The guards bang on our door at 4:30am as a wakeup call. It was a 6:30am arrival to Ulaanbaatar.
The outskirts of the city looked rather run down, not sure what we are in for.
Our guide is waiting for us on the platform and she took to a hotel where we were able to get a shower and change our clothes. Then onto town. What a pleasant surprise, the city looked quite modern and for the first time in a week we could see signs in English. It was also obvious who their hero was with statues everywhere of Genghis Khan.
Set in a small square near the state department store, stands a monument which marks the place where, in communist times, young Mongolians would assemble and listen to forbidden Western music and discuss ideas of freedom and democracy. The Beatles' music is even credited with inspiring Mongolians to fight for their democracy.
We then walked to the Gandan Monestry, it was interesting seeing all the monks and temples. You would think you were in another city compared to the city 5 minutes walk away.
Free time to 2pm.
2pm and back in the car to have an hours drive to the Ger camp which we are really looking forward to. Ger camps are seasonal and we are there a couple of days before the season starts so we have the whole camp to ourselves. Well done by our travel agent.
The outskirts of the city looked rather run down, not sure what we are in for.
Our guide is waiting for us on the platform and she took to a hotel where we were able to get a shower and change our clothes. Then onto town. What a pleasant surprise, the city looked quite modern and for the first time in a week we could see signs in English. It was also obvious who their hero was with statues everywhere of Genghis Khan.
Set in a small square near the state department store, stands a monument which marks the place where, in communist times, young Mongolians would assemble and listen to forbidden Western music and discuss ideas of freedom and democracy. The Beatles' music is even credited with inspiring Mongolians to fight for their democracy.
We then walked to the Gandan Monestry, it was interesting seeing all the monks and temples. You would think you were in another city compared to the city 5 minutes walk away.
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| I am a Hurst !! |
Free time to 2pm.
2pm and back in the car to have an hours drive to the Ger camp which we are really looking forward to. Ger camps are seasonal and we are there a couple of days before the season starts so we have the whole camp to ourselves. Well done by our travel agent.
