WE pulled into the UB about 8am after being harrassed by the Provoditsa from 6pm to hand back the sheets, blankets and towels. At the hour they can be absolute tyrants ... we were "over" this early morning stuff!!!

After leaving the station we visited a currency exchange office in a back street that was secreted in the rear of a car show room for new Europeans cars!!! Amazing. I asked the driver about this weird set-up but he wasn't fazed!!

Arrived at the hotel about 8.30am dying for a long, hot shower only to be told that there was NO hot water - what a low point!!!

However we rallied (without the European Cars) and were soon at the gates of the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia, the Gandantegchinlen Khiid or the "place of great joy". Today 150 monks live in residence depite years of oppression by the Russians.

Despite the dominance of Soviet architecture the town has a relaxed atmosphere of a small town with many of the older folks wearing traditional dress. Modernisation has arrived however in the shape of cars, cars and more cars. You have to be very careful crossing the road!!!

We visited the King's Summer Palace which had a great souvenir shop - so we shopped up!! Photos not permitted. Driving around town there seemed to be lots of Cashmere Shops .... we visited a couple - Jenny bought some gear for rellies who lived in the UK. I was on the look out for scarves but they didn't have any decent colours.

While we were there in snowed lightly for about 10 minutes -it was the coldest part of the trip.

Next day after an excellent night-on-the-tiles, we all piled into the transit van and headed off to the Ger Camp. Along the way we stopped off for a couple of touristy moments - drinking fermented mare's milk and riding camels. The photos of the official drinking-of-the-fermented-beverage have been censored, however, photos of Leon and I remain .....

If you are planning a visit to Mongolia you have got to make time to spend at least a couple of days at a Ger Camp - these are set up for tourists which sounds ghastly but we all thought this part of the trip as one of the highlights.

I won't drone one for hours about how wonderful it was - the isolation, the scenery, the hospitality, the activities (if you are so inclined) - just magic and only 1.5 hours drive from UB.

I am sorry I don't have to name of the Ger Camp we visted - it was most impressive. I have attached a few photos just so that you can understand the experience

Mongolians are famous for their horsemanship which is celebrated July each year at The Naadam Festival - we were told this is a festival worth attending.

The horsemen at our Ger Camp could ride like the wind - fabulous to watch with a style so different from "polite" Western ways. You should imagine a jockey in the Melbourne Cup with his legs stretched straight forward ... with no regard for his fertility arrangements! Amazing.

I wimped out from the Horse Trek from the Camp - several triple-flips-with-pike over the years have made me very cautious.

If you're not into horses there are always isolated roadways and tracks to wander along.