Suddenly have the urge to go Mongolia

@scheng1 (24649)

Singapore

July 15, 2016 1:56am CST

I come across some pictures of Mongolia in the newspapers, and I am really amazed at the natural beauty of this country. I do not know much about this country, except that it has declared independence from China many years ago. Half the population live in the capital, so the whole country is vastly under-populated and in pristine condition. I sure like to visit there one day, but there is no direct flight from my country to Mongolia.

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13 responses

Just an Ordinary Owl?

@owlwings (43897)

• Cambridge, England

15 Jul 16

My son has visited Mongolia several times on business (he is in education) and has taken an extended trip to see the country around Ulaanbaatar which he described as amazingly beautiful. He was very lucky to see a herd of the native wild horses which they are trying to re-introduce and he also saw the inside of a ger (the round tent which many Mongolians, even those who live on the outskirts of the city, call home). These should never be called 'yurts', by the way, since 'yurt' is considered a foreign, derogatory term in Mongolia!

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

Wow, that is fantastic. I think the lifestyle hardly changed for them outside the city area. perhaps the gers for tourists have better toilets and whatever creature comfort, but the nomads remain nomads.

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@Porcospino (31365)

• Denmark

18 Jul 16

@owlwings I have heards both names (ger and yurt) but I wasn't aware that yurt was derogatory. I have read that some travel agencies arrange trips where the tourists sleep in gers. It must have been an interesting experience for your son.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

19 Jul 16

@Porcospino Some of these gers have air-conditioning and they have bathroom and toilet inside. Some of them are bigger than my house, and they are permanent structure. The only thing is that the building material is not bricks or cement or steel.

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@Dextoi (1845)

• Philippines

15 Jul 16

Haven't been there but thinking of Mongolia takes me back to my history education days... I guess they still have a vast unscathed land since you mentioned that most of the people are in the city.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

Yes, the land is still vast and unoccupied. Hard to imagine that half the population in the country are in the capital. They have only 3 million people, and I bet there are more horses and other animals than humans. They just celebrate their national day a few days back.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

18 Jul 16

@blitzfrick Hard to starve in a country that has less people, and have so many resources.

@blitzfrick (2890)

• United States

16 Jul 16

@scheng1 Argh, no WalMart. I would starve.

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@youless (114117)

• Guangzhou, China

18 Jul 16

I haven't been to Mongolia yet. There is a train from China to Mongolia and Russia. Some travellers like to take a train from China to Russia and they have a stop in Mongolia. But actually it is much more expensive than going there by plane. Besides, we don't have so many holidays for it. So we just flied to Moscow and we had fun there. The people are very nice there and I really wish to travel there again. It is quite a large country

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@youless (114117)

• Guangzhou, China

18 Jul 16

@scheng1 In fact I prefer to the indirect flight for the long distance. A plane from Guangzhou to Moscow seems to cost about 9-13 hours, I am not so sure about it. Last time we took the indirect flight which from Guangzhou to Beijing and then Moscow. I like that much more since it would be less tiring. When you were in Beijing airport, at least you could walk around and took a rest.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

18 Jul 16

@youless Those tour groups do not transit in Beijing. They will take the train from Beijing to Mongolia. The tour usually will let them stay a few days in China before going to Mongolia.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

18 Jul 16

I have not been to both countries. I know there is no direct flight from Singapore to Mongolia but I am not sure whether there is direct flight to Russia. Most tour groups from my country go to Mongolia through Beijing.

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@Porcospino (31365)

• Denmark

18 Jul 16

I would like to visit Mongolia. I think that it is possible to go there via the transsiberian railway. I am not sure how I would get there by plane. I don't think that there are any direct planes from my country, so I would have to change planes somewhere. I have seen pictures from the Mongolia and I have read a bit about it. I think that it would be a fascinating place to visit. If you ever go there you must write about your experience

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@Porcospino (31365)

• Denmark

23 Jul 16

@scheng1 A flight from Beijing sounds like a good option, and it would give me the chance to spend a few days in Beijing before I continue my journey. The Transsiberian railway would also be an interesting way to experience the country if I have more time.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

24 Jul 16

@Porcospino The Transsiberian route allows you to experience a few countries at one time. I think that is really a great journey of a lifetime. Mongolia is really a country that is off the beaten track for all of us. It is a country overshadowed by its two strong and powerful neighbors.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

19 Jul 16

I think the easiest way is to take flight to Beijing and then change flight to reach Mongolia. It sure is a very mystical place with great history. Everyone knows about Genghis Khan, and I think the young people who live in the grassland still ride horses and practice archery.

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@Bluedoll (16770)

• Canada

15 Jul 16

Large country for only around 2 million people. Everything would be very different I would think.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

18 Jul 16

I think in term of living space per person, it will be similar to Canada. After all, a large tract of land is not occupied in both countries.

@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

19 Jul 16

@Bluedoll There are a few luxury resorts around the city. I think one of them is less than 200 km from the city. They offer mountain bikes for rental, horse riding lessons and horses to rent for you to explore the area. Food and accommodation come with the daily rate when you book the accommodation. They offer archery course too. All these are the skills that traditionally Mongolians are famous for. It sure sounds very tempting.

@Bluedoll (16770)

• Canada

19 Jul 16

Yes I think so too @scheng1 By the picture most of the people seem to be located in a city with large tracts of land spreading out beyond. I wonder what going there would be like and how much we could see?

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@skysnap (20152)

•

15 Jul 16

Have to check mongolia. never knew about it. I heard it has more snow than sunny days.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

Never heard of Genghis Khan? I bet everyone heard of Mongolia because of him. Those who had paid attention in history class would not fail to know his name

@skysnap (20152)

•

15 Jul 16

@scheng1 ah yes heard of him. but not the nature part.

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@kaka135 (14994)

• Malaysia

20 Jul 16

Though I think it's a nice place, especially reading the history about Mongolia, I have never put it in my traveling list before. Hope you will be visiting Mongolia one day.

@SIMPLYD (90717)

• Philippines

15 Jul 16

I hope you can go there my friend , so you can just tell us the story about it if ever .

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

I will tell Genghis Khan that you want to come and meet him too! You may get a visit from him in your dream.

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@SIMPLYD (90717)

• Philippines

15 Jul 16

@scheng1 Oh yes, do that too .

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@PatZAnthony (14749)

• Charlotte, North Carolina

21 Jul 16

So many places appear to be beautiful-but to live there is another thing. The reality of day-to-day life soon changes how we feel about things.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

24 Jul 16

I definitely cannot live in Mongolia. The language is one thing, and for another thing, the winter temperature is way below zero. The desert weather is another barrier. I just love to travel there.

@Marilynda1225 (91063)

• United States

18 Jul 16

It would be nice if you could make the trip to Mongolia. There are so many beautiful places in this world to see

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@blitzfrick (2890)

• United States

16 Jul 16

I vaguely recall references from my childhood to Outer Mongolia, especially when I misbehaved. With no flights, maybe there's a train to take?

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

18 Jul 16

There are direct flights from Mongolia to many countries, just not to my country. It is bordering China on one side, and many people go to Beijing and take train over there.

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@ilocosboy (45155)

• Philippines

15 Jul 16

wow that's great a trip to Mongolia, how i wish i could go also.

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

15 Jul 16

I don't know about mongolia as well. All I can think of is the snow ot the cold weather.

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@scheng1 (24649)

• Singapore

15 Jul 16

haha, you are even worse than me when it comes to Mongolia. Mongolia is not about snow or cold weather. I think you have heard of Genghis Khan, haven't you? That is Mongolia. Horseback riding, sleeping in the big tent, roasting meat over open fire, large tract of grassland and Gobi Desert. That is Mongolia.