Ulaan Baatar

Hey,

So we have just about learnt a few words in Russian, please, thankyou and
cheers! and we've left the country! After a few more nights filled with
vodka shots and midnight trips to the banya (sauna to wash) with crazy
russian men whipping themselves with tree branches we left Olkhon Island
heading back to Irkutskt for one night before we left.

The train ride was 36 hours from Russia into Ulaan Baator (Mongolia) as it
took 11 hours to cross the border, with a stinking cold and nothing but
cardboard like tissue paper you can imagine how red my nose is now! As we
crossed the border the lady in the french guys cabin went and bought 10
mongolian beers to welcome us into the country, they all seem so friendly
here.

Today is the last day that the Mongolians celebrate there New Year so we
went up to the Monastaries and it was lovely to see them, its so colourful
and traditional and people still walk around the streets in the lovely
clothes. Although there are lots of children begging here which is very sad
to see but there are only so many you can give sweeties and food to.

We are off to the Gobi Desert in the next couple of days to spend a couple
of weeks staying in a traditional Mongolian home ( a ger) and do some horse
riding, then its on to China.

I'll let you now how it goes,

Keep well
Sarah xxxxxxxxxxxx

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Part of trip: Overland Adventure 2007

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