Satellites and Drones for Nature Conservation

By |December 16th, 2013|Asia, Central Asia, Features, Mongolia|

Surveillance with the help of satellites and drones is known primarily from the military sector. However, conservationists also started to use these modern technologies to their advantage. How they do it, the following three examples show. GPS/Satellite Telemetry Scientist Koustubh Sharma switches on the computer in his office. Via alphanumeric password, he logs into the [...]

Hay Harvest in Mongolia

By |November 15th, 2013|Asia, Central Asia, Features, Journeys, Mongolia|

When asked the question: "How much hay does your family need for the winter?" Uyadagwa thinks for a moment. Then he points to the horizon. "We have to mow the grass till there. 20 trucks of hay we have to bring to the camp. Then we have enough." Uyadagwa (41 years old) and his two [...]

How to Build a Ger

By |September 3rd, 2013|Asia, Journeys, Mongolia|

Start with the door ...  

Beer for Breakfast

By |September 2nd, 2013|Asia, Journeys, Mongolia|

Life Tip: Drinking beer at seven in the morning might be a good idea when you are 20. At 30 this is not such a good idea. The hung over will occur right around lunch time and stay for the rest of the day. Some people say you just need to continue drinking, but this [...]

Hay – The Making-of

By |August 31st, 2013|Asia, Making of, Mongolia, Outdoor|

In the supermarket, in front of the vodka shelf: " Do we really need the big bottle ", I ask, "doesn't the medium one suffice?" Kishig and Mukhan look at me with big eyes and shake their heads in sync. "It's for the horsemen," says Kishig. "Yes, many horsemen," Mukhan adds. Well, I buy the [...]

Flesh and Blood

By |August 29th, 2013|Asia, Journeys, Mongolia, Outdoor, Wildlife|

If you are traveling with a Mongolian man, it may happen that he turns the car off the road and drives straight into the steppe. "A shortcut maybe," you think and stay quiet. Then he stops at several yurts and seems to ask the farmers for directions. At that point, you start to wonder what [...]

Riding a Motorbike in the Icy Rain

By |August 24th, 2013|Asia, Featured, Journeys, Mongolia, Off Road, Outdoor|

The first time we stop because the gear chain is loose. I climb off the motorbike, Basa does, too. He sits down behind the bike and pulls a wrench from his Deel, the traditional Mongolian coat. The colorful garment has no pockets, just a fabric belt that's wrapped around the waist. Basa keeps the tools [...]

Horse Trekking at Tsagaan Nuur

By |August 17th, 2013|Asia, Horseback, Journeys, Mongolia, Outdoor|

  When Orkhon said, the way to the mineral springs would be difficult, he was not exaggerating. The term "rough terrain" has never been a better fit. We are in the mountains around the Tsagaan Nuur, the "White Lake" in the Arkhangai province, central Mongolia. Orkhon is the mountain guide of a three-day [...]

Couchsurfing in Ulan Bator

By |August 9th, 2013|Asia, Couchsurfing @en, Mongolia, Topics, Trans-Siberian Railway|

An American guy on the train told me: "Don't stay too long in UB." I wasn't planning on, but I ended up staying over a week and a half in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia. Why? - Circumstances. Now I'm sitting here, in Sun's Nomads Guesthouse (10 U.S. dollars per night with breakfast), located [...]

Wild Horses at Hustai National Park

By |August 9th, 2013|Asia, Journeys, Making of, Mongolia, Wildlife|

  The first horse I come across in Mongolia is lying on my plate. Oogi's sister has cooked a big lunch during the camping trip. Although it tasted good, eating horses was not the purpose of the trip. Actually, I wanted to sit on them, not chew on them. Apart from this, Ulan [...]