Day 11-12 February 23rd February Mongolia
These two days seem beyond anything we had experienced before. Whisked from train to 4WD and introduced to our guide Tebo and drive Shimidee we were told Shimidee was an excellent driver and once 4WD Champion of Mongolia. While this meant not a lot before we had spent time together our impression of Shimidees driving increased as we travelled some challenging roads together.
We felt like mini millionaires by converting currency to Tugriks at 1600 to the Aussie dollar and then head out of UB to the great unknown. Firstly it was navigating the snarls and jams of Ulan Bataar till finally the open snowlined road.
We stop at the gigantic statue of Chinngis Khan ???(we know him as Genghis), which seems to be a call to Mongolian nationalism. One gets the impression it is not easy being sandwiched between Russia and China and trying to keep both onside. Local opinion was that recent moves towards the US had upset both of their larger neighbours.
After a couple of hours driving we arrive in the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park. National Park to stay at the Heaven Envoy Ger camp.A really beautifully appointed ger very snug and Tebo came in in the middle of the night to keep our fire going!
Then on to our bed for the night – a cosy Ger in the Terelj National Park at the Heaven Envoy ger camp XXX ??? – where despite our protestations our fire was stoked throughout the night – and each night we were in a Ger.
