Some Parting Thoughts on Mongolia

I expect I will have a bit more to write about Mongolia....but this is the last post that I started from WITHIN Mongolia. I have since arrived to Turkey and am now busy with orientation for the new job. But first....some parting thoughts on Mongolia. 

Mongolia is a LARGE country and travel takes time. I didn't see as much of it as I had initially hoped, but then I also didn't know I'd be leaving after just three years. So it goes! That said, this map indicates the major points/places that I visited/traveled to. I never made it far east or far west (Altai mountains). But I did make it south to the Gobi Desert and north to Khuvsgul Lake and a good many places out and around. Note that Ulaanbaatar is the red point on the map. I recommend you click on the map to increase the size so that you can see it a bit better.

In my final weeks of my living in Mongolia I was graced with my first paid writing gig. I've been writing some travel posts for Selena Travel Mongolia's Travel Blog. Thus far I've shared about Hustai National Park, the Gobi Desert, the lovely Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur, as well as this post about how to best be prepared for travel within the country (so many things I wish I had known before I arrived). There are more to come. It's been a great way to reflect on my time in this unique country, the places I've felt, the people I've met. 

For many months now I've wanted to share about an aspect of Mongolia (UB) which I did strangely appreciate. Many employers still have their employees wearing uniforms. And I don't just mean khaki pants and a polo shirt. The women wear smart fitting dresses--they remind me of what stewardesses wore back in day. The men also wear uniforms but it's usually a shirt and tie, not as cute as these I've captured here for you. I felt a bit strange taking random pictures of workers but wanted to illustrated what I describe. Clockwise from the top left they are employed at: Shangri La movie theater ticket office, AirMarket (plane tickets) office, and then the bottom two are two different banks--TDB (my bank) and then the National bank (where I had to pay my utilities each month). 

My "legal team"

Post Script:

July 31st marked my day in Mongolian divorce court (civil court) and I am relieved to report that after nearly three hours of testimony, counter-testimony, interviewing of witnesses, and so forth--the judge granted the divorce. I had a GREAT "legal team" there to support me--my lawyer, my translator, and two great friends. I am blessed to find/make a tribe wherever I go in this world. 

I'll be forever thankful for all the friends I made in Ulaanbaatar; now it's time to expand that network with new friends in Turkey!