Ulan Bator
Trip Start
Apr 03, 2008
1
21
26
Trip End
Jul 02, 2008
Ulan Bator,
Mongolia
Friday, June 6, 2008
Just to update you again on the last few days:
On Tuesday 3rd June we left Kharkorin at 8am as we had been told that the drive back to UB would take 8 - 9 hours. About an hour and a half into the drive we stopped at a sand dune called the 'mini Gobi'. It was pretty nice, with sand dunes set against the mountains in the background, but it wasn't particularly impressive, and I doubt it gives a real impression of the Gobi desert! We were a bit disappointed as we were told we could ride camels on the sand dune, but there were none to be seen when we arrived. I think the way it works is that if the driver sees a camel he grabs it.... Not very reliable!
A couple of hours further on towards UB we stopped for lunch at the same restaurant that we had lunch on the first day. I had mutton and rice, which was fine, but the ones who did best were those who ordered the goulash, which was excellent. In typical Mongolian style, these were the only dishes on the reasonably lengthy menu that were being served...
While we were waiting outside the restaurant to get back in the van, we saw a Mongolian ride up on his horse, tie it up outside while he had a quick lunch, and then ride off into the distance again. All of this while he was in traditional dress - it was really quite amazing.
On the way back to UB we saw quite a few mini tornadoes blowing dust up into the air in spirals - they looked really strange! We got back to UB at about 4.30pm, and then did some laundry, showered for the first time in 6 days (urgh) and then went out for some dinner. After all that Mongolian food during our trip, we fancied something with vegetables and flavour, so went to an Italian restaurant called the Green Olive for some nice salads and enormous portions of tiramisu...
On Wednesday 4th June Ali and I had to spend the day doing various errands that had been piling up. We went to Great Ghengis Expeditions to collect the train tickets for the next leg of our trip, walking through the main square in UB on the way. There isn't anything very impressive to be seen there really. UB isn't really worth a trip on its own - Mongolia is made by its amazing scenery outside of the city. It's amazing that in this huge country there are only 2.5 million people, and 800,000 live in UB. There are apparently 13 horses to every person and 0.5 people per km squared!
Back at the hostel we had some breakfast and then Margot and I went to the internet cafe for a couple of hours. After that I tried to make some phone calls home, but the phone shop next to the hostel was shut for lunch.. So we had some noodles for lunch and then set off in a taxi for the 'black market'. The market sells everything you can imagine, and dirt cheap. Ali and I were shocked by how little it is possible to bargain the prices down from the original price, as in China you tend to cut the price by at least two thirds before you consider buying! I bought some jeans and Margot picked up some traditional coats for souvenirs.
After a taxi ride back to the city, we made a quick trip to the State Department Store to look at the souvenir floor, then dashed back to the hostel to meet a group of others to go out to see a show. We saw an hour long show of traditional Mongolian music, singing and dancing by a national company, and it was really great. There was also a display of mind boggling cortortion by 3 small girls.
After the show we all headed to a nearby Irish pub (they seem to like those here) for some drinks and dinner. I had a good chicken salad. We all sat outside until it became far too cold at about 9pm, and then we moved inside to the very pub-style interior of green leather seats and dark wood. Inside Ali and I got Irish coffees and I (typical) scoffed a huge dessert... There was a band playing inside but they were playing nothing Irish at all, and weren't particularly talented! We headed back to the hostel at about 11pm.
Today Margot, Ali and I took a day trip from the hostel to Terelj National Park. We were up pretty early since the others in our dorm were leaving at 6am... Then the next delight was that there was no hot water in the hostel any more!
We left in a car at 9am, and got to the park just over an hour later. We were amazed that the drive the whole way there was on tarmac roads - what a luxury in Mongolia! Our first stop in the park (it's huge) was a temple set high up in the mountains, and very scenic indeed. After walking up to have a look, we drove on to the family whose ger camp would be our base for the rest of the day. We went walking for an hour or so in the hills around the camp before lunch. Lunch was truly delicious - pasta with vegetables and lots of flavour. It wasn't very traditional, but it did taste great! After lunch we went horse riding for 2.5 hours, with a small boy as our guide (and a very good rider he was - completely mad!) We rode to Turtle Rock, which really does look like a turtle, especially from a distance. On the ride, although our horses were certainly hesitant, we had plenty of cantering, and lots of freedom as well. It was brilliant fun. When we got back to the camp we were quite sore though, and the 'saddles' they use here are pretty uncomfy!
So after that we drove back to UB, through the awful traffic of the city, and the incessant whistling of the traffic police and they try to order the chaos!
I'm now in an internet cafe trying to burn photos onto CD, and it's taking a while. Once that's done we're all going out for dinner somewhere.
Catch up with you soon, (we're getting the train to Russia tomorrow!)
K xxx
