First Days
Haven't done much in Ulaanbataar, just lounged about, walked a lot, drank a lot of beer, and eaten a lot of animal products.
I ordered Kale soup, it came with mutton.
I ordered tofu and rice, the tofu came with chicken.
Luckily beer comes sans animal products, at least none that i am aware of (unlike Guinness).
I've been staying in a hostel that costs a whole $5 a night. In Cambodia that got me a room by myself, with AC (w/o AC was $3). I wish there were less people here, i am too antisocial for this. It doesn't help that a lot of the folks here talk the same as the folks at home, wanting to drink and dance and watch movies all night and make a big event of it. Did i come to Mongolia just to live the same as at home?
There are some folks here that are a little different than the rest, like the 50 year old Taiwanese man who is here researching business prospects (and staying at a hostel...). He claims to have made a fortune in the past via investments in Central America, but that he gave his riches away to his sister and girlfriend. Hmmm, i'm a little old to believe everything everyone tells me.
Tomorrow i head into the Gobi Desert as part of a group arranged via the hostel. There are 3 other tourists - one French man who speaks decent English with an accent, and a Korean couple that speaks very little English, though understand a little bit more. There will also be a driver, but i doubt he will speak much English. I will be gone for 7 days 6 nights, unless something Very Bad happens.
We were told that there is a 99% chance the vehicle will break down, but that in most cases the driver will have it fixed in at most 1 hour. Hopefully i won't have to hike back, but i'm taking my gps unit just in case.
Among other desert experiences, we will ride horses and camels and stay will locals for most of the trip. And we're supposed to take enough water and half the food we will need (the other half to be provided). If it comes down to it, i hope i remember what i read in those books, how to find food and water in rough terrain - i should have brought my cat, just in case the End does draw nigh.
I ordered Kale soup, it came with mutton.
I ordered tofu and rice, the tofu came with chicken.
Luckily beer comes sans animal products, at least none that i am aware of (unlike Guinness).
I've been staying in a hostel that costs a whole $5 a night. In Cambodia that got me a room by myself, with AC (w/o AC was $3). I wish there were less people here, i am too antisocial for this. It doesn't help that a lot of the folks here talk the same as the folks at home, wanting to drink and dance and watch movies all night and make a big event of it. Did i come to Mongolia just to live the same as at home?
There are some folks here that are a little different than the rest, like the 50 year old Taiwanese man who is here researching business prospects (and staying at a hostel...). He claims to have made a fortune in the past via investments in Central America, but that he gave his riches away to his sister and girlfriend. Hmmm, i'm a little old to believe everything everyone tells me.
Tomorrow i head into the Gobi Desert as part of a group arranged via the hostel. There are 3 other tourists - one French man who speaks decent English with an accent, and a Korean couple that speaks very little English, though understand a little bit more. There will also be a driver, but i doubt he will speak much English. I will be gone for 7 days 6 nights, unless something Very Bad happens.
We were told that there is a 99% chance the vehicle will break down, but that in most cases the driver will have it fixed in at most 1 hour. Hopefully i won't have to hike back, but i'm taking my gps unit just in case.
Among other desert experiences, we will ride horses and camels and stay will locals for most of the trip. And we're supposed to take enough water and half the food we will need (the other half to be provided). If it comes down to it, i hope i remember what i read in those books, how to find food and water in rough terrain - i should have brought my cat, just in case the End does draw nigh.
posted by francisco at 6/07/2006 07:00:00 AM
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