Ulaanbaatar is one of the most polluted cities in the world, to makes things worse, there's also lots of pollen in the air. But between sneezing, napping and organising ourselves we manage to see the mix of old and new in the city.
The next day the jeeps with our rental bikes arrive and we drive to Terelj National Park. We arrive at a nice spot and get to it: the mechanic/guide will ride with us, and the two cars will stick around. The bikes are in okay condition and we start riding trough herds of cattle towards the mountains. It's very hot and uphill, not so easy!
After a while we get used to the bikes and we can enjoy the beautiful landscapes. It's sometimes so rocky we have to dismount. We also come across our first ovoo, a cairn made of rocks. Circling and adding a rock 3 times is supposed to bring good luck :)
One of us isn't so lucky and became sick. But the good thing is he can just follow us in the jeep. At the end of the day we arrive tired but satisfied at our gers. We receive a great meal and take a dip in the nearby river.
This pattern continues for 2 days, passing lovely sights like Turtle Rock, a monastary and a touristic ger camp.
The last afternoon the jeeps takes us to the Genghis Khan statue outside Ulaanbaatar. It's a very impressive construction, built on the place were Genghis allegedly found his golden whip. We climb the stairs to the horsehead and are treated with a magnificent view over the steppes.
Back in Ulaanbaatar we shower, rest and prepare for the main part of our journey: the 2 week road trip!
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