Not that you could call Ulaanbaatar a dyed-in-the-wool Asian city. You can feel the Russian presence even though Mongolians are fiercely proud of their independence.
In our efforts to research the effects of globalization on Mongolia's traditional culture, we've found ourselves here this afternoon to record one of Mongolia's centuries-old surviving traditions.
As I exited the train in Ulaanbaatar, I was surprised by the bustle of activity that greeted us: western-dressed shoppers moving quickly about the city streets and roads flush with late model cars.
A life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex stood placidly in the morning mist against the backdrop of a grey soviet apartment block.
During my brief visit to Mongolia, I was able to visit some of the museums, temples, architectural sites as well as take a few trips to the countryside. Please enjoy the pictures.
The search for increasingly remote destinations led me to fixate on Mongolia. I'm not sure why. But I decided any country with a capital city called Ulaanbaatar had to be pretty cool.
Chinese authorities make an unusual arrest in the Mongolian capital....
