Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia is a mish match of modern buildings and skyscrapers with very few citizens still trying to hold onto their old culture with having their gears set up in between modern houses.

The roads are totally congested most of the day and there is no driving etiquette, it's every man for them here and that includes the pedestrians. 

In the 2 days I spent in the city I have seen museums, went to a monastery & seen monks chanting, been to a Mongolian song & dance ensemble, see enough pictures and carvings of Ghengiss Khan, had a very good English breakfast and more dumplings than on any Chinese menu and a good few beers at one 5 of the Irish pubs here in the city. Oh, and we were shown round a cashmere factory, which was quite an eye opener, only jumpers here, no beers.

Not only was I in the city but we spent some time out in Terelj National Park which is about 75km out of the city. There we stayed in a traditional place, I got dressed up in the entire garb, met a traditional Mongolian family and had afternoon tea with them went for a few walks (not with the family) then it was off to a temple of enlightenment still not enlightened after the visit.

One thing I have to say, I am so sick of mutton now, I smell of it and I can continually taste it, Yuk!! In fact everything seems to come with mutton. I have to say I do like their food here. Take me back to that cafe with the English breakfast.

Regardless, of the mutton I already have a list of things I want to do when i come back here, the whole experience was a very different one but I never came here with any pre-conceptions. I believe the reason to come to Mongolia is for the culture and vast landscape, definitely not for its culinary delights. Oh, never got to try the aerag, apparently it's too early, so another reason to come back.

Tomorrow, it's back on the train for 36 hours this time to Beijing. Not sure when I will be able to get back on to up-date the blog as there seems to be an issue with certain websites out there, Facebook being one of them due to the communist regime it is banned.