[ULAANBAATAR] Budget and Itinerary

TUESDAY: August 16, 2011

Line 2 (Dongzhimen) - 2.00

Airport Express (Terminal 2) - 25.00

Hainan Capital Airlines (Beijing - Erlian) - 535.60

Jeep (Chinese Border) - 80.00

Highway Quota Something (Chinese Border) - 5.00

CNY647.60

[KHAN-UUL] A Palace, a Park, and a Hill in Three Hours

I had plenty of time yesterday but as I said, “There’s always tomorrow!” It’s funny how until now I don’t seem to have an idea on how I behave in such situations. It was pretty obvious I'd be waking up late again. I was planning to wake up at 6 AM but I only did so at 11 AM, just giving me enough time to take one last shower for the day before my long train ride back to Zamyn Uud. What’s left for me to explore were: a) the big park a few blocks away from the guest house; b) Winter palace; c) Buddha Park; and d) Zaisan Hill. Although they're not that far away from one another (maps are often exaggerated), some of them (the park and the Winter Palace) require some time for you to enjoy them. Since I stepped out of the guest house at 12, I only had three hours to make it back so that the train would not leave without me. And so I skipped the big park (It has a Ferris Wheel! It has a Ferris Wheel!) and walked.

[CHINGELTREI] If Only I Bought A Cashmere Coat

I guess I’ve already warned you about the spitting. Again, this seems normal on this side of Asia. On our side, however, we usually raise our eyebrows when someone does this, especially without warning. When in UB, it’s time to practice your Patintero skills, not just with spitting locals, but with motorists as well. A blog I’ve read somewhere has stated that crossing a street in UB is like an exercise for suicide. I kind of agree with that statement. He does, however, also say that tourists must be ready for the Mongolian car driver. As a Filipino, I don’t agree with this one. For someone who has been taking the daily commute around Metro Manila all his life, I’d say that it should be the Mongolian driving his vehicle who should get ready for me, the Pinoy pedestrian. Haha. Hahahaha.

[SUKHBAATAR] I’m Usually the One Who Does the Staring

The train arrived at around 9:30 AM as was stated on the schedule. I immediately got my backpack and walked around. The weather is weird in Ulan Bator. The sunlight is so intense but there's that cool wind that keeps everything balanced. Still, I was sweating profusely and I could feel the back of my shirt already drenched with sweat. Thanks, backpack. My feet took me to a convenience store. I asked the young lady sweeping the sidewalk where Sukhbataar Square, the landmark indicated in the instructions to the guesthouse, was. Luckily, she answered in English and the answer was 10 kilometers. Shut up?

[ULAANBAATAR] How To Go To Mongolia

What do Mongolia, Brazil, and Israel have in common? Philippine passport holders can visit any of these three countries visa free. Hooray! Or not. Brazilians usually transit in Europe or New Zealand to go the Philippines. Israel is usually reached with a stopover in Europe. Mongolia can be reached via Beijing, although now via Hong Kong is also a possibility through Mongolia's flag carrier MIAT. Since Pinoys can transit and even stay in HK without a visa, Mongolia becomes the easiest option among the three, but expect to shell out some serious amount of cash. A one way ticket from Beijing to Ulan Bator already costs (around PhP 20,000. Considering the distance between HK and Beijing, I could only imagine how much that HK - UB flight would cost you. Another popular option is the Trans Siberian Railway. Get on at Beijing and hop off at UB en route to Moscow. USD 200 one way. The catch? Travel time is over 30 hours. This is a good deal if you have lots of time. Otherwise, you might just have to do what I did.