Mongolia

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Atkal karstums, karstums....Nu, Ulan-Batora galigi neatgadina standarta galvaspilsetu - majas ir diezgan zemas, panolaistas, tuvu ne visi celji ir asfalteti, koka budeles un jurtas kaut kur pa malam sastutetas. Ari diezgan puteikljains. Man patik, ka viss te tads vel nestandartizets un nesakartots, necivilizets lidz pedejam. Un smarzho te pec jera galjas un aitam, nezinu, varbut tapec, ka mes shodien pusdienas edam bashi - tadi pelnmenjveidigi izstradajumi- ar jera galjas pildijumu, kas man nemaz negarsho...
Aizgajam lidz Gandan Tengchili (shkjiet tas kaut ka ta raxtas) Templja vietai - viss tur tadas budistiskas noskanjas, redzejam ari mukus tipinam apkart, gjerbushos sarkanos paltracinjos. Cilveki uz ielam stav ar tadiem palieliem telefoniem un garamgajeji ik pa laikam izmanto vinju pakalpojumus, janoskaidro kas tas ir, varbut vinjiem mobilie telefoni vel nav parak ieviesushies?😊
Stevens vel kaut kur shodien grib tuntulet, es isti nezinu ko darit, jo, lai gan vel ir agrs - 16.36 - tomer energjijas raditaji ir pilnigi zem nulles.

/Lelde/
Mongolia is so hot! And Ulan-Bator for a capital seems so uncivilized - reminds me of a building site - dusty, loud, unfinished, unsealed roads, wooden houses stuck to the sides etc. Pot holes have no covers and no barriers around so if you are not that careful you are more than welcome to fell in and brake your leg or whatever you can manage to break. I almost got lucky😊 But I like this place, I like the feel of it and that is so different from Western order and perception. We are hoping to take 7day trip to Gobi desert if they manage to get a group big enough for our expenses - we are on SUCH a budget!!!

/Steven/
We've just come back from the Gandan Tegchilin Monastery in town. The heat i really oppressive. When it's cooled down we shall try to venture out again.
We had mutton dumplings for lunch.- tasty!
When we first arrived at the hostel ( they came to pick us up at the station, which was nice), an older fellow told us that he had been coming to Mongolia for 12 years- on his first visit, there were no cars in UB, only horse drawn wagons, and he is still charmed enough to return here again and again. He also told us about his incident the other day- a driver robbed him of a considerable sum before beating a swift getaway. After a chase, one of the other hostel residents got him cornered and most was returned. He went on to say that pickpockets are rife here, at least in crowded places, so we're taking no chances.
Still forming first impressions though and hopeful that an extended trip the the splendour that awaits outside the city will materialize.

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Photos

Gandan monastery
This is one of the buildings surrounding the monastery.

Taking a mosey
Lelde on our first and blisteringly hot day in Ulan-Baatar, at the Gandan monastery.

Detail of the decoration
Gandan monastery outer building.

Mongol rider.
A statue in the main square- Sukhbaatar square.

The Choyjin Lama Monastery/Museum.
Detail

Relief wall at the Coyjin Lama monastery/Museum.

Comments

[Kochanie]

I should learn some Latvian!!!
Cze[! Im glad that youre having fun somewhere there. Take care. Kisses :)

[Jan F-B]

Not like the travel channel
You guys are so adventureous. Doesn't sound like the Travel Channel to me, but I'm still at the need Room Service stage of my life. My adventure is trying the new flavor latte at Starbucks or changing the color of my hair. Can't wait to read your reactions to the Gobi. Jan