This is a continuation of my first post from Mongolia, about the Central region. Look through that first.

I have even less energy to write now than I did three days ago, but since I will only have wifi for the next 10 hours (and I hope to sleep for 7 of those), I have no option but to give you a mediocre post. I am tired in a good way, and have been busy horse riding. More on that later. Now here are some photos of my time in the Gobi Desert:

Our ger by the Öngii monastery ruin. Most of the temples and monasteries were destroyed by the Russians in the 1920s.

Desert town

Our ger near Bayan-Zag, one of the most dinosaur fossil rich places in the world.

Out for a camel ride!

This is an area called “Khongoryn Els” which has some of the tallest sand dunes in Mongolia, as well as this oasis area. Amazing.

We hiked and crawled up one of the tallest (300 m) dunes. They are called the “Singing Dunes,” and we couldn’t tell why until we got close to the top. When the wind hits them you can feel the sand vibrating, and it makes a sound like a jet engine hum. Absolutely amazing experience.

Yoliin Am strictly protected area. Supposedly there are snow leopards here!

It was cold.

“Mongolian Highway”

Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs

Adaatsag Soum, one of my favorite places.

The ruins of Baga Gazariin Chuluu monastery. There were 100 monks here before the Stalinist purges. When the government came back to turn it into a boys camp later they found all of these birch trees; the legend is that they are the monks come to reclaim the valley. A special place.

Again, my apologies for not giving you a better post. I am flying to Western mongolia in the morning, so expect another gap in my posts for about a week. I promise more information and thoughts and feelings to come!