A few months ago, I did a Hello From Mongolia thread. Some of you guys asked me to post a trip report. Well, it took a while. For a variety of reasons, I can not post all my photos, but have a few that will give you a taste for it in winter. Click on the link to see them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Degas1888/MongoliaWinter08


Impressions: UB is crowded with lots of traffic, and a wild, frontier feel to it. It is not very impressive building wise - like the old Soviet Union in the 1960’s?

People: People were a hardy, friendly bunch. They were approachable and easy to engage in conversation. Service was polite and responsive. I kept thinking of Koreans, but a bit taller. Taxi drivers were a sullen, greedy bunch.

Food and drink: Cheap, and right tasty, even the grilled horse meat. They also have kimchi! It was very easy to find Western restaurants. And they do like to knock a few drinks back in the evening which was okay by me. Out in the villages, they feed us lots of lamb, soup, and and various cheeses.

Weather: Damn cold in winter. Stiff wind was a real bear. My face and hands were always freezing, and I almost got frostbite when my feet got wet one night. I know, I know, I should have gone to the disco! Our vehicle had ice on the inside of the windows! Heater never seemed to work right.

Outside UB: Lots of interesting scenery and wildlife (herds of horses, sheep and goats), but it was just too damn cold to fully enjoy it. There are a couple national parks within an hour's drive of UB that might interest you.
The Gobi desert is further south. The Lake/mountain district in the NW looks worth a short visit.

I’m going back this summer for the good Jun-Sep weather. If you go, go then, and take advantage of cheap multi-day tours.