Getting Puzzled

We woke up on the hostel this morning. A lot of people there early in the morning. Only had a small bite of breakfast before we walked to the hotel where the rest of the group was going to join us later during the day. We got our rooms, had a shower and headed for a walk only to meet the others in the reception.

We walked through town to get a cup of coffee and then headed for Kate's destination - The Intellectual museum. It turned out to be some kind of a hunt for a somewhat hidden museum. But Kate found it eventually.

It is one of those places that is a little odd. And then also interesting. We bought the tickets and were told that they included a one hour guided tour of the four storey museum. So we had our own guide to take the four of us through Mongolian wooden puzzles, basic magic tricks and other fun stuff. We even bumped into the founder of the museum and collection of - well, games. Lots and lots of them.

Eventually we headed back for relaxing in the hotel and in the evening we went out we most of the group to have drinks on the 23rd floor on the roof top bar. And then food in town.

Puzzle museum looks a little burned

False alarm - real puzzle museum is ok

Skyping home

Drinks on the 23rd floor. Overlanding is tough

Hello Mongolia

Woke up to a pleasant morning. The train was moving at a steady pace across the Mongolian landscape and we had an opportunity to enjoy it as it passed by. The landscape had gone more dry - and flat since leaving China. And there was no trace of houses, cities, people or animals. Just space. Flat open space. We did stop a couple of times on the way to Ulaanbaatar but it was villages compared to the places we have been to in China during the past 6 weeks.

Eventually we reached UB in the afternoon, got of the train and were picked up by a guy from the hostel. A short drive through rush hour traffic and we were at the hostel, got our bunk beds and then Mikkel and Kate headed out to have a look at the city while Malene took care of the internet.

We later went out for a drink at the roof top terrace bar down town and after a drink went for happy hour drinks on the 23rd floor of the hotel. From there it was easier to get an overview of just how small UB is compared to all other cities we have visited in China. It feels nice and a bit more relaxed.

When we were done with the drinks we went for burgers and more beers. Hope the others on the truck enjoy their tents - we like UB. Give us more, please.

Flat Mongolia

Getting closer to UB

Pick up at the station

$8 bunk beds

$8 drinks in the evening sun

Happy hour with Kate and Dale

Chinese food upgrade

On the train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar

Our train wasn't until 11:22 this morning. Not 11:20 or 11:30 - no, it was 11:22. So we had plenty of time to stock up on food and drinks for the trip before we headed for the metro and Beijing Central Station.
It was the usual crowded place we arrived at when we got to the station so we went straight towards the sign saying "Entrance" and when we got though the queues we realised that we were in the ticket office and not inside the actual station. A little running around, trying a new queue and then we made it inside the station building and found the platform where our train was waiting. We are going on the Trans Mongolian Train. How crazy is that??

Found our carriage - number 15 - and our compartment - and before we knew it we were on the way. Passing through the suburbs of Beijing we quickly left the capital, the landscape went from flat into mountainous, tunnels started to appear and for the next many hours we enjoyed the scenery. The train has a few short stops on the way to the border so we got to see a few more Chinese provincial towns on the way.

We reached the border crossing just after sunset and then the fun started. We knew from the schedule that there would be a 4 hour stop but not how we were supposed to participate. It turned out to be very easy. A customs officer showed up at our compartment and collected our passports, then the train was taken to a big building where all the carriages had the wheels changed (to fit the Mongolian/Russian track gauge). The train was put back again and around 00:30 we were back at the platform, had our passports handed back. At exactly 00:59 the train left the platform, the second it started moving the sound of the Chinese National hymn was heard all of the station and the border soldier who had guarded the door to our train wagon started to run along the train - his colleagues following him as he passed them.
The entertainment at the Mongol border wasn't as spectacular but the service was equally good. Customs and passports were taken care of without us leaving the train. Much better service than getting off and on the truck when doing the usual border crossings.

And then it was back to sleep. Overlanding is so comfortable.

Quiet morning

Trying to find our train

Lunch in the dining car

Happiness is when you find a bottle of white wine on the Trans Mongolian Train

Sunset from the Trans Mongolian

Changing wheels

Inspectors inspection the inspectors inspecting......