Ulaan Bataar

Trip Start Jun 17, 2006
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Trip End Aug 20, 2006


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Flag of Mongolia  ,
Thursday, August 10, 2006

Right now I am in Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia. It's been a surreal experience considering that this is the first non-Muslim country I've been to since Greece. I never realized how far reaching the Muslim religion had spread its influence throughout the world. But what is more amazing is to consider this city of 2.5 million people that once ruled the world. Mongolia once laid claim as the greatest empire in this world's history stretching its dominance all the way to the far reaches of the Roman empire. Yet, strikingly, there are no ancient ruins or monuments here to tell their story. Instead, Internet cafes and discos have popped up from every corner like the wild grass that surrounds the city. As well, local drunks, street children, and a few stray dogs add to the city's decor. The people here seem lost and lacking of ambition wandering aimlessly nowhere. But maybe it is just a part of their nomadic tradition.

However, if you go beyond the city in to the countryside you will see the lifestyle that Mongolia is famous for. We took an hour drive to Terejl National Park passing through green pastures as a host of cattle, yaks, sheep, and goats graze lazily along the riverside. To complement this scenic view are "gers," domed tents in which the nomads of Mongolia dwell. These white tents seem to pop up like wild mushroom and spread throughout the valleys sporadically. As a way to cash in on the experience, many tour companies offer weekly retreats for tourists to stay at a ger camps. They also provide horseback excursions if you'd like.
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