We found the location that must have inspired U2 to write that song. We ventured out into the country beyond UB for the first time Saturday. Since we have arrived, the vast majority of our time in Mongolia has been in the city or just outside of it. However, to get a full taste of what Mongolia is like, we were told we needed to get out into the countryside and experience the vast openness of the Steppe.
Our journey Saturday was to take us to a religious site known as Mother Rock that is roughly 2 hours or 100 Kilometers from UB. Roughly is the best way to describe the trip. The first 45 minutes of the trip were on a paved road that was only slightly pocked with holes of various sizes. Once we reached a particular small country town, the road transformed! What had only been moderately bumpy quickly changed into a chiropractor's nightmare. For the next hour and a half, our poor Land Cruiser shook so hard we thought it was going to start loosing pieces. The road also went from a moderate two lane highway to a maze of 12 to 30 different lanes all criss-crossing back and forth across each other. The purpose for this is to provide drivers the option of choosing the lane that looks less bumpy.
Aside from the bumpy ride, we had an incredible time! It did not take us long after leaving the city to discover that Mongolia is truly one of the last frontiers on the planet. There were times when we could see miles of rolling hills and grassland without any sign of human presence. Other times we would be admiring the vastness only to discover a lone Ger complete with a heard of sheep or horses.
The trip, including a visit to Mother Rock and a Ger, took up the majority of our day, and we were exhausted by the time we arrived home. However, it was truly exciting to see and experience more of this wonderful country!
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