Boating in Huvsgul/Khovsgol lake

Posted on October 25, 2008 by admin

Technorati Tags: huvsgul,khovsgol,boating,mongolia,eco travel,eco tourism,social nature travel

What is so special about a boat ride in Khovsgol lake? The crystal clear & fresh water, the mountains, the lake, the weather and the surroundings…it’s awesome!

All of us was so tired after the horse ride, took a rest and had our dinner and back to the ger to have some drinks and chat for the night..The sky at night was full of bright & twinkling stars surrounding the ger camp.

The second day, we decided to go for boating..the weather was not too good..cloudy, drizzling and it was so cold..Actually, i did not expect the weather to be such cold & did not even bring any winter clothes. When we started the boat ride, reached the opposite side of the lake, it was sunny with some sunshine. When we reached there…there is a small stoney hill where u need to walk up in order to have a view of the lake from another angle. It was always nice to see things from the top. As the lake is so big and huge that you can’t see the whole lake. On the other hand, u can see different things when u are standing at different location. I guess this applies to our life to where we should see things from different perspective….hehehe…

What did I do in Huvsgul/Khovsgol Lake?

Posted on October 25, 2008 by admin

Well, the weather was not that promising for us as it is rainy season..Somehow, the god helped us someway…hehehe..

After took some nice pictures up the hilltop, we took a rest while waiting for the camp owner to arrange the horse ride. I then walked along the lake alone for a short while..I heard some sound of birds coming from somewhere. I then found some birds and seagulls swimming along the lake & took some pictures. The lake water is crystal clear and fresh. Just take a look at these pictures down here. Then, a mongolian boy riding a horse came to me and informed me that my friends were waiting for me for horse riding. Of course, he doesn’t know how to speak English..He just tell me “horse! horse!”

Pictures that i took along the lake…look at the crystal clear water of Khovsgol lake…

This boy is about 10years old and can ride the horse well and fast. I heard that most mongolian boys started to ride a horse as young as 3 or 4 years old especially those that are from the countryside.

Technorati Tags: mongolia,horse riding,huvsgul lake,khovsgol,ger,eco tourism,social nature travel,eco travel

Horse riding in Khovsgol/Huvsgul Lake

Posted on October 25, 2008 by admin

Technorati Tags: huvsgul lake,khovsgol,horse riding,mongolia,eco tourism,eco travel,social nature travel

Horseriding along Khovsgol (Huvsgul) lake is so fun! Can u imagine we rode for 3hours and we experienced different kind of weather. We experienced the sunshine, the rain, the ice drop, the snow, windy and cloudy weather along the lake within these 3hours ride. Enjoying the beauty of the lake at different point along the lake. The scenary, the people u met and the natural surroundings is not the same along the lake. I guess that’s not only a path to discover the nature but the path of life…Anyhow, the journey of one’s life is full of discoveries, unpredictable with ups & downs. Due to all these differences, we then can differentiate what is life or what is happiness and what exactly we want in life. Anyway, it is our choice to think and lead the kind life you want. It’s a matter of thought and decision. Once u have a peaceful and clear mind, you will find your own path to discover the things that u need. Don’t you think so? This journey of mind is really awesome…I have never ride a horse for such long hours and along such a huge and beautiful lake..

Oh…while we were taking a break at a nearby shop, one of the guide grabbed me near to his horse and i think it scared the horse. The horse gave me a kick as i was standing somewhere behind the horse…Oh..gosh…I felt that i was caned by my mom on my thigh & stomach. It was really a hard kick but i think the horse did not use its full strength yet..Thank god! i am alright..just some light bruises..Anyway, this is my second horse ride experience! It is still a joy ride. These pictures were taken by my korean friends, Mr Choe..only the last two pictures were taken by me as the ride was too bumpy for me to take a picture while riding..

Getting to Huvsgul (Khuvsgul, Khovsgol) Lake

Posted on October 22, 2008 by admin

About Huvsgul

It is one of the country major tourist attractions also known as the "Dark blue pearl". Huvsgul Lake is located in Huvsgul-the northernmost province of Mongolia. Huvsgul province is mountainous and is 1500 to 3000m above sea level. It is the freshest, largest and deepest lake in the Mongolia with 36.5km in width, 136km and 262m in length. This Huvsgul lake also ranks second place in central Asia by its depth. Numerous flora and fauna inhabit here since it has many mountains, forests and rivers. There are about 30 kinds of mammals, 200 kinds of birds, and 10 kinds of fish in this province. Huvsgul Lake is also one of the largest tributary stream of the Lake Baikal in Russia.

Getting to Huvsgul

By flight:

For those people who are short of time, Flight is the fastest and easier way to reach Huvsgul from Ulaanbaatar. You can take either take MIAT or Eznis Airlines which cost around USD 350-500 for a return trip from UB to Murun. However, there are limited time schedule to Murun and the flights in Mongolia always delayed due to the weather or some other reasons. Our flight schedule should be about 5.30pm but my friends and I waited for about 2hours to take off. The flight journey takes about 2 – 2.5ours to reach Murun town. For those of you who have time may take 1 or 2 days to reach there either by car or van. I have heard that the scene along journey is nice and beautiful.

Bumpy ride

It was about 10pm when we reached Murun Airport and waited long for our luggage. Murun is a very small airport . As it was already end August when I went there, the summer was close to end and entering autumn. It was so cold at night when we get out of the airport and I was shocked that we have to take another 2hours drive to reach the camp. The road condition was bumpy and bad. Of course, there’s no signboard as usual. We were tired and I can’t really sleep along the journey as I was hungry and feel stuffy in the van. The road condition is too bumpy to fall asleep. I felt like throwing out along the drive and I feel difficult to breath as well cause it will be cold to wind down the windows. It was so stuffy along the whole journey…We then reached our ger camp at 12am…everyone was so tired and hungry. One thing I noted along the journey was that u can see the big bright moon is so close to you that you are able to catch the moon. I guess that’s because Huvsgul located in a higher altitude. The dinner became our supper…though the food is just simple meal with some rice serving with meat and salad cooked in the Mongolian style.

Beautiful Wild Flowers around countryside of Mongolia

Posted on October 11, 2008 by admin

You may see many beautiful wild flowers around the city and countryside of Mongolia. Just take a look at the pictures down here. You can see these flowers blossom during the summer time. These flowers looks small & tiny on the ground but the flowers has certainly beautify the steppe around Mongolia.

Technorati Tags: Mongolia,flowers,steppe,countryside,adventure

Nature Camp Stay in the countryside of Mongolia

Posted on September 20, 2008 by admin

Technorati Tags: nature stay,mongolia,nature camp,summer,cultural stay,countryside,kayaking,canoeing

What’s a nature camp? Is it fun? If you are a nature lover, probably you will like it….

My company organised a summer camp in early August to this summer camp. It has nothing but surrounded by mountain contrast with the bright blue sky. There’s a river nearby called the Tuul River for you swim, wash your hairs or take a shower if you want. Yes, no shopping center, no TV, no air-cond, no restaurants nearby, no cinemas… Oh, yes, there is no proper toilet but a wooden built house with no door and a big hole underneath for you to settle your business. Thus, it may be a boring place to some people who use to the modern lifestyle. It is certainly a good place to runaway from the hustle and bustle life of the city for me. A short stay of experiencing such a simple life in a remote area like this is certainly a good therapy to relax your mind.

Barbecue in the Summer with open nature surroundings

What I like most is barbecue in the summer of Mongolia. It may be hot and sunny but it is windy. Thus, it makes u feel not too hot to have barbecue. Of course, the food is the one that will make u enjoy most. Besides that, doing it with the surroundings of the nature. That is really awesome. Not like Malaysia, it would be better to barbecue at night and even that, u will sweat like mad.

Swimming & Washing up in a crystal clear river

The water is cool and cold although it is summer time. I was shivering when i was thrown into the river by my colleagues. Animals nearby will come to the river for thirst. As there’s no proper toilet for shower, i decided to dry clean myself. My colleague whose locals just walked to the river and wash their hairs along the river. It was a nice scene which i have took a picture of it…It was quite fun to play with the shallow water and canoeing or kayaking along the river is fun too.

Settle business in the bush

As I approach the wooden no door toilet…I see many flies around, I can’t really step in. How do I settle my business? Do it in the bush where it’s not so noticeable. It is more difficult when u want to do it at night as the bush will be dark. Thus, don’t drink too much water before u sleep. Well, i remember when it takes 4hours to reach KL before the current North-south highway of Malaysia was built, there is not highways and rest area for us to pee. My parent will usually pull over and asked us to settled along the road side. That was when we were small & ignorant. It is unbelievable that i do that again after so many years…out of no choice..

Does this consider one of the nature stay? I think so.

Flowers around Ulaabaatar(UB), Mongolia in Summer

Posted on September 20, 2008 by admin

Technorati Tags: flowers,flora,mongolia,Ulaabaatar,Ulan bator,summer

Do u know that the capital is usually crowded and the most polluted place in the country? This does not exclude the capital of Mongolia – Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator). What is so special about this place? Have u noticed the flowers grown around UB?

During the winter, this place smell smokey everywhere as people burn wood or coal for heating purposes. When comes to summer, u can see flowers blooming everywhere, people started to wear casually like Malaysia. Besides that, everywhere is grown with nice and beautiful flowers. Although it is being developed but u still can see nicely grown flowers grown every where – along the road side, walkway, and not to mention about the country side. To me, all these flowers have beautified the place with various colours and added lives to this place compare to the winter. When u have experienced the cold & harsh winter here, u will definitely appreciate the beauty of the summer in UB.