Mongolia is calling

[Matt_01]

I’m heading to Mongolia, it has been a place that I’ve wanted to go to for a while and over the years I have planned to get there but it has not worked out. It was on the 2024 plan then dropped off and then came back. I have done little planning other than to find a tour that will see me staying with a couple of nomadic families. The only questions I asked was around electricity (to recharge devices) and the ability to connect to the internet and cell coverage. Turns out the only electricity is 12v from solar and the cell coverage should work in most locations. My MiL has taken more interest in the trip and had sent me links to YouTube videos some of which had useful information and I will cover these as the trip progresses.
I am just winging it, 3 days in Ulaabatar, a 5 day tour and a final night in the city. When I say winging it everything about this trip has been fluid, it was only last night (around 36 hours prior to departure) I cancelled all my flights and rebooked in order to avoid a long layover in Japan and Korea, now going via Hong Kong and Korea and will arrive at UBN some 10 hours earlier than originally planed.

So let the journey begin.
ADL QP

My travel to SYD was originally in J but as I cancelled and rebooked the original flights 36 hours prior to departure I couldn’t get QF J so Y it was but I did have a shadow.

Like most early morning flights out of SYD Int the connections from ADL may not work so I am staying at the Rydges.

 

[Matt_01]

I did not realise that CX use The House in SYD so I went to take a look as I do not normally travel with airlines that will allow me to access this lounge.

It is not very large and I didn’t stay for a long time. I headed to the lounge I am more familiar with.

My freedom bird has arrived, it is the CX aircraft hiding behind the SQ aircraft which is hogging the photo.

 

[Jacques Vert]

My travel to SYD was originally in J but as I cancelled and rebooked the original flights 36 hours prior to departure I couldn’t get QF J so Y it was but I did have a shadow.

Oh the shame of it! Did you wear a disguise in case anyone saw you?

 

[Matt_01]

Time to play some catch up as I have a longer layover at ICN. Flights SYD-HKG.

 

[Matt_01]

The arrival into HKG was around about on time however by the time we arrived at the gate, deplaned, back down to the transfer gate and back to the The Pier F lounge there was not much time to relax and enjoy it. I was there for around 15 minutes.

Then it was time for the second flight to Seoul

 

[Matt_01]

The lounge plans have come unstuck in ICN, my MIAT flight does not leave to around midnight. OM use the KR lounge in T1 which closes at 21:30, the paid lounge options close at 22:00. I also needed to charge some of the devices so I found a 24 hour place that is in the terminal and has power plugs. I have just settled on this as the best option. It was initially quite empty but is now rather busy.

 

[Matt_01]

My MIAT flight, it was in J leaving ICN at around 12:05 am. It was a narrow body 737-8 and I was in 2C, the aircraft seemed newish but I don’t know the exact details. The seats were comfort and similar to QF J however they seemed to be a little wider, there also seemed to be a little longer and the recline seemed to be significantly better than QF or VA. An amenity kit consisting of slippers, eye mask and ear plugs were provided as was a blanket and pillow.

The food service was pretty decent and at first I did not want anything as I had been eating all day however the CC did not seem to understand why I did not want anything and after a while I just agreed to the lamb and only got through half of it. The crew seemed be happy with the fact that I had had the meal.

Now onto some of the things that were odd with the main being the IFE. If selecting the new releases there was a choice of five, 4 of which were in B&W and seem to have come from the 50’s the sound track also had that 50’s hiss and old crackle. I would be 100% sure it was not a problem with my B&Os. The one colour option may have been in the 80’s or early 90’s. The classic selection was about the same but all B&W. Also they were all in Mongolian without subtitles. The Family, Comedy, Kid and action adventure had no selection. IIRC the TV section was the same as the classic selection. All music was disabled as was the Games. The Moving Map came up with a global map and that was it, no details on the route and all the normal details you normally see. The section on About Us was just reading about MIAT, a brief history and info on the CEO.

Overall it was a 3hr 40min redeye so I am not really complaining. I have a slightly longer flight with them next week but at least I know what to expect. It is not an airline that would regularly if again.

 

[Matt_01]

Onto arrival it was painless, shortly before landing they was some type of medical emergency as the crew made an announcement for any Doctors, Nurses or other medically trained professionals to raise their hand. On arrival an announcement was made to remain seated until the PAX was off loaded and to my surprise everyone did. Not sure what was wrong however the lady was being assisted through the cabin my the crew and she did collapse between R1 and the front but was caught by the male CC and carried her to a chair that was still been pushed through after others were allowed to disembark.

Getting through immigration was most likely the quickest and easiest I have been through when travelling internationally (with the exception of the places I have frequent visitor approval for). No arrival cards required, no finger prints, I was just asked if the visit was for tourism and asked to look at the camera. After immigration they put my carry on through an addition x-ray and I am assuming this was I went through the nothing to declare line. It was less than 10 minutes from collection luggage to being ground side. I am yet to provide detail around why I have luggage on this trip as I am normally HLO.

 

[henrus]

Interesting trip report so far, can't wait to hear more about Mongolia.

Mongolia is 100% on the bucket list especially since it's visa free for Australian's until end of 2025.

 

[Askance]

I am yet to provide detail around why I have luggage on this trip as I am normally HLO.

Oh can i guess? youre going to be riding Mongolian ponies and wanted a familiar saddle...

 

[Matt_01]

Oh can i guess? youre going to be riding Mongolian ponies and wanted a familiar saddle...

Apparently the pony ridding is on the schedule and is optional, I actually used to ride but it has been many years. Jokes aside the Mongolian saddles are very different to anything I used in the past and you have to sign a separate waver if I don’t feel comfortable with the horse and if a helmet is not provided I may give it a miss. I have knocked back a similar opportunity in Japan as traditional Japanese saddles were very different to what I once used, if I was 30 years younger, sure I would give it a go without hesitation.

The reason I have checked luggage is that if you are staying with locals or nomads you are expected to give gifts the family, the tour company will provide details on general gifts. In my case I requested to know the family composition and I will be staying with one family with 2 adults and 3 children and the other has a 60+, 3 other adults and 4 kids, the tour company has supplied the age and gender for all the kids and gender only for adults and the 60+. In the information provided tipping is also expected for the guide and driver and a suggested daily amount in USD is provided. The information also mentions that gifts for the guide and driver is not expected but greatly appreciated.

My checked luggage is only to bring the gifts to Mongolia and weighs about the same as my carry on. In saying that the checked bag is older has some damage and was only used for my airline hoard storage. It is not coming back with me and will remain in Mongolia.

 

[Matt_01]

After leaving the airport and meeting the driver I came across something I was not expecting. The steering wheel was on the right and I was not expecting this as they drive on the right in Mongolia (steering wheel on the left). At first I figured my understanding was wrong but after getting onto the highway they do drive on the right. My next thought was the vehicle must have been an import and out of norm in Mongolia, in AU we have LHD vehicle rego for certain vehicles based on conditions. After walking around today most of the vehicles seem to be RHD with the odd smattering of LHD vehicles. I have not come across or noticed this before. All phots are from day 1, I had arrived at 4am.

Also I had read on the net that traffic in Ulaanbaatar is just something that has to be seen to understand, for once the internet was not wrong. In Ulaanbaatar and on a main drag expect to hear horns going all day. I hate to admit it but it is worse than NYC in a traffic jam. It started at around 7am at around 4pm not even the ambulance could move through traffic with the police trying to move cars.

At 5pm 23 floors up all I could hear was horns and sirens for around 2.5 hours. An hour later the traffic is still bad but the horns and sirens settling down.

 

[OZDUCK]

Maybe they import a lot of 2nd hand Japanese cars now that countries like Australia have blocked their easy importation.

 

[Matt_01]

Maybe they import a lot of 2nd hand Japanese cars now that countries like Australia have blocked their easy importation.

I did not pay attention to all the RHD brands but there was a few that I did not expect to see including a Ford ranger similar to those sold in AU, various Jeeps and a few Korean brands which I have seen the bonnet label both in Japan and Korea. The Porsches’ that I saw were a combination of LHD and RHD and the Ferraris’ were both LHD.

 

[Matt_01]

@OZDUCK I paid a little more attention today. Most of the RHD cars are Japanese brands with a lot being Toyota and Lexus.

 

[Matt_01]

Time to get back to the TR rather than getting distracted by cars but I am known to do this. I had arrived at around 02:45 and had booked to stay in the Blue Sky Hotel and Tower as it seemed pretty central, it is opposite Sukhbaatar Square. I had changed all my flights 36 hours prior to departure and had forgotten to book the extra nights accommodation. I was hopping the hotel wasn’t fully booked as I may have had to sleep in the lobby, they were not so I was in the room by around 4am. As I had been travelling up for around 26 hours with only a couple of hours of sleep I went to bed as the sun was rising. The hotel is quite comfortable.

First order of business in the morning was breakfast and get some local cash, I have been advised you need this outside of Ulaanbaatar. I had read on the net that the only currencies accepted was USD and Euro, this may be Turk if exchanging in hotels but the banks will exchange most currencies. Anyhow I handed over USD250 and was handed a pile of cask nearly an inch thick and almost a millionaire.

 

[Matt_01]

I had no fixed plan so I just started walking. First stop was the Choijin Temple as it was next to the hotel. Quite an interesting place and after taking a couple of pictures inside I was advised this is not allowed unless you pay extra.

 

[Matt_01]

Next place I came across was on the other side of the road and the first order of business was where to cross, found a location and ended up taking the scenic route (lost in the back streets) to get there. The red building is the Nation Academic Drama Theatre.

 

[Matt_01]

Next I headed over to Sukhbaatar Square and the surrounding Places.

 

[Matt_01]

I like museums so next stop was the National Museum of Mongolian History, it is not very large but quite interesting.