Am on bus back into Ulaan Baatar from the Ger camp. Was such a great experience out here to get a somewhat sheltered introduction to the Mongolian nomadic way of life. Around 40% of the population live like this and both fortunately and unfortunately this way of life is slowly dying. Fortunately because the nomads are getting better access to services normally only received in cities, especially health care which is extending the life expectancy of the people. U...

Yesterday we went to visit the main Buddhist monastery in Ulaan Baatar. We were lucky enough to see the monks doing their daily chanting - it was almost like a transcending drone. After a late breakfast and a quick grocery shop we drove out to a Ger camp in an area called Terelj in a Mongolian national park (sort of like a traditional Mongolian nomadic style of living except our camp has a few modern luxuries like a light in each tent and a block with flushing t...

What an amazing city with such a wonderful history! Moved 17 times since it was established, the capital is home to around half the countries' population. Yesterday when we got in we went for Mongolian BBQ for lunch, followed by a walk to a hill in town where they have built a monument to all the unnamed soldiers who have died serving the country and what a lookout it was from the top. 650 stairs to climb in a windy minus 20 was actually quite offensive to the e...

Just had our first stop where we were able to get off in Mongolia. It was freaking freezing! Sure I wasn't wearing thermals as I just jumped off the train for 10 mins but it sure gave me a hit! The windows of the train have frozen over and the drain pipes for the sink and toilet have ice coming out of the outlets onto the tracks. Will definitely have to bust out the layers before we jump off in UlanBaator, just under 4 hrs to go. The dusting of snow and ice is ...

Summer Palace - what an amazing place... Spent almost four hours wandering around these spectacular gardens yesterday and was blessed with the most beautiful sunset. This is one place where u could easily just get lost in time, clear your head and just take in the beauty of it all. If I had more time here I would go back and explore some more. But now it's time to leave Beijing for mongolia - early start to catch the train and then 2 days one night on the train....