My girlfriend and I are thinking of taking a trip to Mongolia, but I know next to nothing about traveling there, as I imagine is the case for most people. Anyone who can give advice, links, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
It has changed a lot, but a great read is Tuva or Bust [and a bonus if you find a used edition that still has the flimsy record of tuvan music.
I have to admit I want to go to Ulan Bator for the Gengis Khan festival, and visit Tuva because the capital city has no proper vowels in the name[and I happen to like throat singing, check out huun huur tu singing Chira Xur
If you visit the Gobi desert, avoid flying aboard a rickety old C-119 “Flying Boxcar” airplane. The cocky, hard-headed pilot will attempt to fly above a dust storm, but fail, and crash. Almost everyone will survive the crash, but you will be stranded with a small supply of water and food. The aerial was torn off in the dust storm (before any distress signal was sent out,) so there’s no radio communications. There may be a guy on board who will claim that it’s possible to build a new airplane out of the remains of the old one, and that he can design it and oversee its construction. This is the delirium from thirst and heat-stroke talking. Pay him no heed.