Waiting for the buggies, bureaucracy, and translating maps

Position: UlaanBaatar

Another busy day in the capital, today's mission was to purchase topographical maps and to extend our visas. Currently we have been granted 30 day visas, and while we plan on spending roughly 30 days on the trail, time will be required in the city and en route to and from the start and departure points. To extend our visas we were required to deal with some Mongolian bureaucracy, at the Office of Immigration, Naturalization, and Foreign citizens. Although we spent nearly 3 hours at the office, the process was not nearly as intolerable as it could have been. Mostly the process was slowed by the fact that we were incapable of speaking the language. While possibly not appropriate in a government office, this trip will most probably practice my interpretative dance skills.

Picture caption: Sarah and Curtis rushing back and forth from different departments in a crowded government building.

Another day has passed and still our buggies have yet to arrive, however after some research it appears that they may be in tomorrow, which would place our departure from UlaanBaatar on Wednesday morning. We have been informed that transport to our start location Altai city, about 1000 km away will take roughly three days, and given the state of the roads in Mongolia they could be a rough three days. Despite this we should pass by some interesting cities and historical cites, something to make the ride endurable.

Picture caption: Curtis translating the map key with limited luck.

We were successful in finding high detail topographic maps, however the maps are neither weather proofed nor printed in English. Not a cause for concern, but it will keep us occupied for most of the evening.

Eric