Ulanbataar excursion - Gandantegchinlen Monastery

Today was the first official day of our group trip in Mongolia. We started of in the morning by going to a temple in UB - the Gandantegchinlen Monastery. Looked like most of the temples we've seen on the way through China except this one wasn't as well maintained as those in China - and somehow not as "fake" as in China where many of the temples and other buildings were new concrete buildings and too shiny. 

Then it was off to a guided tour of the national museum which was really interesting since it was with good English signs and explanations. It took us through the last 4000 years or so of Mongolian history including some very nice exhibitions of traditional dresses as well as the contemporary history of present day Mongolia.

We also had the opportunity to go to the "Black market" but we have seen and visited so many markets in the other countries, so instead we went for some shopping in UB on our own including stocking up on wine for our camping trip the next few days. And then back to the hotel to utilise the Internet to do some Skyping and some planning for Canada – which is not the many weeks away.

Dodjo - or Mongolian guide - is telling us about UB

Temple in UB 

Prayer wheels

Prayer wheels

Mikkel in front of the temple

The temple with the Mongolian touch . a ger next to it

The great National history museum

Amazing morning with balloons

DST isn't always in favour of you. Especially not when the pick up is at 5 in the morning. Something special gotta drive you out of bed then. But something special can even cure man-flu instantly.

Yes, we were going ballooning this morning and what a beautiful morning to choose. Being picked up in complete darkness and driven to the balloon site it was hard to get a feeling about what and where - but as the daylight was coming we could see the balloons being filled with air and hear the fans. So we left the balloon office - and there was our balloon. 28 pax + skipper basket ! Huge. And there were balloons everywhere.

Just before the sun came up we lifted off and thanks to almost no wind we just drifted ever so gently over the terrain. At first 10-15 meters above ground sucking up the landscape and scenery and the suddenly lifting off to maybe 150-200 meters above ground - and then back again almost skimming the ground before coming to a perfect landing. 50-60 minutes airborne - every minute so fantastic. The fact the around 150 other balloons were participating just made it more impressive.

Got home to the hostel for breakfast and decided to catch up with our missing sleep this morning. Slept until 12, walked to the Open Air cave museum in the afternoon and enjoyed the cave churches before heading back home.

Practical things had to be taken care of today. We are leaving for 2 days of camping so we did all the shopping for food in the afternoon (meals for 17 pax). And when the truck was loaded there was some backpacks that needed a little attention making sure that the right things are at the top of the backpack and not somewhere else when they are needed tomorrow.

What a perfect day. Ready for early departure tomorrow - breakfast at 7.

Getting the balloon ready for takeoff

Wonderful balloon ride, early morning lights

Cappadocia Balloon

Balloon sunrise

Göreme open air museum church