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Unflucking believable!!!!

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

That’s Mongolia, wish I had a week here instead of just a couple days!!

If you want different with friendly people, Bucket List Mongolia for at least a week!!

There is so much to see here from the arctic north to the sands of the Gobi desert, this nation that once ruled the biggest empire in history spanning an area from Europe to Vietnam but now with a population of only 2.7 million, of which 1.2 million  reside in Ulan-Bator leaving a lot of room for the nomads to graze their cattle, goats, sheep, horses & camels on the public grazing lands, all the above are used for food with horse meat #1 for winter as it provides the most nutrition for the cold weather.                                                                                                

The fun starts at the station when you disembark actually it’s shades of Cuba’s Viasul station mayhem only on a grander scale, everything here is BIG (Texas eat your heart out you ain’t got nothin’ on Mongolia. So it’s a good idea to have booked at least a partial itinerary so you can be met at the station where your guide will warn you to be aware of pickpockets but any traveler knows that applies the world over.

Enkhjargal the manager & guide with Great Genghis Expeditions www.greatgenghis.com  is super & I can’t recommend her (nearly perfect English & not hard on the eyes either) & GG highly enough & Great value for the pittance you pay, heck we are only 2 hrs out of Ulan-Bator but she & the driver are staying here with me, now that’s Service with a capitol “S”! Of course with gas around $1.10/litre it’s likely cheaper for them to stay than drive back on the horrid roads (finally found some roads worse than Clarington’s)

I was picked up at the station, driven by the scenic route to the Michelle Hotel a good 3 1/2* with breakfast included, shown where to eat & things to do to pass the day. Picked up this morning driven out to Terelj National Park with a couple stops along the way. After lunch at the tourist camp we went over to a Buddhist Temple (only had to climb 3/4 of the way up the mountain (well BIG hill) to get to it. Pretty neat though & worth the effort. Then off to a nomad family’s Ger (complete with solar panel & satellite TV) for some fermented mare’s milk, definitely an acquired taste (make sure you have your Imodium with you) but actually not that bad. Back to the camp for dinner, then in the morning I will be driven back to the station with a lunch provided for the train, all for only $210.00 US cash, can’t beat that deal with a stick!! Gotta LOVE Mongolia LOL

While sitting here in my Ger after a great warm, sunny day exploring, writing this in the quiet peaceful Mongolian countryside with a wood fire burning to take the night time chill out of the air I ask myself, what more could any one ask out of life!!

Well there was just one more thing to ask from this trip, on the way into the park there was a guy offering camel rides for only 2000 Tubec (about US $1.90)  asked the guide to stop on the way back so now am the only person I know who has ridden a two humped camel in Mongolia. There also was an Eagle you could hold on your arm & get your picture taken so now I have also been up close & personal with a BIG eagle.

Just kind of rounded out my Mongolian stay & finished it on a high note before heading back to civilization. So long Mongolia, my stay was too short but better than never having visited at all!