Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – 8-9 September 2018

We pull into our lunch spot in Ulaanbaatar about 1 hour 45 minutes (on Saturday 8 September) after leaving paradise. Traffic is crazy. I’m thankful I’m driving towards the city and not away from it as it’s soooo much worse that way. We are definitely back to civilization now!

 

Lunch is hot pot where we cook our own. Good fun!

 

The hotel is a short 10 minute walk away - nice to be out in the sun and walking.

We check in and have 15 minutes before we need to be downstairs. It’s nice to have a flushing WC :)

This afternoon we are off shopping, my favourite hobby NOT. But I do like exploring in new countries.

As soon as we depart the hotel for State Department store traffic is bumper to bumper. My driver decides to use the bus lane to jump ahead of a lot of cars. Good for us, not for them.

Finding a park proves difficult in this tight space that’s already packed so we jump out and leave them to it. They manage to reverse and park in spaces I couldn’t do in a normal car.

Duuya gives us the run down again on what is on each floor then we are set free.

We start at the souvenir floor (yes there is a full floor just for Mongolian souvenirs). Some super impressive things and of course lovely Mongolian woollen items.

One of the Aussie girls wanted to watch her AFL team play and has already done the research on where to watch it. She heads off while 3 of us continue to browse a bit more.

Walking out in the sunshine is lovely! It’s a good 20 minute walk to the bar. Along the way taking in the sights of Ulaanbaatar.

On arrival at the bar I hear a New Zealand commentator and realize the AB’s are about to start - talk about timing :)

I half watch the AB’s while chatting with the others. It’s nice to just sit and relax. The week has been awesome but it’s been go go go the whole time.

   

We had arranged to meet Duuya at the cultural show at 5.20pm, it’s a short 500 meters or so walk. Nice to be out in the sunshine again.

On arrival I totally get why she comes early for a 6pm show, we aren’t the only ones here tonight and being here early means we get to go on early so get the best seats.

I’m always a bit wary of culture shows, thinking they are a tourist trap. Duuya had said this goes for 1.15 hours, ooh dear.

 

Well the time flew by! It was definitely great and much better than expected. The signing, costumes and dancing were great.

We had 10 difference short performances – shamanism dance, majestic Tsam mask dance, traditional instruments playing music, throat singing and contortion dancing to name a few. The costumes were all amazing.

As we walk out of the theatre the sun is beginning to set, some of the clouds have turned a shade of pink. So pretty.

Our drivers are waiting for us, will be odd tomorrow not to be in one of these vans.

Duuya has arranged for us to go to Namaste for dinner - this is one place I had found on TripAdvisor and thought about going on my first night. Glad I didn’t. It was super tasty! I particularly loved not eating meat and three vege. Tomorrow is definitely salad and vegetables.

  

On arrival back at the hotel we do one more selfie.

 

I’m starting to feel a bit weird, it’s strange to have spent so much time with 10 others plus Duuya and the drivers over the past 8 days and this all ends now. As we all know goodbyes aren’t my thing, but having a beer at dinner has helped to make it quick!

I rearrange my bag so that tomorrow I’m up and out immediately. It’s going to be far too early to be sorting through things.

For the third night in a row I climb into bed at 9.37pm - the alarm is going in 6 hours.....this won’t be fun!

I want to ignore the alarm when it goes at 3.40am on Sunday 9 September, this is a ridiculous time of the day to be getting up!! And it’s bloody cold here, HK the complete opposite.

 

One of our drivers from the past 3 days arrives to pick me up at 3.55am. Nice to see a familiar face.

I’m surprised with how many people are on the roads - so many more than last Sunday morning. It’s a quick 25 minute ride to the airport. The driver is well aware of the photo selfie :)



Once inside I’m informed check in doesn’t open for another 30 minutes. WTF! That’s super frustrating as we are told to be here 2 hours in advance. Grrrrr.

I get chatting to an Aussie lady (Lindsay) who’s been here for work and is on the same flight as me (well to HK, then onto Perth). I leave my bags with her and drop off my postcards then do money exchange. While I’m doing that it’s announced that boarding for HK has opened. Thank you!

Once we are through to the international part of the airport it’s fairly quick and painless to check in. Going through security is the same. One benefit of having a super early flight is next to no one else is around.

We wander into a few shops before heading to one of the lounges (thank you priority pass) before our flight is announced.

We pull back from the gate at 6.13am, 12 minutes ahead of schedule. Excellent!

Another huge plus for getting up so early is seeing the sun rise! The 2 degrees that I woke to will turn into a stunning day.

    

The flight passes by quickly, I manage to “sleep” a huge chuck of it. Just before 10am we are informed we are starting our descent and should be landing in 25 minutes.

10.22am we land into Hong Kong. My week away has been out of this world amazing! Feels like I’ve been away for much longer (which is always a good sign). Mongolia you are a spectacular country which I hope one day to return too!!