Temperature in Ulaan Baatar suddenly dropped down to 4 deg. Celsius only. On the way to my destination I crossed again main square and… met there the group of Mongolian men in the national costumes. Sorry, they came from countryside where English isn’t popular. But the smiles worked and I had great souvenir picture:
But it was just the beginning of socializing. Few minutes later just married local couple arrived to have traditional picture in front of the parliament building. Congratulations! They also were happy to have a picture with a foreigner:
Then bus 52 took me for 1000 tugrik to the 23-m statue of Buddha Sakyamuni located in n the small park squeezed between high housing blocks. Locals say, that lonely Buddha was erected here before they build first block… The city is growing! And for the monument it is now very strange location:
Then I was walking back to the center of capital to visit on the way the palace of the last Khan of Mongolia (he died in 1924). The palace survived soviet demolition in the 30-ties because it was converted into museum. You can visit it paying 15000 MNT, but yoy cannot take pictures or register video inside…
Last Khan of Mongolia – Bogda Khan was living here till his natural death in 1924. Later revolutionists were ruling the country. Now they have democracy and friendly, young police wistling strongly in the crowded streets:
Tomorrow in the morning I will start my 5-days 4×4 expedition to Gobi Desert, where I will live in the yurts. Who knows if there will be internet availability. Just be patient and keep the fingers crossed, dear Friends. 🙂