Mongolia

iamstop · 15-03-2023 5:08pm #1

I was browsing around on google maps and randomly landed on Mongolia. I started checking out the largest city - Ulaanbattar. If you drop the guy into street view you very quickly notice something pretty strange. The amount of cars is staggering. In some places there seems to be more cars than free road space. Has anyone here been there and can explain what is going on?

iamstop · 15-03-2023 5:10pm

Virtually no green spaces and I am starting to wonder if bikes are illegal. Couldn't find a single cyclist. What gives? Very strange place.

randd1 · 15-03-2023 5:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058288446/mongolia

A friend of mine spent a year teaching out there before moving onto Malaysia.

She said there's virtually no public transport, and due to it being sparsely populated, everyone drives. It wouldn't be uncommon for a family of 6 to have 3/4 vehicles, especially in rural parts.

She also said flagging people for lift is usually nailed on that they'd give you a lift and you're supposed to sit in the back very quietly. Drop them a fiver/tenner depending on the distance as a thank you is the custom.

15-03-2023 5:29pm

Bucket list place some time 🙂

iamstop · 15-03-2023 6:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120362802#Comment_120362802

When I was along the north coast of Jamaica there was a similar system. You get to meet the locals and chat to pass the time.

One eyed Jack · 15-03-2023 7:16pm

You’re after reminding me OP of a place I’d often heard of as a child - Outer Mongolia!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Mongolia

For no particular reason, it never occurred to me to ask, if that’s Outer Mongolia, where’s Inner Mongolia? It was like it just didn’t exist. But it does! It’s just not called Outer and Inner Mongolia any more.

cj maxx · 15-03-2023 7:30pm

Strangely OP I too was googliing Mongolia earlier ! A bit close encounters-like

Poochie05 · 15-03-2023 8:07pm

Was lined up to go there in June 2020 and then Covid happened ☹️ so still on my bucket list.

15-03-2023 11:20pm

Much the same in Ukraine and Russia. Colloquially they call them "Gypsy Cabs", all it really means is that anyone who owns a car can cruise around picking up fares if they need to earn a few extra bucks for themselves.

Generally speaking you recognise them as they will be driving the budget cars, ie the Ladas and so forth and they drive along the kerb. You don't make the thumbs up hitching gesture, you hold your hand out flat. The next driver going in the same direction as you will pull in, and rather than an official fare (since there's no licence) you just agree to make a "personal donation" to his petrol bill for giving you the ride.

Similar operation with the moped/scooter riders in SE Aisa, Thailand, Philippines, etc. People are resourceful, they need money, you need a ride, you'll find each other without too much fuss.

Leg End Reject · 15-03-2023 11:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120363212#Comment_120363212

I was going to mention a car might be needed to reach Outer Mongolia 😂 but I wasn't convinced I remembered that correctly.

Daisy 55 · 15-03-2023 11:28pm

There about 17 years ago. Arrived on Transsiberian railway. Got taxi from train station to yert we had booked. About 10 mins in taxi..2 accidents on route by being bumped by other cars. Roads were crazy. Intersections you just drove into and plowed your way through. Worth a visit…bumped into a fella we had known a few years back😀

Daisy 55 · 15-03-2023 11:29pm

Inner Mongolia is actually in China

Lavinia · 12-08-2023 3:11pm

A very dear friend of mine moved there about 8 years ago.. I wanted to visit but the cost of the two way ticket is insane.. 😶

Either way I'd love to visit Mongolia sometime.. pics they are posting on their fb page are so lovely..

Andrea B. · 12-08-2023 4:44pm

There was an annual drive from London in rough cheap cars.

I know someone who done it 20 years back. Scary stuff.

I guess shaky now with the Russian stuff.

cj maxx · 12-08-2023 5:40pm

Damn You op . I’d love to go now but I’m still getting emails about my wanna go Antarctic trip . Plus I’m not sure if hobbling on a walking stick is allowed 😡

Yurt2 · 13-08-2023 3:55pm

Little to no public transport. Was there in winter, punishing weather and the air pollution was wild. One of the ugliest capital cities I've ever been to - nothing to do either. Country is huge though and I suppose in spring one could go out in the wilds of the steppe and experience more "traditional" Mongolian life.