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The mid-summer temperature in Mongolia is so cool - similar to that of early autumn in Korea _ that we used to say it was a nice place to escape from the heat of Korean hot summer.
Maybe it is because the country is located far north of the earth.
The summer day was also so long that the night began to fall after 9:00 p.m. here in Mongolia.
For this reason or another, Ulanbator nightclubs or pub houses usually opened very late at night - from 10:00 p.m.
Maybe the late opening is due to the old habits they got used to during the communist days before their opening policy.
Anyway, around 11 o'clock at night did we steat out of our hotel, Bayang Gol, to go to some nightclubs in downtown Ulanbator.
We took to the street to catch a taxi to the central area.
Our night expedition consisted of three renegades: me, Mr. Park (Korean) and Mr. Barker (Mongolian).
Park in his early 40's who works for a Korean automobile company was accompanied by his wife during the Mongolian group tour, but he joined us, escaping his hotel room next to mine to leave his wife alone while she was asleep.
Mr. Barker was a Mongolian young man in his mid-20's, whom Park acquainted with here in Mongolia.
Barker was a student majoring in the Korean language at an Ulanbator university and was serving a part time tourist guide for Korean tourists.
He was not only fluent in spoken and written Korean, but he had also much experience in the guide job.
So we were able to understand each other very well and we have no difficulties in our communications, which made us friends easily and shortly.
[ * A local maiden archer who participated in the Nadam festival.]
Soon, the gang of three took a cab, which drove toward the south where nightclubs were located.
As the Ulanbator cab had no sign of taxi, it is your taxi if a car pulls over beside you when you were holding up a hand.
The taxi fare was so cheap that one US dollar is enough for you to go anywhere in the city or its outskirts.
I could see many cars during the day time in Ulanbator, including various kinds of Korea-made vehicles such as SsangYong's Musso jeeps, Daewoo's Le Man, and Hyundai's Gallopers, Sonatas, Excells and buses.
There were few expensive cars like the Hyundai Grandeurs.
There were many foreign cars made in Russia or Eastern European brands, but most of them were so old that they were parked on the streets and seemed to be put under repairs across the city.
The night street along the large apartment complexes was dark and seemed to be deserted.
There were few office buildings or stores along the dim street lights.
After ten minutes' ride, our cab pulled over on the curb of a residential area, when Barker guided us to a one-story house with a dim light on the porch.
When we stepped inside past double doors characteristic to Mongolian architecuture, I saw a few couples dancing in the center of the 300 square meter wide hall and 20 people sitting at the ten tables around it.
The number of men was much less than the girls in their early 20's, who seemed to be professional dancers.
I, a Korean in mid-50's, Mr. Park, another Korean in early 40's, both in mountain vests, and Mr. Barker, a young Mongolian, were enough to draw attentions from them.
We took a seat beside two gentlemen in 40's in full suits and ties, and ordered a couple of can beers from Germany.
There were no bottled ones there. A can of beer cost only US$1.50, but there was little food to eat, which made me wonder if their business could be profitable.
We said hello to the two gentlmen beside us. ``Hi, Ongni Sorongus."
To this, they just responded with their eyes only.
The word `Ongni Sorongus' refers to `South Korea' in Mongolian.
[* A view of the strrt of Ulanbator with 800,000 people (30% of the nation`s population). It is known that there is no sewage water system in the capital city.]
'Ongni' mean south, 'Sorongus' literally mean rainbow, by which they mean Korea or Koreans.
Maybe it is because Korea has been known to them as a beautiful country like rainbow since Chinggis Khan and his army conquered the Korean peninsula in 1234.
In fact, the kingdom they conquered over 700 years ago was called ``Koryo,'' from which today's name of Korea in English derives.
At first we arrived in Mongolia we introduced ourselves as `Sorongus,' (rainbow country or Korea) , but I soon found out that `Sorongus' refers to North Korea which has been their communist comrade for more than 70 years.
So we now call ourselves `Ongni (South) Sorongus' to distinguish us from the North rainbow.
...For example, Mongolian telephone switch operators used to connect us to the North Korean Embassy in Ulanbator even when we asked them to put us through to the Korean Embassy.
After those happenings, we were sure to add `Ongni' to `Sorongus.'
I thought that they must be accustomed to the North more than the South because they have had diplomatic relations with the former as odl communist friends for more than seven decades.
When I saw a beauty in her mid-20's next to us, I said hello to her and ordered a glass of juice for her, who semd to be a Russian rather than Mongolian.
Although my two fellows were asked to dance several times, they would not budge an inch, which was, I guessed, due to its expensive cost.
Everything at the nightclub seemed to be much expensive as they were fully equipped with a music band and singers on the stage and the middle aged guests seemed to be from high class society.
So I suggest them to get out to go somewhere else.
[* With Bartr`s younger sister, left, whom I was acquainted with in Terelji.]
When we were out, Barker asked me, ``Why are we leaving that beauty behind? Don't you like her?''
I immediately answered, ``Yes, she is very beautiful. How about asking her to join us?''
He went back into the hall and she followed him, thus making us a group of four.
We caught a taxi soon to look for another night club.
After ten minutes ride, our cabbie pulled over in front of a factory-like three-story building on a quiet block
We got off, paying $1.00 for the taxi fee, and entered the building.
We went toward the stairway across a long hall on the ground floor.
We stopped at a restaurant upstairs, where we met another beauty.
The night club was on the third floor.
Now five of us left the restaurant toward the night club on the third floor.
We bought 5 tickets at $5 each and entered the club.
In the hall were 50 local couples dancing to the heavy metal music.
The 10 tables aournd the hall were all occupied, so we had to stand over the counter.
Leaving me alone, our two couples went to the central hall to dance with.
In fact, they asked me to dance with them first but I refused to concede to my younger fellows.
So I was glad just to see them dancing, taking care of their belongings with me.
It was just then that two Mongolian ladies approached me to say ``Hi!'' I responded, ``Hi, Ongni Sorongus.''
One of the girls seduced me in Enlish that she would like to provide me with her massage service including sex service at her hotel.
At first I refused, saying, ``I'd like to, but I have come here with my friends."
But she insisted on, even coming close to me with her body and breast, which I could not resist any more.
So it was I who gave it up.
At last, I said, ``Yes, O.K.'' but on the condition of her coming to my hotel insead of hers, no sex, and only for some drinks.
Seeing me talking with two strangers after their return from dancing, our old girl friends went toward the door without a word, leaving us behind with the new girls tacitly.
When we got out of the night club, Barker caught a taxi for us, saying good night to us to return home.
Thus four of us arrived at our hotel at 4:00 a.m.
Despite the hotel regulations providing ``No admittance for strange girls,'' the two ladies with us were able to pass the gate and main entrance to the hotel because there was no security guard or night watcher in so early morning.
Finally I opened my room door which I shared with a friend.
Our noise awaked him, who was surprised at two Mongolian girls.
Anyway, I tried to take some Korean alcoholic beverage out of my bag, but the two girls insisted on ``Sex service first.''
So I reminded them of my condition, ``Only for some drinks, without sex.''
At last, they got angry with our continuous refusal, thinking we were ignoring their favor.
They said with anger, ``You cannot insult us like this!''
After all, they told, however, us the truth, saying, ``As a matter of fact, this hotel is an off-limits area for us, and so we need some money, about 20 dollars, to pay for penalty to the police.''
Recognizing their position at that night on one hand, and seeing a hotel duty officer entering our room knowing our brawling on the other hand, I decided to pursuade the two girls to leave the room.
I offered them some money, considering theirservice fee was much cheaper compared with tips I used to give at home.
I also handed out them a few packs of Korean liquor `soju' which I had brought with me from Korea.
Suddenly, their faces got brightened and left the room, saying good-bye to us. I felt a strong sympathy with the Mongolian ladies.
[ * Little shepherds and cattle look like a picture.]
Next morning (exactly the same morning), the news spread over among our tourist members.
Some said, laughing loudly, ``You, two guys, must have pitched the Korean national flag on the Mongolian land at last,'' by which they meant we might have sexual intercouse with Mongolian girls.
But they did not seem to believe in my words.
So I told them that I had just given the girls tips for nothing.
And I add, ``How can I, who have too many customers to spply my things back in Korea, afford to export to overseas markets like Mongolia?''
Once again, all of them exploded their laughters, saying, ``That sounds all right.''(cont`d..)

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