Monday 20 May 2013

Around Mongolia

Last night arrived back in UB after a very adventurous trip exploring some of Mongolia's vast countryside by 4 wheel drive with 2 friends, a very cautious/careful driver and helpful interpreter/great cook. More details to come when I've more time in Kyrgyzstan. Then the challenge will b 2 ad photos!

Thanks to those of u who have been in touch thro' blog or email so giving me ur email address. Discovered it's 40p/ text for me and free for u to receive it but cost from ur end will depend on ur network.

Sunday 5 May 2013

Craig's Country File:

Craig's Country File:

Dingwall to UB

Finally made it out of UK after 2 weeks of frantic activity to get ready for "take off" and  a few hiccups with visas and house insurance. However despite an hours sleep b4 flying out of Inverness (clear flight over snowcapped mountains, managed to bus it over to Heathrow with the help of a humourous bus conductor to the correct terminal, travel with a few more hours sleep to Beijing in the company of a Malcolm F "look alike", a lawyer from Amsterdam (married!) and cope with a cancelled flight in Shanghai and change of terminals in Beijing's huge airport complex to meet the Dransfield's driver,Chow lee, thankfully as had no way of communicating with them!

Had a fun time with the Dransfields meeting the extended family of 2 guinea pigs and a hamster and some of their friends and enjoying being part of their life for a few days.  Zonked out the 1st evening so had a late start to explore the Gr8 Wall with Marianne about an hours drive away.  Not as busy as expected and after a few attempts found the 4 seater gondola (similar to the ones on the Nevis Range) for the ascent, wandered around amazed at the size and structure and then took the hour walk down.  Blossom was beginning to appear and we had clear views into the distance where the wall was more neglected.  Had iced tea at Chow lee's Aunt's restaurant and managed not to succumb to any souvenirs. Then it was time to pick up the children from their huge British School which carefully monitors the pollution levels and has domes for the children to play in if the levels become too high for playing outside. That night I was the only one in the household who heard a terrific thunder and lightening storm at 0200!  On Friday it was an earlier start with Chow lee to the Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium) for a photo shoot of both it and the surrounding flower gardens and then the rest of the day in the Summer Palace with lots pretty blossom at this time of year, ornate buildings and an exceptionally long "corridor" full of art work beside a large lake. Found bargain shorts en route home as by then I'd realised I'd need more than 1 pair to cope with the heat!  In the evening in true Dransfield style we cycled to a nearby (10mins) restaurant with yummy  "real" Chinese food minus dumplings as the dumpling chef (conjures up a funny picture!) was absent cycling home in the dark without incident.

 Back to an early morning start on Saturday to catch the train to Ulaan Bataar and with the help of Marianne's Chinese managed to navigate our way through the ornate station building and up the long steep escalator to the platform for the K23 train.  The train had 14 coaches with 2 classes of Pullman compartments with 2 beds, a chair and a toilet or 4 beds and shared toilets.  I was in the latter and as it wasn't that busy was sharing with just one passenger, a Mongolian lady, with a few words of English.  There were 2 ladies in charge of each coach for cleaning, air conditioning, supplying sheets and towels and topping up the hot and cold water supplies in the coach.  Met folk from Melbourne, England and Mongolia and enjoyed chats with them and viewing the ever changing scenes once passed the industrial suburbs of Beijing although I did eventually conk out by the afternoon.  We reached the border at 2230 and until 0200 there were officials dealing with passports and men changing wheels so didn't waken properly until around 0930.  When stopped for about 20 mins at one Mongolian station there were food and drinks sellers and a boy selling chunks of stone eg jade? Altogether the trip was a memorable experience!

Humphing a big case around is not ideal so now trying to think of ways to downsize and have already sent some stuff home with the Dransfields when they return in the summer.  All suggestions welcome...