Blog Marco

“Land of the blue sky”
Home of Genghis Khan and Dinosaurs
Reporter: Ian Wright
A free democratic state in 1991 after being colonised by both Russia and china
Mongolia only 2.3million people

Seems like an interesting backpacker's trip - it would be really roughing it in parts of this tour.

Itinerary
- Beijing – train
- Ulaan Baatar (UB) means Red Hero
- Karakorun – Ancient capital from which Genghis Khan ruled his empire
- Across the Gobi desert to Bulgan
- The Sandy foothills of Jarangiya Els
- Dalanzadgad
- And back to UB

Cheapest way to get to Mongolia is to go to Beijing China and catch a train – the trans Mongolian Express.

While in Beijing visit the Forbidden City
Most emperors lived there until 1911 when the Chinese Nationalists ended their reign.
It was off limits for 500 years until Chairman Mao opened the gates in 1949. (Foreigners pay 4 times more than the locals)

$150 pays for a one way 2nd class ticket – buy a ticket before you arrive in China
Need a Mongolian and Chinese Visa… $40 each

Trains leave when they like – its better if you arrive early just in cse
1.5 day trip
includes a meal ticket in fare
There is a change of wheels of the train because of the different gauge

No street names posted
Trouble in finding places to stay

Change money in most markets – black market – people come to you

UB-
Visit Gandan monastery – Kublai Khan grandson of Genghis brought Buddhism to Mongolia form Nepal.

An ex Lenin museum is now a restaurant and a café.

“Every car is a cab in Mongolia”
25c a kilometre, just stick out your hand…
“Is it dangerous?” No, Mongolians are very hospitable”

Karakorun
3 buses a week $3 for a 300 mile ride
often breaks down 7 to 8 hour trip.
1 hotel - $4 a night shared
Ians bus broke down and ended up hitching for a ride

Genghis Khan – the west reckons a barbaric warrior/warlord but in Mongolia he is seen as a hero. He united nomadic tribes and his kingdom covered lands from Beijing to Baghdad – the biggest ever empire.
When Marco Polo traveled there he witnessed one of the greatest cities he had ever seen. With fountains, temples and grand palaces.
Too bad as only a few piles of stone and a few statues remain as the Manchurians razed the whole city.

Genghis Khan museum…

Throat singing

Go to the market for supplies and a lift

Olziyt
Small village
Nomads
Marmont hunting – a large rodent – for meat and skin
(Can carry the bubonic plague – and no amount of cooking can kill it?true?)

Tip: need time or money – money to pay someone to arrange everything for you or time to wait around until something turns up – like a ride

Karakorun
To Bulgan
No signs no roads
Across the desert
Need a guide
Hotel in the middle of nowhere – 1 hour away the settlement is a valley of the dinosaurs – ranger

Jarangang Els only 3% of gobi is sandy rest is rock and brushland

40C to -40C – June July is the best times…

Plane from Dalanzadgad to UB is $80 – don’t know when its going, but must pay in USD

Nadam festival 3 day festival in July
Scalpers
Like Olympics
Archery, wrestling, horse race…

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