First Days in Mongolia

Our trip has kicked off in Ulaan Bataar, a city that seems to be half-built and mostly neglected. After living in South Korea for 3 years, we think we've been spoiled by living in a 'Western'-like country. We have quickly come to remember that most of Asia is still 'developing'.

Huge Russian-style buildings stare down congested roads filled with Japanese and Korean imports, as well as the usual belching buses and window-tinted Mercedes. The city sits in a valley between Okanagan-looking mountains made of grasslands and topped off by a skiff of forest. The air is wonderfully dry and much cooler than the Korea we have left behind.

We have taken two days to walk around the city trying to take it all in, and we're somewhat confused by what we see. Most places we're looking for have been found (or not) not on the main streets, but behind main streets. To get to them you have to walk through empty lots and dirt tracks we'd never think of walking down anywhere else. Most places are not where they should be on the map, and we've taken to just 'heading in that direction' and 'finding what we can find' in terms of restaurants and attractions. Huge apartment blocks are deserted, and just one block off the main road you're met with pebbled 'streets' and broken fences. They certainly borrowed heavily from the Russian style of architecture, so the Leather Goods Factory, a Government Building and the local abandoned apartment block all look the same, give or take a few panes of glass and some misplaced concrete.

The people found here are a similar mixture of coifed and non-coifed, which makes for an interesting mix. Lots of foreigners of all ages and nationalities ply the roads and cross the streets with us in nervous bunches. We spent an hour yesterday with a sunny Portuguese man finding out that the avenues out of this country are few. We've decided to take a 20 hour local train ride to the border, cross the border into China, and then figure out the final 12 hours to Beijing once there. There are no seats on International trains until September 8th, and flights would break the bank. Who knew Mongolia was such a hot-spot??!

Tomorrow morning we leave the growing/aged city for the countryside for 4 days in a ger camp for some hiking, solitude and greenery. Should be fantastic, and hopefully the internet connection will be good enough after the trip for us to load some pictures!! Take care, and hope all are well back home.