Made it into mongolia! No probs.

After leaving the last internet cafe we got bailed up by some bikers in Ulan Ude who insisted on taking us for a ride through town and then to the shops where we stocked up on food and drinks and went back to max's house for a feast. we stayed at his house and had a fantastic evening, even partaking in a shower! I real shock to the system! Next day we were escorted out of town and made our way south to the border. Funnily enough this border it seems is quite well guarded and there were loads of tanks cruising about. I stopped for a picy and was prompty told by the CO to "Go Away". I figured that when someone is in charge of about 20 tanks and tells you to piss off, well, you do.... so i did!

No drama across the border, or perhaps it was becuase we got there only 1.5 hrs before closing that there was no problem. The letter allowing passage of the motorbike was not required and entry was just a formality. no need to buy 3rd party insurance, my policeman said no problem in mongolia. i said sweet!

Found a place to convert 60 Euros into 140 000 Togrogs, a thick wad of cash, and went looking for Amarbayasgalant Khiid. Found some kids in a small town that were very friendly and climbed all over the bikes. They are not posessive people at all, and certainly not shy, so for them it was a free for all!

Eventually got on the correct goat track towards the monastery but the heavy rain had not only soaked us but made the dirt track into a slick mud bog. I had knobby tyres so was ok but the others were falling off left right and centre on their road slicks. Made it out to the camp by 10pm and found a nice warm ger to warm up in. A couple of days to wander round the place then into Ulaanbaatar, riding of course for many hours through rain and with wet feet from the mornings river crossing. (see pics)

I have now made an application to the kazakh embassy for a visa nd have just collected the steering bearings from the DHL office. Thanks again glen for your help, will let you know how i go installing them. Quite amazing to think that the package arrived from Sydney to UB in 3 workding days!

Once all is done here it will be west for me and the bike, heading to explore this country some more on my way to Kazakhstan...