Her jacket and hat remind me of a Naval officer. With the treeless landscape depicted in most of the photos, you have to wonder how far they've had to strike out in order to find the firewood used for cooking. I've always envisioned the yurt as a free-standing shelter, and not this spider-web of supports. This photo would suggest that it would be a mistake to romanticize the life of a nomad....it's a hard scrabble life. But most people I've encountered in similar situations are happy people and how many of us can say the same?

The firewood is over a day away by yak, 1/2 a day by tractor...

re yurts, there are many varieties, on the high plateau these ones made of heavy yak wool are common, they are more tent than traditional yurt and as you can see in the picture the floors are made of wood.

re happiness, I think happiness is a Western concept. It's a hard life but out here people don't really know anything else... it's just life. You'd be hard pressed to meet a more good natured group of people.

Good nature - yes that's it. Thanks for the additional comments clarifying the wood and yurt questions.

I think often about the young woman you encountered in the disco, who'd seen someone with a different life and different possibilities.