I’ve done it. I’ve changed the name of the blog.
Weekly is no longer involved because I cannot continue to make those promises. With a new name, I decided to pair it by writing about a new continent.
The city I have chosen this week is yet another city I have never visited, and it is also located on a continent that I have yet to physically be in. Additionally, the name of this city is one of my favorite city names in the world. Practice your throat singing, as this week, we will be learning about the Land of the Blue Sky:
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Things To Do
When coming up with a list of things to do in Ulaanbaatar, I began to realize the mistake of choosing this location. Not because there is nothing to do, but because the names of everything are an absolute dumpster fire to type and probably pronounce.
Sukhbaatar Square
Sukhbaatar Square is the central plaza in Ulaanbaatar. It is named after Mongolian revolutionary hero Damdin Sukhbaatar. The plaza is surrounded by the Government Palace (offices of the Mongolian President and PM), and statues of Mongolian historical figures such as Genghis, Ögedei, and Kublai Khan.
Gandantegchinlen Monastery
The Gandantegchinlen Monastery is a Mongolian buddhist holy site that was founded in the early 1700s. Its name means the “Great Palace of Complete Joy,” and currently, 150 monks reside here. At one point, the Dalai Lama resided at this location. The inside features one of the largest indoor statues in the world.
Zaisan Memorial
The Zaisan Memorial is a WWII memorial located on a hill in Southern Ulaanbaatar that memorializes fallen Mongolian and Soviet soldiers. Much of the monument is a circular mural and features battle scenes from the war that show USSR and Mongolian collaboration. From the top of the hill, you get a nice view overlooking the Mongolian capital.
Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex
The Chinggis Khaan Statue Complex is an absolutely fucking massive statue of Genghis Khan on a horse. This thing is heinously big, especially for a guy that raped so many women that a non-trivial percentage of people from Asian decent are related to him.
It was completed in 2008 and opened on the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongolian Empire, and built on the location of where he allegedly found his famous golden whip.
International Intellectual Museum
The International Intellectual Museum is ranked #1 on the list of places where the hosts of the Last Brain Cell podcast are not allowed to enter.
This is basically a puzzle museum, and features some of the world’s most difficult puzzles, games, and chess sets. It was founded by a man named Tumen Ulzii, a man globally recognized for his creation of logic games and puzzles.
So if you find yourself in Ulaanbaatar and want to put your mind in such a blender that you could add it to a smoothie, come here.
Gorkhi Terelj National Park
Mongolia is home to some of the most gorgeous steppes in the world, and if you know any history you know that the horse lords own the steppe. So if you want to see the steppe in its full glory, then Gorkhi Terelj National Park is the closest way to do that near Ulaanbaatar. There are buses that will take you to the park, which is about a two hour ride.
Restaurants
Shockingly, Ulaanbaatar is not known for their food, so I only have two restaurants on this list. I wanted to include traditional Mongolian dishes, but it’s mostly boiled meat and dumplings so if you want that, I’d just go to your local 3-star Chinese restaurant.
Little Sheep Hot Pot
I chose this one purely for the name and because the price range was between five and ten bones for a full hot pot. Don’t know if there’s a better deal in Ulaanbaatar to be quite frank.
If you’ve never had hot pot, it’s boiled meat and veggies. It is purely dependent on the seasoning and I’d say the Google Images represent Little Sheep pretty well for pictures of their food.
Hazara
This is the #1 Tripadvisor recommended restaurant in Ulaanbaatar. It is Indian food and has quality reviews. All I’ve got.
Nightlife
Everything I have read about Mongolian Nightlife has been overwhelmingly positive. Even the strongest of foreign drinkers can drown if they try to keep pace with any Mongolian.
UB (as the hip kids call it) features a bumping nightlife. Single men beware. A small subset of Mongolian men are hyper-aggressive to foreign men who try to lay thick steeze onto Mongolian birds. So be wary when flirting in Mongolia.
ZU Club
ZU Club is the leading nightclub in Ulaanbaatar. This EDM dungeon is sure to melt your brain while you enjoy some tasty Mongolian bevvies. I don’t know about you guys but going to a gritty, Mongolian, house bunker sounds like a top ten life story.
MINT
There are not many photos of this club, nor are there many reviews. However, the few reviews that I have seen describe MINT as fun and a little dirty. I’m sold.
Mojito Cocktail House
Mojito Cocktail House is one of the top rated bars in Ulaanbaatar. Why a cocktail bar named after an island drink is super popular bar in Mongolia, I couldn’t say. But I’d like to find out.
Choco
Choco is on the expat no-go list, which means Kyle’s Travel Guide is going to formally recommend Choco as a place to discover adventure. This is a new addition to the list, which will be recommending dangerous bars/locations/countries to travelers.
Safety and Don’ts
Ulaanbaatar is a safe place; however, during heightened tourist months the crime against foreigners does spike. So just follow typical traveler rules. Mongolians are very proud of their people and their country and are very welcoming to respectful, interested visitors.
That being said, do not disrespect their culture, Mongolians take it very seriously. Never refuse food or drink when offered. If you do not want the offering, at least take a few bites or sips of whatever is offered.
Do not point at people with a single finger. Also, when traveling, never estimate the time of arrival. Drivers believe that it brings bad luck to the journey.
Mongolia is one of the most right-hand centric nations, so if you’re offered anything such as food, a gift, or an extended hand for a handshake, always use your right hand or both hands to accept it. Also, if you bump into anyone, make sure to shake their hand.
Also, keep in note. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital in the world. Check the weather before traveling and pack accordingly; it can get very, very cold in Mongolia.
Getting Around
Getting to Mongolia is not too simple. Flights from the US usually have one or two stops, typically in Japan.
Once in Ulaanbaatar, travelers can use buses and trolley buses to get around the city. However, this can be confusing and complicated for foreigners, so most tourists typically take taxis around the city. UBcab is the rideshare app in Ulaanbaatar.
Language
Hello— Сайн уу (Sain uu)
Goodbye– Баяртай (Bayartai)
Thank you— баярлалаа (Bayarlalaa)
Please— гуйя (guiya)
Excuse me— Уучлаарай (uuchlaarai)
Restroom— ариун цэврийн өрөө (ariun tsevriin öröö)
Beer— шар айраг (shar airag)
I love Mongolia— Би Монголд хайртай (bi Mongold khairtai)