Edelweiss Hotel Ulan Bator

... interesting and I think it got better as the trip wore on. The birch trees east of Moscow held on for a day or so but eventually gave way to large areas of Savannah. Entering Siberia then Mongolia saw more dramatic changes from woods, ravines, lakes and finally to desert. Finally getting to feast on the Chinese countryside with was overall spectacular and finally seeing the Great Wall, even if only briefly, was well worth it. This was a ...

... can't find my ticket, she calls back to her husband at the hostel, and another manager from the hostel who's at the station runs over to help as well.<br><br>By now the platform's empty and everyone who is meant to be on the train is on and most of the doors are closed. <br><br>The hostel lady and I run up to the front of the train and ask for the train director and try finding out if I can just buy another ticket right now. <br><br ...

... were. We did all the sightseeing in UB, we have had some national food called Kushuur, a mutton filled fried pancake, and we have been out for a couple of beers on the first night. And we were glad to be heading out of town. Jon was not 100% as he sat in the taxi, and later, in the crowded bus, holding his head, trying to get some sleep. He has puked out everything he ever ate on this trip the night before, filled every receptacle in the room, and he was still not ...

... Nico) en une journée, j'ai échappé de peu à l'amputation du talon gauche<br>- Record d'hygiène : 14 jours sans douche (mais moi j'utilisais au moins des lingettes, à la différence de certains...)<br>- Record gastrique : 1 seul caca normal en 18 jours<br>- Record du plus grand nombre d'écoute d'un album : "Delserkin" de Ganzorig, un petit bijou du folfklore mongol passé en boucle sur lecteur cassette (autoreverse!) du van pendant les 2300 km du trajet.<br><br>A bientôt en Chine,<br>

... the absurdly extortionate cost of $255!?! The bloody bare-faced cheek of it! And just to remove any dignity whatsoever from the matter, they insist on being paid in dollars!! DOLLARS at the British embassy, what is the world coming to?<br><br>I can't decide if I want to be an American or want them and their mickey mouse money all burned at the stake!<br><br>Rant over. UB is nice enough.<br>

... how we once were!). <br><br>Elstei is a camp established by Shuren - a leading Mongolian travel company here - 20 years ago - and is near a nomad camp where the nomads herd horses, goats and sheep and attend to the various needs of the tourists.<br><br>It was exactly what the doctor ordered for me - a week's solitude - loads of sleep - 3 meals a day - and horseriding; not to mention the company of the most amazing Mongolian staffers and visiting ...

... just practicing. <br><br>There was another group of Russians this session and just like the last I accompanied them on two field trips, the first being into UB to the temple and for shopping and the second the Monastery. Both trips were pretty much the same as before except instead of one bus of Russians, there were three. On the day we went into UB during the shopping time it began raining lightly, which did not last though. Soon it was pouring ...

... but have moved back and now have trouble with Mongolian. <br> Not much has happened so far, oh but on the last night with the 2nd session I introduced blind-folded musical chairs. They absolutely LOVED it! Everyone wanted to play and they were laughing like crazy watching the other students try to find the chairs. I was hilarious. I am going to play it with this session tomorrow during my English lesson, hopefully it will have the same results.<br>

... hardly know him. I was wrong. Turns out that it's one of the guys from earlier, and he IS drunk. What ensues is a 45 minute patriotic love-fest for Mongolia, ("Mongolia good, China bad") and only ends when I fetch the ger owner. Before I do so, however, the guy manages to confuse everyone by repeating "tomorrow, tomorrow", nearly break his camera, peel an apple, pour a third of a bottle of whiskey on our fire, nearly burn the ger down and try and ...

... Ulan Baator Irish bar, and also to get the supplies we will need for our travels in the Gobi desert. Mind you, I never expected to be setting off to the Gobi in a snow storm, but thats what its doing as I write this! It was 35 degrees when we arrived in Mongolia, so who knows what'll happen. Anyway, having an excellent adventure, hope alls well in UK, and your not all working too hard, arf arf..... bye for now......Px.