Mongolia

---

Today we are travelling across Mongolia. The border crossing between Russia and Mongolia was quite hard it was at night and took many hours so it was quite tiring, you get lots of forms to fill in some of which have no English on…I had to get help from the Chinese girls who knew alittle Mongolian and then let the other English people know.
The scenery of Mongolia seems very different from that of Russia, it is much more barren with very few trees there are some nice hills and you get to see quite afew farmers herding cows or sheep along the route.

My French Roommate got off at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s Capital where she is planning to stay for 3 months. Also a lot more people got onto the train at Ulaanbaatar and most of the compartments were full, I had 3 Mongolians in mine.

Later in the day we entered the Gobi Desert which is huge and the scenery is not overly interesting mainly just sand although I did see some Camels and I think a Gazelle or similar deer like creature. It also seemed to be very hot in the Desert although that might of just been because it was sunny and our bodies were still adjusted for the less than -20° we had experienced in Siberia.

---

Photos

Mongolia
In some parts there was still alittle snow covering the ground

Mongolia
Typical Views for the first part of Mongolia

Mongolian Farm
This was a small farm in the countryside strangly they have a car.

Sheep Farm
This was a Sheep farm inside the middle fence there are many sheep tightly packed in.

Nomadic
These seem to be some Nomadic Farmers as there homes seeme much less permanant than than usual ones I saw.

Town
A Mongolian Town

Rear View
After Russia they had removed the Russian Dining Car from the rear and added a Mongolian at the front of the train...it allowed for this view from the back of the last Carriage.

Gobi Desert
This is what most of the Gobi looks like

Comments

[Sarah]

WOW!
This is getting really exciting! What contrasting scenery, can see why versatile clothing required! Can't wait for next report x

[Julia]

Geography classes are for real
These photos are exactly like what I remember learning in Geography classes at school - amazing to know that it actually exists!

[Julia]

Rear View
Not really much to see though is there - from that back carriage?

[Julia]

Outer Mongolia
What on earth is that nice french girl going to do in Ulaanbaatar (!) for three months? Still - a room full of Mongolians sounds fun!

[Julia]

Gobi-tween
Glad you were able to act as a Gobi-tween for the border translations! (good eh?)

[Edith Jill]

Extremely Interesting!
The pictures look bleak and not at all hot. I hope your body is coping with the extreme changes in temperature. Do I take it that your Frech room mate was female? How interesting! Lots of questions to ask when you finaoly return. xxx