sukhgerel [Sook-ge-rel], one of Mongolia’s most outspoken environmental and human rights activists, is on the government’s watch […]
In Mongolia, 800 Years After HisDeath, Genghis Khan Still Rocks
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – In the land of Genghis Khan, it’s only fitting when you fly into the Mongolian capital you land at Genghis Khan International Airport. When you enter the city it’s usually by its main street, Genghis Khan Avenue. If vodka is your spirit of choice, Genghis Khan is the country’s leading brand. Thirsty […]
Mongolia Journey Conjures Up Thoughtsof Genghis Khan, Nomads and Yaks
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia – The road from the airport to the capital city evoked images of the American West. Vast plains of grasslands as far as you can see. Herds of horses running free. A big, blue forever sky wallpapered against a backdrop of mountains that are more like large, brown hills. The sun was hot. […]
Unlikely Flea Market FindSends Family Treasure Home
TOLEDO, Ohio – When Tim Casey walked into Consign-It-Home Interiors on Central Avenue one morning in late May, he wasn’t looking for anything in particular. Retired with considerable free time, Tim visited the consignment shop from time-to-time as it’s only a few miles from his home. His interest, as always, was not in the used […]
Helina Tilk Combines SeveralCareers into One Busy Life
TALLINN, Estonia – Sometimes you meet people so accomplished in so many different disciplines you wonder: How is this possible and how do they have the time? That’s the feeling I had as I got to know Helina Tilk during a visit to the wholesale ceramic crafts business she owns in suburban Tallinn, Estonia’s capital […]
City Architect Challenged with Planning Strategy in Centuries Old Capital
TALLINN, Estonia – Seven days on the job as this capital city’s architect and Andro Mänd’s mind was spinning. We had arranged to meet in his office at 3 p.m. I arrived early to scout for a location to take his photo in front of the city government building in Tallinn’s Old Town. Soon after, […]