Favorite Places?

by Bailey and Kerry

Its hard to pick out our favorite place as everywhere we went was equally as stunning. It looked particularly special on the 2 occasions it snowed; the whitened mountains and valleys of the west and camels standing 2 foot deep in snow in the Gobi are enduring images. Being in a place so open you can watch the sunset and sunrise, either side of admiring the milky way, from the same position was pretty special.

Horse and camel riding was amazing as well, galloping and jumping ditches on the steppes, and plodding around the 300m sand dunes in the Gobi. Camels are arguably the smelliest animals in the world. While the walk they urinate all over their back legs before releasing a sloppy green shit which sticks to their moistened fur. They also have 2 stomachs and all food seems to be in a constant flux between the 2 via their mouths which are constantly chewing on regurgitated crap.

On our train to China the reality of how poor Mongolia is hit home. Half our carriage was people traveling the 24 hours over the border in order to receive adequate medical treatment, including a 60 year old man on a stretcher. The country is sitting on huge copper, gold and coal reserves but Russian and American companies mine here and take 60% of the profits.

Despite receiving more foreign aid from America than any other country the amount is dwarfed by the money being taken out. Oh, and Mongolia has a prime tactical position between China and Russia so if anything kicks off expect the country to be ruined.

Anyone still reading? Mongolia was absolutely amazing and by far the best experience we have had so far. We will be returning...