Mongolier

After a month we finally left Russia and got into Mongolia. Our experience here has been very different from the rest of our trip so far and will probably be very different from the rest as well. On Connie's advice we booked a tour outside of Ulaan Bataar for three days, to see the countryside, so for three days we had our own guide and personal driver, which was odd to say the least, but well worth it. The roads here are being upgraded at the moment so lots of the time we were driving on crazy dirt track roads, and for a minimum of three hours each day. (round trip we drove just under a thousand kilometres)

On the first day we went horse riding for a few hours, which I had never done before, which amused our guide greatly when I told her. The scenery here is spectacular, so rugged and barren, so it was really beautiful. At one point we were riding along with nothing in front of us but a plain ringed by hills, with yak grazing off to the sides when a small herd of camel crossed in front of us in single file. The moment was ruined somewhat by our horse guide riding past me waving his mobile phone around to try and get reception. It also took a little bit of a downturn when the horse I was riding stopped after about 40 minutes to take a crap and the horse guide just took the reins and started leading me, so for the whole way back to the camp I was just left watching the scenery in what Dim referred to as my 'fairground pony ride'.

The other two days we first went to visit a camp inside a national park with the last species of wild horses left in the world, and the second day we went to a four hundred year old buddhist monastery, something I had never seen before. It was quite beautiful but also quite sad, the entire monastery was ringed by a massive external wall, but about three quarters of the space inside is barren, most of the temples were destroyed in the 1930s in Communist purges. From a height of 1000 monks, there are now just 60.

Just driving along we also saw a herd of over 100 camel strolling past and on the second day a hawk or some other type of bird of prey which was at least five foot from wing tip to wing tip glided low over the car. On the last day when we stopped to have lunch next to a small lake a herd of what Dim counted as over 140 horses just wandered over the rise and started drinking and splashing around. The breadth of wildlife in this country is just amazing.

The day before yesterday we got into Ulaan Bataar, we havent seen much yet because were being a bit lazy, but were planning on a bit more of a wander today. Then tomorrow morning we get on the train bright and early for the crossing to China, where we spend the next three weeks.

The missing home has hit me just a little I think. I miss people and Ive also started to get my first twinges of longing for St Andrews, which hadnt hit yet over the Summer. I think it was looking at photos of the first meeting that did it for me, I wish I could have been there. (could someone tell James Hoobler to shave the mutton chops by the way).

Anyway, more goings on soon. I hope everyone is good. Send me news.

T