Images - Mongolia - Gobi Desert & Ulaan Baatar

The Mongolian side of the border - our car feels much more at home The Mongolian side of the border - our car feels much more at home Zamyn Ud train station - nerve centre of the border town Zamyn Ud train station - nerve centre of the border town Everything still works despite the cold Everything still works despite the cold It's -4C, but that's no deterrent! It's -4C, but that's no deterrent! Beyond the trains - nothing Beyond the trains - nothing The night sleeper to China The night sleeper to China At the town's edge, the road stops At the town's edge, the road stops Welcome to the Gobi Desert... Welcome to the Gobi Desert... ...lots of dust... ...lots of dust... ...surprising numbers of animals... ...surprising numbers of animals... ...especially Bactrian camels with amazing thick coats ...especially Bactrian camels with amazing thick coats Guess that's the route Guess that's the route Our first sighting of civilisation Our first sighting of civilisation Hope we don't end up on one of these! Hope we don't end up on one of these! Hardy winter grass Hardy winter grass More woolly beasts braving the cold More woolly beasts braving the cold Eating snow - principle winter water source Eating snow - principle winter water source Not a vegetable in sight! Not a vegetable in sight! If all else fails, follow the railway If all else fails, follow the railway Our good deed for the day - her husband may still be waiting for a lift with their broken bike Our good deed for the day - her husband may still be waiting for a lift with their broken bike Typical house in Choir Typical house in Choir Melting snow makes for boggy patches as we head north Melting snow makes for boggy patches as we head north Biting cold wind Biting cold wind Keeping warm (its not permanent!) Keeping warm (its not permanent!) Beyond Choir - more & more snow... Beyond Choir - more & more snow... ...camels don't mind though! ...camels don't mind though! The train track is the busiest part of the desert The train track is the busiest part of the desert Desert breakfast Desert breakfast Ponies grazing Ponies grazing Falcon Falcon Barren wilderness Barren wilderness The brutal effects of overgrazing & a harsh winter... The brutal effects of overgrazing & a harsh winter... ... we reckon we see 250 like this in one day ... we reckon we see 250 like this in one day Sensible farmers wrap up their precious cattle Sensible farmers wrap up their precious cattle Enjoying the tranquility Enjoying the tranquility There shouldn't be any snow here in April... There shouldn't be any snow here in April... ... but it's not going to be spring for a while yet ... but it's not going to be spring for a while yet Sure there's more of these to come Sure there's more of these to come Suddenly - arrival in UB. Not sure if we've earned this, but it's a nice treat Suddenly - arrival in UB. Not sure if we've earned this, but it's a nice treat Nina could roll down the hill wearing that many layers! Nina could roll down the hill wearing that many layers! View from UB's ski slopes View from UB's ski slopes Looking out over western UB from Luke's flat... Looking out over western UB from Luke's flat... ...and looking north ...and looking north Sunset over downtown Ulaan Baatar Sunset over downtown Ulaan Baatar Inside the Choigin Lama Temple, UB Inside the Choigin Lama Temple, UB Even here, old and new collide Even here, old and new collide Sukhbaatar Square, the centre of UB Sukhbaatar Square, the centre of UB The mining boom means new construction is rapid The mining boom means new construction is rapid Sunrise over UB Sunrise over UB Icy morning mistIcy morning mist