Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Photo Essay: Because Mongolia Left Me Speechless

Off the beaten path, you say? How about off the radar?

Mongolia can show you what's that about. And then some.

It's been almost three months, and I remain blootered. This bloody hangover hinders me from weaving the proper adjectives, nouns and superlatives that could encapsulate how epic (epic is even an understatement) that trip was. So far I have these bits and pieces:

  • mutton
  • Hummer
  • Cabbage-Patch-Kids-looking babies
  • freezing
  • pit toilets
  • mare's milk
  • barren expanse
  • fossilized dinosaur eggs
  • nomads
  • sheep, horses, cows
  • more sheep, horses, cows
  • massive vultures that could kidnap humans
  • nonexistent road rules 
  • toddler puking everyday 
  • Gangnam Style 

So while I organize my thoughts,  I'm leaving you folks with some visuals to lust about.

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Beautiful autumn arvo at Sükhbaatar Square

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Buddha Park beside Zaisan Memorial.
 
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The National Museum of Mongolian History
 
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Couchsurfed for two nights in this ger on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar.

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Our Couchsurfing host's family.

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A couple of hours into the Gobi Desert. Our first stop in the middle of nowhere.

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Our mighty Delica. Beast on wheels.

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Ikh Gazrin Chuluu. I think.

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Tsagaan Suvraga. Surreal landscape that used to lie beneath the sea.

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Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. Two-kilometer trek to Yolyn Am.

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Bactrian camel ride to Khongoryn Els sand dunes.

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Bayanzag, also known as the Flaming Cliffs.

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Winter Palace of the Bogd Khan

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Spent my birthday visiting the colossal Genghis Khan Statue on the bank of the Tuul River with another Couchsurfing family who hosted us for more than a week!

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A Trans-Siberian ride capped off our Mongolia journey (and began our Russia jaunt).
  
Is Mongolia on your ever-growing bucket list too? 
 
 
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34 comments:

Lakbay Diva said...
November 13, 2012 at 9:43 PM

omg cute tots! :P i wish i have a birthday present like this :D

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 13, 2012 at 9:56 PM

If only I could keep one of them adorable Mongolian tots!

ihcahieh said...
November 14, 2012 at 12:34 AM

Awesome pics. :)

Good thing you ventured out of Ulan Bator. All I could remember about my short Mongolia trip are the endless stares of curiosity I got from the locals.

I dunno if I could brave the overnight train ride from Zamyn Uud again so I could visit the tourist sites outside the capital. I reckon you guys flew or did you also take the train?

Mel said...
November 14, 2012 at 1:14 AM

Ulaanbaatar! I remember the cereal ad of my yesteryears. Hahahaha! Can't wait for the Trans-Siberian posts soon! Pwede na photo essay kung tinatamad magsulat. :D Lol!

Ian | GoingRoamingWandering said...
November 14, 2012 at 4:08 AM

Actually Mongolia is out of my travel radar but this pics and stories grows on me. Like India, this country has unique culture as well. I'm excited to read your upcoming travel stories in Mongolia!

Photo Cache said...
November 14, 2012 at 5:50 AM

that is an incredible journey.

Kulengkleng said...
November 14, 2012 at 6:31 AM

Reading all your travel adventures makes me think about Dallas Clayton's book. (Title: An Awesome Book). Mongolia would be one of my million dreams that roar!

Couchsurfing really sounds great!

KULAPITOT said...
November 14, 2012 at 7:41 AM

loved the photos po :)

Mustachio said...
November 14, 2012 at 8:55 AM

Beautiful! You make me wanna go to Mongolia!!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 14, 2012 at 10:59 AM

Mel, what cereal ad is this?

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 14, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Ihcahieh, we drove for 7 days.

Nicole said...
November 14, 2012 at 11:22 AM

ang cute ni Luna!!! :D

killerfillers said...
November 14, 2012 at 11:35 AM

Love all the pics and the trans-siberian train ride.Wow!

ian said...
November 14, 2012 at 1:04 PM

ang astig nung bahay may computer and i'm assuming may internet din cia.... galing!

Two2Travel said...
November 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM

Awesome photos, Gay! I especially love Luna's shot along the highway. Adorbs!!!!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 14, 2012 at 2:49 PM

Ian, yup they got internet.It's so cool that the son walks the cows everyday (for almost the whole day) then he does Youtube-ing at night.

Nursing Jobs said...
November 14, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Wow, just awesome! Never thought before that Mongolia was beautiful with this shots!

Anonymous said...
November 14, 2012 at 6:53 PM

Hi ate gay! curious ako how much you spent in that three weeks adveture? i am so interested! mongolia is one of my dream place to visit, your photos look so magical!

Kara / Travel Up said...
November 14, 2012 at 7:09 PM

Just wow. Those shots of the winding road and the surreal landscape are stunning. Am in awe of your family's adventures. I wish I could do what you do! Great, great photos. Sobrang inspiring.

AJ said...
November 14, 2012 at 7:26 PM

Wow, the Junkie has been silenced! Amaspeechless too, just looking at the pix! Some friends are offering to host me in Inner Mongolia. Is this place anywhere near? Amawannahavapixlikeyours!!!

Che | BackpackingPilipinas said...
November 14, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Ang cute cute ni Luna! Wow pics! More! :D

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2012 at 1:58 AM

Evan Kristine, will do some accounting when I'm reunited with my journal.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Kara, you're such an inspiration yourself!

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2012 at 2:05 AM

AJ's that's south of Mongolia. Btw, Mongolian BBQ doesn't exist in Mongolia, can you please try to find in Inner Mongolia? Am really curious where it that came from.

Ephraim Arriesgado said...
November 15, 2012 at 4:42 PM

Amazing photos! Madali lang ba pasokin ang Mongolia? Any visa requirements? :)

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 15, 2012 at 6:37 PM

Hi Ephraim! Pinoys get 21 days on arrival. I think. Haha. But yeah, we're exempted.

Filipina Explorer said...
November 15, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Those photos of the national park and Tsagaan Suvraga are stunning! Never thought Mongolia offers such fascinating sights till now.

Luna did the 2-kilometer trek too? Wow.

Pinay Travel Junkie said...
November 16, 2012 at 8:12 AM

We mostly carried her on the way back. It was getting cold and we wanted to finish the trek as soon as we could.

leandra / adbenturera said...
November 16, 2012 at 12:02 PM

amazing Mongolia!

now adding to bucketlist, :)

and Luna is soooo adorable!

Anonymous said...
November 18, 2012 at 4:51 PM

Wow! Those pictures are awesome. Luna is getting to be a jetsetter herself. Mongolia you are now in my bucket list.

Ako si Batoytoy said...
November 19, 2012 at 7:44 AM

beautiful place. a ma zing.

Anonymous said...
November 23, 2012 at 2:35 AM

beautiful photos gaye! looking forward to your mongolia post! i've always wanted to go there, but i'm currently in Europe, so maybe i'll manage somehow to go there within the next 2 years.

Luna looks super cute in that Gobi Desert shot :)

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Cotz said...
December 4, 2012 at 12:25 PM

Felt like your blog has brought me there too. The landscapes are truly amazing. Thank you for sharing these views to us readers! :)

The Nomadic Pinoy said...
December 4, 2012 at 8:28 PM

love your photo with your couchsurfing host's family - screams local interaction to the max!

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