Happy Travel Ulan Bator

... mountain country. We went straight to bed that night (8.30pm!) but we were up early the next day to go horse riding around the valley. Before we went though Tuul asked us whether we were cold and, of course, we all were so she ran into her ger and brought out four traditional Mongolian 'dels' to wear! We felt like jedis! Apparently the horses also react a lot better to you if you wear them because they are used to the smell so it served to purposes. A really grumpy ...

... until we got to the National Park entry, where I fell off my seat as we crossed a couple of cattle grids.<br><br>The Ger camp was great. (btw, a Ger (aka Yurt) is a traditional large circular tent made out of felt covering a wooden frame).<br><br>As we drove into the park we passed some large camps of 15-20 tightly packed Gers with large normal buildings too that all looked quite ritzy. We also passed the Ghengis Kahn Golf Country ...

... It's people are good humoured, good natured, there is the constant sound of the horn outside our window, the shanties on the hillsides straddle red dust roads hard packed and washed by rain, down into thee drain-stream that collected the years' wort of rubbish and mud. The dirt mixes with plastic and aluminium and dug-up stones, uneven grounds and unfinished roads and pavements. Finished pavements dug up again, stray dogs and stray, dirty looking men and women ...

Me voilà de retour après près de 3 semaines en Mongolie, le pays où il n'y a pas assez de pôteaux pour tous les aigles et trop de bouches d'égoût pour pas assez de plaques.<br><br>Désolé, je n'ai pas donné de nouvelles plus tôt parce que toutes les yourtes avaient des WIFI sécurisés WAP et qu'ils ont pas voulu me donner le code.<br><br>J'ai finalement réussi à retrouver Nicolas à Ulanbator après son circuit gastronomique dans le désert de Gobi et nous avons passé 2 jours ...

... so I got on the bus with the Germans to go out. Worst bus ride ever! My stomach was so bad that I ended up puking twice just on the way there, oh and I am puking up just my insides because nothing is in my stomach at all. So we get there, I feel terrible, really weak and dizzy, so I end up just staying behind and laying under a tree while they all hiked up the hill to the Monastery. The nurse who always comes on the field trips ...

... Mongolian's absolutly love horses. So anyone who wanted could go for a short ride around the area. Most everyone did, which was fun then we all loaded back onto the bus and made it back to camp in time for dinner.<br> Not much has happened since then, just normal camp stuff. I taught a lesson, introduced blindfolded musical chairs again, and now here we are on the last day. Tomorrow they will leave in the morning, then Uya and I will go to UB for a few ...

... could only see their upper bodies, and when they emerged and I could see what they were on, it turned out to be a horse. To all appearances, they were riding as still and smooth as if they had been on a vehicle. The horses themselves are wonderful little creatures, very responsive and not at all like the beasts back at home. All I need do was squeeze a little, and we were off, cantering through the countryside.<br><br>Mongolia has been a bit of a ...

... the tour and were in great spirits and laughing at the lads who had stocked up on the worst Korean beer ever. Small land of stones to the south was our main attraction for the day along with an ancient temple sunk into the hills and it was off then to our first Ger of the trip.... Now to explain a Ger is a Mongolian home. Constructed of wooden slats and a canvas and insulated with sheep's wool. it's a circular tent which you have to duck down to get through the door and there are no ...

... the monks take all of last year&#8217;s cakes and burn them. Refreshing and renewing for the coming festival year. <br><br>In the afternoon we went on a walk through the ger district.Outside of the center of town, people still live in the traditional nomadic dwellings called gers (yurts to those of us in the West). A good portion of UB&#8217;s population (50-80 ...

... back. The guy when he drove us to the hostel wanted 10, we only had 5 between us which really ****** him off. He got very threatening and got out of his car to prevent us from going into the hostel. it was the most scared I have been on this trip. The manager of the hostel woke up when she heard him yelling and swearing at us. He left in a huff after she yelled something at the window at him. We didn't take anymore taxis after that. Lesson learned.