Zaluuchuud Hotel Ulan Bator

... 30 hours) to China - yet another country to explore and the end of the group - only 5 of us are travelling all the way to Bali - one other to Bangkok - so a new leader and new travelling companions.<br><br>We have made some wonderful friends and loads of places to stay in Australia - so on to the next leg - 20 days exploring China. Sorry no photos - forgot all cables - so must try and buy some - I will get it right one day!!!!

... generally ignore pedestrians even if the green man is flashing and the pedestrian has right of way. It's the exact opposite to every country in eastern europe where people dont even cross an empty street until the green walking signals flashing.<br><br> <br> <br>The strangest thing in Mongolia was the weather. On the first day we were there it was 25 degrees, blue skies and everyone was wearing shorts and t-shirts. The next day it ...

... the police station, where a sergeant on duty phoned a lady, who spoke some English, and Jon, taking no guff, spelled out what we needed. Amazingly, she seemed to understand, Jon confirmed, and soon, a young hotshot policeman with a lolly in his mouth appeared, joked with the sergeant for ten minutes, then motioned us through an unmarked door at the side of the building into a crime recording room full of people filling out reports, and dodgy looking characters ...

... l'ouest, désert au sud... Le pays est en fait un grand camping ou il y'a toujours eu un petit coin plat pour planter notre tente. Nous avons marché autour de lacs, de volcans, de glaciers et de hautes montagnes. Nous nous sommes également approchés à quelques kilomètres de la jonction des frontières russes, chinoises et mongoles où trônent plusieurs pics à plus de 4000 mètres et de magnifiques glaciers au pied desquels nous avons campés. Partout nous avons vu un nombre ...

... dispossessed live - and is supposed to be a pickpocket joint. Of course 'pickpocket' is a bit of a euphemism as it actually translates into knife wielding bag slasher, but I take all possible precautions and armed with my high decibel whistle and attitude (don't even think of messing with me), I've encountered nothing but kindness but you've heard this one before...<br><br>Crossing the Road in Russia and Mongolia: A Comparison<br><br>Once in Moscow, too ...

... and did some walking and even a tiny bit of horse riding (1 hour was enough!). The countryside is beautiful and there are gorgeous flowers everywhere.<br><br>Much to our surprise the food is quite good, though very heavy on the meat. But its not like Chinese food at all and we are happy to have a change! <br><br>In Ulan Bator before boarding the train ...

... of random ****...like apparently at 25 I should be married with kids! He even asked if I was fertile as he thought this might be a reason why i dont have kids or in his own words 'does it work?' whilst pointing to my groin! I gladly informed him that all was in working order but I didnt want kids yet. This is just an example of the kind of **** we talked about. So anyway finished my last beer off and said I was heading back and then they decided to tag ...

... are working here, and since they have nothing to do, they get together to help out local things. It is a good group and it was nice talking to these women. They were really interested in what I do at the camp, and what the camp does with the kids. They seemed amazed that I was here, like I was doing some great deed, I didn't really understand because I don't feel that I am doing anything that deserved the praise they gave me.<br> So after ...

... one little stream in the wheeled bomb shelter, and then our driver tries to cross a river. Unfortunately, he went right when he should have turned left. We knew things weren't good when we stopped in the middle. We knew things weren't great, when he yelled "CHORT!" and popped open the van to look at the motor. We knew things were bad, when the van started to take on water. Gathering our things, we opened the door and jumped out. Our driver actually ...

... ambulance.. As it turned out a helicopter wouldn't come and neither did the ambulance, A doctor was sent out though, but by that stage it was getting dark and cold and a stretcher was made out of a sleeping bag and some poles to lift him up the canyon to the van. Four of the lads carried him most of the way out but it took six of us to get him the final stretch to the Van... Heikki needs to loose weight, he's a heavy fecker...lol... The doctor met us just outside the national park entrance ...