MONGOLIA 3

3. Dream Chasing. Grass Land.

With the population less than 3 million and the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, It is also the world's second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan. Mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Approximately 30% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic. The predominant religion in Mongolia is Tibetan Buddhism, and the majority of the state's citizens are of the Mongol ethnicity, though Kazakhs, Tuvans, and other minorities also live in the country, especially in the west. About 20% of the population live on less than US$1.25 per day! Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and seeks to expand its participation in regional economic and trade regimes. Geography of Mongolia is varied, with the Gobi Desert to the south and with cold and mountainous regions to the north and west. The highest point in Mongolia is the Khuiten Peak in the Tavan bogd massif in the far west at 4,374 m (14,350 ft). Most of the country is hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter, with January averages dropping as low as −30 °C.The country is also subject to occasional harsh climatic conditions known as zud. Ulaanbaatar has the lowest average temperature of any national capital in the world. Mongolia is high, cold, and windy. It has an extreme continental climate with long, coldwinters and short summers, during which most of its annual precipitation falls. The country averages 257 cloudless days a year, and it is usually at the center of a region of high atmospheric pressure. Precipitation is highest in the north and lowest in the south. (source from wiki)

Huge grass land outside UB is what we are looking forward to. Breath taking and dream catching! Everyone are so excited, especially Adam. Chasing dream of animals. It took us six days to central Mongolia reaching The Great White Lake (Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur). A long the way, we stop over Mongol Els, Kharkhorin and Tsetserleg. The more people sharing the ride the cheaper you get. It cost us USD50 per person, per day for driver guide, food, gas and ger camp stay. Sleeping bag are provided if required. Our driver Gamba has been driving about 10 years, he speak simple english, mongolian and russian language and age 50. According to him not many young ones learn to speak russian now.

The more we drive the more "empty" it was. Blue sky and Mountain. We stop many times a long the drive as children are excited with yaks, horses and chasing sheep too. This also the time that the camera in countless shot taking, basically our photographer she did most the screaming beside the children. Ha! Given the climate and agriculture here, fruits and vegetables are expensive. Most of the time cold here and the extremely cold in winter, meat and noodles are commonalty taken. Vegetarian could face difficulty.

Mongol Els. "Mini Gobi" It also called. Just before we reach the next destination Kharkhorin. This was our second desert experience after The Thar desert in Rajastan back in India. Children and us had a great time experience the a different between them. It was much more colder and those camels looks more prettier :) There was family staying here and they provide the camel riding for tourist and of cause was paid, inclusive in our charges from the guest house. Of cause we can save quite a sum from this during all the travel but we both understand that this is one of the learning during our travels.