We just entered Mongolia. Check out the desert with the long sand dunes and the road going thru..

We crossed over from Kazhakastan to China. And out of nowhere came this humongous city. Closely noticing it, we saw some interesting features. The whole city looked like lego blocks. There was no sign of any old structure that you would expect in this part of the world. Everything was very symmetrical, in right angles and the houses looked like they were built out of cookie cutters. But it was a humongous city.

From Google Maps, it looks like the place is called Yining in Chinese and Gulja in Kazhak.

Check it out – specially see it in a satellite map. You will see that in the middle of mountains and deserts, suddenly there is a huge city…

Crossing over the mountains that separate Kyrgyzstan from Kazhakastan.

Try this…

Roger and I are at the check in counter of Turkish Airlines who are taking us to Istanbul, then Bishkek and finally Ulanbaatar. Here is the conversation I had with the lady at the counter trying to check us in…

“What is your final destination today?”
“Ulan Baatar”
“WHERE?”
“Ulan Baatar”
“Where is that?”
“Mongolia, ma’m”
“Do you have a visa?”
“US Citizens do not need visa for 90 days, ma’m”.
“Oh!”

I turned back at Roger who had this “You-do-not-know-Ulan-Baatar?but-you-promised-to-take-us-there” look on his face.

We finally cleared security, sat down with a glass of wine each and had a hearty laugh over the whole incident.

It has certainly further lowered our expectations from Mongolia. Something tells me that is a good thing!!