Access Finally!

Hello from the UB Guesthouse in downtown Ulaan Baator, captial of Mongolia. We have just returned from a wonderful night at the state park and a sleep in a Ger. The countryside was very beautiful and peaceful and the family very hospitable. There were about 14 in our group in 4 gers and we got to go horseback riding as well. There was rain over night but it was very cozy in our 4 bed ger and a small stove for heating. Quite spectacular and a highlight so far.

It is much cooler here now after having survived 41 degrees in Beijing. Beijing was amazing and the hostel very good and central, across from the main train station. We have done the wall, the summer palace, the temple of heaven, tiana man square, Mayo mausoleum, the firbidden city, the opera and a few more things. Other than a cold, the runs, and general upset stomach it has been great and exceptional weather.

We also survived a dust storm in china as we approached the mongolian border but my smaller camera did not. The dust seems to have jammed the lense mechanism so will look for some wd40. the trip on the train was hot but comforatable and an experience crossing the border. It took from 8:30 to almost 2 in the morning to clear two customs and immigrations and the changing of the boggies to accommodate a different guage.

the guest house here in UB is very hospitable and we have been treated very well. the rooms and dorms are just old apartments converted for hostel use and breafast is communal bread, jam, spreads and tea. Everything is communal and shared by young and old. We have met some wonderful people from all over the world, even Canada ( they spotted my tim horton's mug on the train) An older couple from NZ were heading out on a 31 day tour of Mongolia and a young german couple on a 20 day trip.

We shared our cabin on the train with a very independent 20 year old girl from London who has been majoring in Korean so she and Ange had lots to talk about it. as luck would have it we ended up meeting up with her yesterday as there were people from several guesthouses and hostels on the ger outing and she ended up sharing our ger so it was quite nice.

Greg is doing well although it has been physically demanding for him. we pace ourselves and have found some local comfort food to get us back to feeling a bit more normal. We are just getting a shower now after two days in the same clothes and then meeting Jessica, our UK roomie for dinner. tonight at 9 we are off to Irkutsk. two nights on the train but hopefully cooler.

Will try to get some pics posted before we leave.

Love to all Merle. p.s also survived the facebook and blog blocks in china and slow internet!