Ulan Bator, Mongolia
October 21, 2013
We roll into Ulan Bator train station bang on 6:30am as expected. A short 10 minute drive gets me to my digs with transport arranged by the hostel in advance which saves me a few bob and only costs about £3 compared to the $25-$30 I would expect to pay in a normal taxi. The Hostel I am staying in here is very nice and friendly and cosy. I’m made to feel welcome straight away and grab a coffee and sit in the lounge for a while to relax. There are not many people staying there at the moment though. I have a quick chat with an American bloke named Kendal who is based in China and has popped over here for a month. He’s leaving that morning but he gives me a few basic tips before he heads off. Although bed is tempting I grab a shower to freshen up and head out for a few hours just to get my bearings. I have two weeks here so compared to Russia and the European towns and cities I’ve visited so far I’m not in a rush to get round and cram as much in as possible in the space of a few days. Despite Ulan Bator being the capitol city of Mongolia it is much smaller than I expected. I get myself a map and it doesn’t take long to work out that you can cover this place in a day on foot. It also instantly feels safer compared to Russia. Yes you still stand out walking down the street, if anything more so than in Russia as the people look so different compared to the European look of the Russians, but you don’t feel the same hundred eyes burning into the back of your head or people following you. It’s also low season as well so not many travelers about I guess compared to the high season in the summer months. I take a quick look online and find a café that I want to check out but I’m unable to find it until a young local student lad takes time out to help me and we wander around a while until we find it. So much more helpful and friendly than what I have been accustomed to in Russia. A quick wander around some more of the city then the weariness sets in again so I head back and grab a few hours rest.
When I wake I have a new roommate, Julius. He was born in the Ukraine but moved to Germany when he was young. He’s a great lad and is traveling as part of his University project in film making and has just got back from spending 5 days camping in the wilderness. I question how he arranged this and have been pointed in the direction of a well-recognised eco tour company who re-invest all profits back into the area and the locals. I check with the people who run the hostel as well and they also agree they are the best people to speak with. Recognised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and National Geographic among others they seem good so I drop them a mail to see what I can arrange for getting further afield with the Nomads and the wilderness next week. I also ask about helping at the school and the orphanage as the hostel I am staying at is tied into the local school and ran by ex-pupils. Unfortunately it sounds as if the school is winding down for winter and they only have the oldest year of pupils still coming in now so help may not be required but I send a mail off to the lady I need to chat with anyway just in case there is anything I can do for them.
After a decent chat with the folks at the hostel and checking some things online for China and my route through there I head out for some tea. Having had my fill of packet Noodles on the train and the usual meat and potatoes I decide to splash out and treat myself to some Japanese at what appears to be a very swanky restaurant. A bowl of Udon soup, some beef Gyudon and two beers came to a grand total of £7.50. Well less, but I told the lad to keep the change as I feel guilty about how cheap this is for a very good meal in a very good place. Mongolia is cheap, my hostel has only cost me £36 for 6 nights stay and according to Julius and Kendal it gets a lot cheaper in China so hopefully this trip has a lot of longevity in it.
