| Inside her ger, the headwoman churns a batch of fermented mare's milk to offer her guests. Few foreigners have either a taste or a stomach for this fizzy, musky, mildly alcoholic brew, and consequently take little more than a sip for the sake of hospitality. Although airag comprises the mainstay of their summer diet, Mongolians themselves have their insides "cleaned out" by it by the day after they drink much of it in the spring. I happen to enjoy the taste of fresh airag a good deal. And luckily, it seems to have no laxative effect on my digestive system. Much to the surprise of my hosts here, I happily downed THREE full bowls of it in quick succession! |  |