That's interesting I'm just about to start a massive project there on a big Copper mine, details
HERE It's a country I've not been to before so thats always good to go exploring somewhere new
So if you have any pointers on the country that would be useful for me I'd appreciate a heads up. Things like local traditions/customs food do's and don'ts, security. I'm going to be in mine accommodation which is similar to that on an oil rig so you are captive on the facility at all times.
Always good to know a fellow countryman thats been there
Far too much to list here but I do recommend Lonely Planet's book. In the meantime here are a few pointers:
The people are incredibly friendly (that's why I married one of them!). No matter where you are in that massive country (the least densely populated country in the world) you'd be invited into a local's ger (the yurt style transportable home all the nomads live in as well as many settlers around the edges of major towns and cities including Ulaanbaatar). Don't step on the threshold, do move round in a clockwise direction to the rear of the ger where you'll be invited to sit. Don't whistle inside the ger. There they'll offer you whatever food and drink they have. In the remote areas it's unusual for anyone to speak English, but sign language and big smiles work well.
Pretty much everywhere you'll be offered alcohol, either Vodka (Mongolian Vodka is the best in the world) or 'Airag' - fermented horse milk which is consumed by the gallon!! It's polite to accept the offerings but you don't have to drink (if you don't want to!). Just put the bowl (they rarely have glasses) to your lips, take a tiny sip if you don't want to drink, then pass it back to your host - almost always the eldest male in the home/group. Guests are always offered things first and it's impolite to refuse, but it's perfectly acceptable to not consume (although they'll laugh at you for every attempt -but not in a nasty way).
You'll probably also be offered snuff - take it with your right hand, remove a tiny bit with the tool in the lid (or pretend to which is OK), put that on the base of the thumb of the hand that's holding the snuff bottle, and sniff it (or nothing) up.
The food is "interesting". The simple diet is mainly lamb (generally boiled or cooked in a barrel with hot stones, and nothing thrown away!) or on special occasions they'll prepare goat or even marmot. A very popular dish is 'boortz': a kind of dim sum filled with minced lamb - delicious. Access to vegetables depends on exactly where you are and the time of the year.
'Time of the year' brings me to the most important thing. It gets cold in winter. VERY cold. -40 is typical. Yes, that's MINUS 40 degrees! So if you're there in the winter make sure you're well prepared.
Like everywhere in the world, security can be a problem. Just take the normal precautions and you shouldn't have any trouble. You probably have to be more careful in the capital than you would out on site.
One of my many Mongolian nephews works for Rio Tinto in Ulaanbaatar and you may well meet him, particularly if you have any IT issues. His English is good and I can let you have his email address if you want to PM me.
Enjoy Mongolia - you'll never forget it.
