Arriving in Mongolia yesterday was a bit of a shock. Flying in we could see the unpaved dirt roads leading out from the city. Ulaanbaatar itself is an interesting place, with is gers surrounding the outskirts of the city and the rough roads and potholes and crazy traffic (we got in around rush hour and our bus driver navigated his way through the city by creating his own lanes between to formal ones and cutting other drivers off left and right). The hot water comes and goes so I jumped in the shower this morning, not knowing when "the water will be up" again. Despite my own naivety at never having travelled in a less developed country before, I am so taken with the wilderness surrounding the bug city that whatever mishaps might occur, I feel certain I'll enjoy the countryside a great deal. For now though, pick-pockets are the greatest threat to our comfort and the 30,000 children living in the streets are heartbreaking to be near and create a sharp contrast to our huge, mostly white, wealthy traveling pod. I haven't tried any mutton stew yet but surely that will happen before we take off for the Gobi. I hope all is well at home, feel free to shoot me a line and say 'hello.' More soon from these parts.
Photos: The countryside surrounding the city, the walk back from class into downtown UB.
