Life from abroad

Genghis Khan Statue & Khustain NP

Posted on Friday, 12 November 2010 by robjkentjr

13 June 2010 | Khustain Nuruu National Park, Bayankhangai, Mongolia (47.6939, 105.9056)

While in Ulan Bator, we did two side trips to some of the better attractions in the countryside. The first was to chase after the last of Mongolia’s wild horses at Khustain NP and the second was to see Genghis Khan larger than life.




		The entrance to the Khustain Nuruu National Park looks a lot like the Windows XP standard wallpaper.




		We had to pick a spot out of the way and wait for the horses to come around the mountain into sight.




		This is the closest we got to the last of Mongolia’s wild horses. They are still wild because like zebras, they bite when people are near.

Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue

24 June 2010 | Shohoy, Tov, Mongolia (47.8078, 107.5302)




		The entrance gate to the great Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue.




		To reach the statue, you climb the long stairway up to the museum.




		The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue is about 40m high and made from stainless steel.




		Like a scene out of Space Balls, you go up the horse’s rear in an elevator and spring from Genghis’ loins to the viewing platform.

There were some other more difficult trips we could have done but we were very content at our coffee shops. Also, with so many big events coming up, we decided to pass and take advantage of the easier to reach celebrations in the big city, starting with a big 4th of July party at the U.S. Embassy.

Posted in Asia, Mongolia | Tagged Asia, attractions, Bayankhangai, city, coffee, countryside, Genghis, Genghis Khan, Khustain Nuruu National Park, larger than life, life, Mongol, mongolia, museum, national park, side trips, U.S. Embassy, Ulan Bator, wallpaper, wild horses, windows xp | 8 Comments

The sights of Ulan Bator

Posted on Saturday, 6 November 2010 by robjkentjr

08 June – 16 July 2010 | Ulan Bator, Mongolia (47.8860, 106.9121)

Altogether, Rasa and I spent about five weeks living in Ulan Bator. Below are some of the more colorful highlights from our time there.




		I caught this bolt of lightning breaking over the city after about 70 shots.




		On a stormy late afternoon, you can see all the gers lined up on the hillside limits of Ulan Bator.




		In the foreground is the 100-year old Choijin Lama Temple. Behind it is the brand new Blue Sky Tower, which is currently condemned because the foundation is shifting.




		In the south of the city is the golden Buddha Monument, which is always lit up in the setting sun.




		Inside the Zaisan Memorial is a great tile mosaic depicting scenes such as Soviet support for Mongolia’s independence in 1921 but Russia’s subsequent occupation is conveniently not mentioned.




		Walking through Sükhbaatar Square there are lots of sights to see but the hawkers are impossible to miss.




		This is a typical breakfast of milk tea with a big piece of fatty meat in it.

We spent about half our time renting a room and the other half living with our friend in her home, which gave us a much more memorable experience than being there as tourists. She was also kind enough to bring us to some highlights outside of the city, such as the Khustain Nuruu National Park to see some of Mongolia’s last wild horses.

Posted in Asia, Mongolia | Tagged Asia, bolt of lightning, breakfast, Capital city, Choijin Lama Temple, city, experience, friend, highlight, home, Khustain Nuruu National Park, lightning, milk, milk tea, Mongol, mongolia, national park, photo, rain storm, Rasa, Russia, sky, storm, Sükhbaatar Square, tour, Ulan Bator, walking, Zaisan Memorial | 2 Comments

A warm shower in Ulan Bator

Posted on Thursday, 28 October 2010 by robjkentjr

07 June 2010 | Ulan Bator, Mongolia (47.9170, 106.8677)

After three weeks of dusty, bumpy roads, we arrived in Ulan Bator and the first thing we did was take a warm shower (well sort of, we needed to boil the water because the water pipes were currently not working). The next thing we did was treat our guides to a night out on the town with pizza (not even close to a NY masterpiece) and Shrek in 3D, which pretty much knocked their socks off.




		This is the playground for the apartment we were staying at. The shipping containers behind double as the garages for the housing block.




		These Soviet bloc apartment buildings are where we stayed for six weeks; second floor, first balcony from the right. At least they were warm during the night.




		This was the last meal of our tour. Instead of a tip, we treated our guides to their first taste of pizza in the big city.




		Rasa and I made a beeline for the nearest French café with pan au chocolate and cappuccino. The Wi-Fi was a nice bonus as well.




		The lady we were staying with was making hurdak for dinner, which is really just a simple pasta but so delicious once you add the lamb fat.




		Even in the city, the Mongolians need to eat every meal with salty tea and deep fried bread (aka baursak).




		My shoes (made by Colombia) barely made it through Central Asia. Glad I got them stitched up in Uzbekistan.

After a great night out, we all said our goodbyes and our team started their insane drive back to Olgii. We ended up staying in the tour company apartment because all the cheap city hotels are full with backpackers, which is great except for the 45-minute walk to downtown every time we want to explore the city.

Posted in Asia, Mongolia | Tagged apartment, Asia, bumpy roads, central asia, city, Colombia, delicious, dinner, drive, French, fried, garages, Genghis Khan, good, guide, hotel, lamb, masterpiece, meal, Mongol, mongolia, night, pasta, pizza, playground, pretty, Rasa, road, shipping containers, shower, shrek, socks, tea, tour, town, Ulan Bator, uzbekistan, water, water pipes, Wi-Fi | 2 Comments

All roads lead to UB

Posted on Thursday, 21 October 2010 by robjkentjr

06 June 2010 | Tsetserleg, Arhangay, Mongolia (47.4573, 101.6628)

After two weeks of bone jarring dirt tracks, we were not sad to see an actual graded road and traffic (just four cars). Even though this also meant more people as we approached the capital, Ulaanbaatar, the sights were still as colorful and sunny as ever and were not at all ruined by progress.




		We had a visitor during lunch. He saw us from his camp and came over to inquire if we had a light for his cigarette.




		Our guides are sitting around the dung fire, waiting for the smoky flavored tea to boil. Mmm mmm good!




		This was our first sign of a properly built road. The asphalt section was not far beyond this.




		Going through the town Tsetserleg, you can see how it has grown up the hillside, one yard at a time.




		I jumped out of the car to catch this sunset over the river. After, I had to walk 15 minutes down the road to our campsite.




		It was a beautiful morning for our last day of camping. We were sad to leave the countryside but could not wait for a warm shower!




		The sunshine did not last long as a rainstorm swept across the plains. Not really the shower we were hoping for.

Having packed our last tent on the trip, we were looking forward to the creature comforts of civilization: hot water, fast food, and cheap entertainment. However, for two of our guides, this was their first time to a city so we decided to introduce them to the urban living essentials of pizza and a 3D movie.

Posted in Asia, Mongolia | Tagged beautiful, beautiful morning, camping, Capital city, car, cigarette, city, civilization, countryside, dirt tracks, food, good, guide, lunch, Mongol, mongolia, pizza, rain, Rasa, river, road, road and traffic, sunset, tea, tent, town, Ulaanbaatar, water | 2 Comments

Khorgo-Terkhiin Volcanic NP

Posted on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 by robjkentjr

05 June 2010 | Khorgo Trekhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park, Arkhangai, Mongolia (48.1629, 99.6367)

From Moron we decided to do a small detour to see the dormant volcanoes in Khorgo Trekhiin Tsagaan Nuur National Park. Again, I am amazed at the landscape diversity of Mongolia; I never expected to see volcanoes here.



	On overcast morning, all Rasa could think about is taking a bath. The only thing stopping her is the freezing water.



	Visitors, marking their journey to the park and wish for fortune, built these cairns along the lake as you enter the lava fields.



	One of the attractions here are the lava tubes. This particular one is so named because it is where young couples go to escape prying eyes.



	Coming down the cone of one volcano, we can see the Khorgo crater off in the distance.



	Half way up the biggest crater in the park, we had to stop for a rest.



	This is the view of the lava fields from atop Khorgo crater. Somewhere down there is our car.



	Looking down from the rim is the inside of the Khorgo crater, now an extinct volcano.

This was a great park to visit and mark an end to our more inaccessible destinations. From now on, we will be travelling on (wait for it!) a paved road and it is only a day’s trip until we reach the capital, Ulaanbaatar.

Posted in Asia, Mongolia | Tagged Asia, attractions, bath, car, dormant volcanoes, freezing, freezing water, journey, landscape, landscape diversity, Mongol, mongolia, national park, Nuur National Park, overcast morning, Rasa, road, taking a bath, tour, travel, Travel and Tourism, tsagaan nuur, Ulaanbaatar, Volcano, water | 3 Comments

Life abroad: As Robert sees it

Genghis Khan Statue & Khustain NP

The sights of Ulan Bator

A warm shower in Ulan Bator

All roads lead to UB

Khorgo-Terkhiin Volcanic NP

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