9 things to know about the Mongolia

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1. Mongolia uses Cyrillcs just like Russia. They changed it because it was easier than the traditional writings. The prounciation is still hard to learn though. Many older people understand russian.

2. The goverment is corrupted just as its russian brother. The gap between poor and rich is getting bigger. There are people earning money by polishing shoes on the street, while others driving shining jeeps. Roads are uncared for and dusty.

3. The inflation is going fast. Right now taking a bus is costs 200 T, which is about 1 kr. A hour of Internet costs 700 T. They don't use coins in Mongolia. People carry around loads of bills in their wallets with nothing in value. I never felt so rich before with my wallet exploding in my pocket.

4. People are way friendlier here than in Russia. It is so nice to not been yelled at all the time.

5. People here understand the value of English. I spend 1/10 time buying train ticket compared to Russia.

6. Food here is so cheap here compared to Russia. A normal meal costs around 10 kr. My waist size and toilet visits are increasing exponentially.

7. People really love Chinggis Khaan. It is kind of sad that a empire once was so big has now only around 3 million people.

8. Mongolians love carpets. They are just everywhere in their homes. (I didn't peep into the windows, I was invited.)

9. Tourism in Mongolia is dependent of Russia and China, since Mongolia is stuck between the two. Normally people are only passing by Mongolia on their way to Russia or China. Russia is helping that much with its most complicated Visa procedure.

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Photos

Gandan Khiid Temple
The biggest attaction is Ulan Baatar. Nice place to relax and feed the bird, which I did not do.

Street art
Even Mongolia has its graffiti artists.

day's work
people and people

way from temple
Surrounded by mountains but few trees.

Birds
So glad I bought the Nikon D40x camera

Paparazzi
Doing the usual - Hiding behind a tree and take picture of women, but if you zoom in you can see Chinggis Khan on the mountain.

Aaaahhhh!
What I feel about spending a week in the car on the Gobi tour.

Comments

[CASS]

very interesting! city seems like very empty, small and not so many constructions. savage scenery. but the city fulled by doves, not like china, Chinese cities fulled by damn people. haha!! when you leave a city can you see a grassland immediately? what is their main food? rice? noodle? any special food? can mongolia people speak mandarin? are there many Chinese? carpets, um.. handmade? I want to have one though, haha =)

[Mengan]

Yeah.. outside the city was totally different.. So quite and nice..aaaaaaa... Here are actually alot koreans here and korean products, maybe even more than chinese. The main food here is meat from different animals, fruit are hard to get and expensive, they import it from China.

[Capten Ahab]

R U A MONGO NOW=P
Wasup "mannen" long time noo see =P...I thought you were hidding in ur apartmant in sweden *haha*...but the oictures u've sent are 4 real so I believe you "mannen"...swe miss you but I hope u not miss swe :P...so how does it feel to be a mongo =P..is it as bad as it sounds :P..*hahaha*..well have fun mengan and take care =)..and keep us updatet "mannen"...later aligator :P..

[Mengan]

tja, mannen! Mongolia is freaking awesome, would love to stay longer..