Saturday, July 12, 2008

Landed

Well, arrived ok, on time. Some impressions regarding arriving: The city is surrounded by a patchwork of fields, small clumps of housing or industrial centers and irregular roads everywhere - right up to the edge of the city. If I was flying into Los Angeles, I would see nothing but houses from palm springs until LAX. The airport has this amazing beautiful new terminal that just opened - 2 miles long. The train system that runs down the center of it is an engineering marvel on its own. I don't know if they are just messing with first time visitors like me, but we came in at gate 426 and baggage claim area 41. The city doesn't look too foreign, just big. didn't see may bicycles until the heart of the city where every construction site (and there are a lot of them) is surrounded by parked bicycles. I think tomorrow is the great wall. I met Aileen, my guide for tea this evening, and she is trying to get me on a tour because she is busy tomorrow.
  View from the Hotel View from the Hotel

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bringing STUFF

As part of getting ready, I decided to gather up the gear that I would bring in my carry-on. I am reminded of the line in Butch Cassedy when they blow up the train... So John, do you think you brought enough stuff?



Sunday, June 22, 2008

Eclipse Trip Planning

I hope to be able to keep in touch during my travels. FYI, my intended itinerary is as follows:

July 11:  United #1167 TO SFO / 889 TO PEK
July 12-14:  Beijing - Wangfujing Grand Hotel
July 15-16:  Train Beijing-UB
July 16-29:  http://www.boojum.com/reader/Mongolia_Traveler.pdf
July 29-Aug4:  http://www.boojum.com/extras/eclipse2008.pdf
Aug 4:  Air China #902 UB to PEK / United #4455 to LAX

Some links that may be interesting:
A good map of Mongolia http://www.un.org/depts/Cartographic/map/profile/mongolia.pdf
NASA site with eclipse info http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2008/TSE2008iau/TSE2008-fig06.GIF
and http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2008/TSE2008.html
Mongol Messenger - English Language Newspaper http://www.mongolmessenger.mn/home/index.php
Time & Weather at Ulgii - The Eclipse Site http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/44214.html
Mongolia's "Official Tourism Website" is pretty basic http://www.mongoliatourism.gov.mn/
Mongolian Throat Singing (Yes, that is his voice) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0M3YFK3sJ54&feature=related

Some reading, etc if you are interested:
Books
Dateline Mongolia - young western reporter gets to be editor at English language newspaper during transition from communism in the 90's
Movies
Story of The Weeping Camel - young Mongolian kids on epic quest with their camel
Mongolian Ping Pong - 'Weeping Camel' meets 'The Gods Must be Crazy'
Genghis Blues (documentary) - A blind San Francisco blues singer gets interested in Tuvan throat singing and, with the support of a Nobel prize wining physicist's quirky friends, is able to visit the capital of Kyzyl for the big singing competition.