26 Comments
User's avatar
Sandy Read Reiberg's avatar

I myself never drank enough of any alcoholic beverage to barf, but I have friends who've filled many a bucket. Great story, Bob, although I'm not renewing my passport with a stamp for Mongolia any time soon. And I'm so proud of Barbara for knowing what to ultimately do with the hat. Bravo, Baslers.

Expand full comment
Paul Mindus's avatar

Not to be too indelicate, Bob, but still locked inside that hideous green concrete building, I imagine a row of men and women (?) swigging the vodka, then retching repeatedly into the buckets, onto the floor and actually all over anyone of us who could not get out. Thanks for bringing us here. How do we get out! The smell is beyond belief!

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

Actually, Paul, the experience reminded me of that dive bar we used to frequent across Broadway fro the Reuters office, although the Mongolia place was a little classier....

Expand full comment
Sandy Read Reiberg's avatar

Another amazing story, joining in the category of hard to believe but why would Bob lie about such things? Especially barf buckets? It does seem like a radical way to cure alcohol intolerance disorder (aka alcoholism) but if it works, well, ok then. I can imagine many different endings to the story, so I'll stop here and leave it to readers' imaginations.

Thanks Bob.

Expand full comment
Mitch Koppelman's avatar

Does Michelin issue negative stars?

Expand full comment
Sarah Edmonds Crang's avatar

Brilliant piece, but hope your nose has recovered.

Expand full comment
Nathan's avatar

Wow, lots to process in this one. The photo of you and David hit me with inexplicable Fargo (the movie) vibes.

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

You betcha, Nathan!

Expand full comment
Kristen Aliotti's avatar

“I assured him that wouldn’t be a problem.” Hahaha. As a follow up to this article, I am reminded of a book I read called SIBERIA. It was huge and long and while “fascinating” I have never had the urge to visit the area.

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

Kristen, I did secretly photograph it. Do you want to see it in black and white, or color?

Expand full comment
Joyce Wadler's avatar

Bob,

Your description of the alcoholism treatment center Has forced me to give up drinking and I don’t even drink. I think the hats are great, But then I have always loved red fox.

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

Joyce, you're making a mistake. you should begin drinking, just so you can give it up...

Expand full comment
Joyce Wadler's avatar

I knew a guy who worked in the French embassy in Mongolia back in the 80s. (It was a few rooms in a hotel and he was a spy, but that's another story.) He scored big with the European exchange students by bringing fresh fruit and vegetables back to Ulan Bator on his courier runs from Bejing. In the dead of winter, the French simply closed down the embassy. The Brits made fun of them, but it sounds like the French had it right.

Expand full comment
Anne-Marie Epp's avatar

Oh, if I were still teaching high school English, what a wonderful writing assignment your challenge would have made! And I could have burned the midnight oil red-penning something more interesting than what a hundred teens did on their stupid summer vacations.

I repeat, you've led a fascinating life, Mr. B.

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

If I had taken high school English from you, I might have been up to the task, Anne-Marie....

Expand full comment
Patricia Coonan's avatar

Their guide, Mr. Peabody then helped them into his Time Machine. Upon landing they found themselves somewhat overdressed for the Roman Vomatorium. They quickly changed into togas and were told “You can leave your hat on.”

Expand full comment
Chris Malone's avatar

“You can leave your hat on”

Per chance was that Mr. Cocker? 😆

Expand full comment
Patricia Coonan's avatar

Cocker might have played the Colosseum and joined them for the after party.

Expand full comment
Leah Eichler's avatar

Fun times. I wonder what happened to those guys with the buckets. Maybe you need a follow up story

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

You mean those Canadians?

Expand full comment
Susan Applegate's avatar

I thought you were going somewhere good with this story?!?

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

Well, yeah, I said good, I didn't say it would be worth reading...

Expand full comment
Dean Wright's avatar

Well said! I wish I had seen that hat.

Expand full comment
trixiebettsDornoch's avatar

Yuk. ps did you ever find your nose and fingers?

Expand full comment
Robert  Basler's avatar

I got new ones. Put 'em on Reuters expenses....

Expand full comment
trixiebettsDornoch's avatar

Accounts believed you? Well done.

Expand full comment