I am jolted awake by the sound of rain hitting the tent. At first I think, wow, it’s my first night in the Gobi desert and a light rain will keep it cool for sleeping. I nestle back down next to my sound-asleep wife, Bee. Then I remember that that our pack is outside and the thought of wet clothes in the morning is not so appealing. I get up and sleepily unzip the tent, to be greeted by a blast of sand in my face. It’s my first sandstorm. Welcome to the Gobi, Al.
Quickly recovering from the jolt, I wrestle with the pack and drag it under the flap of the tent. I plop back down inside and think about the recent course of events from a short time ago that brought me around the world on what must be one the most unusual 3D documentaries ever to be produced.
Origins of the project
Just about two months ago I met Dr Siraya Chunekamrai and first heard of the Lampang Pony Welfare Foundation. I had been to Chiangmai In Northern Thailand before and seen the cute ponies pulling carts of tourists but had little thought of what had brought them to the land of elephants.
Cross breeding and improper care have drastically reduced their numbers. During the course of treating these horses, Dr Siraya discovered striking similarities in the unique markings and stature between the Thai Ponies and Mongolian wild horses (also referred to as Przewalski’s Horse), the last of the legitimate wild horses that still survive.
This article by Al Caudullo has been published at 3DRoundAbout.com. Please visit the site to read the rest of the article. Thank you.