First Impressions Count: Photos 105 to 106

And Ulaan Bataar’s Are Not Good

Picked up at the station by the local guide, the first words to the group were “Be careful of your valuables here.” Inspiring to say the least. On a brighter note, it was the first time I saw snow though and a welcome relief from the 35+ degree days of Beijing.

Piling into the hotel, the first thought on everyone’s mind was shower, and after 33 hours on the train, we wouldn’t have wanted to be downwind of us. After that, food became the driving force, so off to the Mongolian BBQ that the country is famous for. A buffet affair that involves you picking the ingredients of your fry up, including meat, vegies, spices and sauce, before passing them to the chef with two things that look like swords and the biggest BBQ plate I’d ever seen.

The next morning we were off for a tour of the city. More warnings of pick pockets and thieves ensued before arriving at a Buddhist temple. During the Russian occupation, all the churches and temples in Mongolia were either dismantled or converted into military quarters. The locals had hidden all the holy artefacts and

Full Text Entry: First Impressions Count

Hi Mark, What a contrast from Japan. Lots of wide open spaces and it looks like your travelling with a great bunch of people. Horse riding - fantastic. Very isolated and didn't expect u to say the temperature was in the mid 30's. I thought it was continually cold up there. I'm glad to see you're having a great time.

Hi Mark, What a contrast from Japan. Lots of wide open spaces and it looks like your travelling with a great bunch of people. Horse riding - fantastic. Very isolated and didn't expect u to say the temperature was in the mid 30's. I thought it was continually cold up there. I'm glad to see you're having a great time.