Mongolia Day 1: Ulaan Baatar

I arrived here at Zaya's hostel about midnight local time, very tired, and was welcomed very kindly with tea and biscuits. Today I've been looking round Ulaan Baatar (UB) and in the main square I found a big military parade, with a band in colourful Mongolian dress uniforms, plus displays by commandos and some drill exhibitions. Unfortunately the Natural History Museum was closed today, so the dinosaurs will have to wait until next weekend.

Tomorrow I go off on the trip to Karakhorum, so tonight I'm reorganising my stuff to leave things I don't need until I get to Ikh Nart here in the store room.

In transit!

I've arrived in Seoul, all going according to plan so far.

I hadn't really expected it, but the flight left Heathrow going northwards. In fact, we went across the Baltic, over St Petersburg and near Novosibirsk and then I got my first look at Mongolia! We flew over Ulaan Baatar and I could see the city and the countryside on the plane's camera. Actually it looks as if there's some snow around, certainly in the north of the country, so I'll be glad of the fleeces, thermals and lined trousers!

I've got about 4 hours before the next flight - we had to do security again - so I'm off to look for a coffee to keep me awake, and then a look round the shops...

Heading for Mongolia

Yes, the rumours are in fact true, I am heading for Mongolia! What's more, I leave the day after tomorrow and there is still some (re)packing to do.

It all started when I thought, "I'd like to do something other than sit on a beach for my holidays..." and wandered of and found the Earthwatch site. Not wishing to do things by halves, I thought the expedition to Mongolia looked interesting, and signed up. Having got that far, I thought, "While I'm there, it would be good to have a look round." and thanks to lots of useful info from Susan Fox about what I really ought to go and see, I planned an extra week's trip around the central part of the country.

So on Friday I swap Scotland's remarkably variable weather for Mongolia's hot days and cold nights. My factor 30 sunscreen and thermals are packed!