Backpackers' diaries: a spectacular journey in Mongolia | Travel | The Guardian

Backpackers' diaries: a spectacular journey in Mongolia | Travel | The Guardian: ""Ulan Bator," the tourist leaflet proclaims, "is more like sophisticated European city than Asian city." This is, to put it kindly, incorrect.

Still, it is Mothers' and Children's Day, and the Mongolian capital's rather unbeautiful downtown is alive with little girls in pouffy white frocks, toddlers in their smartest hats and sparkliest battery-powered cars, and street vendors churning out kebabs made with mutton and what looks like cheese but actually turns out to be salty mutton fat."

'via Blog this'

Mongolia's Tavan Tolgoi says no IPO in 2013

Mongolia's Tavan Tolgoi says no IPO in 2013: "ULAN BATOR - Mongolia's giant Tavan Tolgoi coal project is facing financial difficulties and an initial public offering for the mine originally scheduled for this year will not go ahead, the chief executive of the development said on Thursday.

"E-TT (Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi) is facing ... financial difficulties. That's why we stopped our coal transportation and export," Batsuur Yaichil, the head of Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi, the state-owned firm in charge of the project, told Reuters.

He said the government was going to provide assistance to help the company pay its debts."

'via Blog this'

China, Mongolia to deepen cooperation in mining, energy sectors - People's Daily Online

China, Mongolia to deepen cooperation in mining, energy sectors - People's Daily Online: "ULAN BATOR, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- China and Mongolia have broad prospects to deepen cooperation in mineral resources and energy, a senior Chinese official said Tuesday.

Zhang Xiaoqiang, deputy director of China's National Development and Reform Commission, said the two countries should enhance cooperation in mining and energy areas through joint development of big mining projects and construction of transportation infrastructure."

'via Blog this'

CNN's 2013 travel wish list - CNN.com

CNN's 2013 travel wish list - CNN.com: "Senior International Correspondent Ben Wedeman set his sights on Mongolia early in life.
"Back when I was, I think, nine or ten years old I read a book about Marco Polo, how he traveled with his uncles on the ultimate business trip to the Mongol Empire at its height," wrote Wedeman, who recently moved to Rome after an assignment in Cairo."

'via Blog this'

Smuggle Dinosaur Skeleton From Mongolia, Face Up To 17 Years In Prison: Gothamist

Smuggle Dinosaur Skeleton From Mongolia, Face Up To 17 Years In Prison: Gothamist: "A fossil dealer has pleaded guilty to illegally removing a dinosaur skeleton from Mongolia—where the fossils are the property of government—that he tried to auction for $1 million. Eric Prokopi, 38, had been charged with conspiracy, making false statements, and interstate transportation of stolen property. His scheme was discovered by the American Museum of Natural History's chairman of paleontology, who saw the auction listing and became very alarmed."

'via Blog this'

Sisters team up for charity ride through Mongolia - Lifestyle - Portsmouth News

Sisters team up for charity ride through Mongolia - Lifestyle - Portsmouth News: "Tracie, 42, who runs The Barley Mow, and her sister Debbie Stevenson, 44, the landlady of The White Horse in Gosport, plan to travel 200 kilometres through Mongolia on horseback in July next year.

Their expedition in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign is expected to last 12 days and they will experience all kinds of extreme weather. They also plan to camp out in the wilderness.

Though Mary made a full recovery after being diagnosed last year, Tracie and Debbie want to help those families that aren’t so lucky.

Tracie says she doesn’t feel too nervous about riding on a horse because she used to do it frequently prior to joining the pub trade.

But she is keen to get a few lessons in before her big challenge and is hoping Crofton Manor Equestrian Centre, in Stubbington, will sponsor her a lesson a week in the run-up."

'via Blog this'

Local painter takes art expedition to Mongolia - Times-Standard Online

Local painter takes art expedition to Mongolia - Times-Standard Online: "Local painter Susan Fox recently returned from her seventh trip to Mongolia. As she has done on her previous trips, she traveled the countryside to observe and photograph wildlife, landscapes, nomadic herders and their animals.
Fox kept a journal that she filled with sketches of a variety of subjects, and she also had the opportunity to paint on location for two afternoons in Hustai National Park, one of three places in Mongolia where takhi/Przewalski's horse have been reintroduced.
What made her most recent trip different from those in the past is that she not only got to meet and visit the studios of some of Mongolia's most prominent artists, she was also a featured artist at an event held Sept. 22 at ArtiCour Gallery in Ulaanbaatar, the capitol of Mongolia."

'via Blog this'

Mongolian detention 'taking its toll' on Australian - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Mongolian detention 'taking its toll' on Australian - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "An Australian lawyer being held in Mongolia over corruption allegations is still no closer to knowing when she will be able to return home.

It has been a month since 32-year-old Sarah Armstrong was detained in the capital Ulaanbaatar.

She is being prevented from leaving Mongolia while authorities investigate allegations of corruption against her employer, SouthGobi Resources, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto.

She is being protected by two guards at all times and the Australian consulate has her passport for safe-keeping.

Ms Armstrong's friend Luke Dean recently visited her.

"She's holding up well. Sarah's an incredibly strong woman, but it's certainly starting to take a toll," he said.

I hope this case our can be resolved very soon and she'll be able to travel out of Mongolia.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr
"It's been nearly 30 days now and we don't seem to be any closer to knowing if and when she's coming home.

"So, it's obviously starting to get to her.""

'via Blog this'

Mongolia without a yurt|Sunday Travel|chinadaily.com.cn

Mongolia without a yurt|Sunday Travel|chinadaily.com.cn: "The planet's most sparsely populated country is a land of contrasts, reports Lee Hannon, offering untold mineral wealth, smart new hotels and warm hospitality, but lacking the elegance of some other Asian countries.
An almighty thud reverberated down my spine as I turned to see the man crash to the floor of the bus. It's 11 am in Mongolia and I have just been head-butted by a local so drunk that when he staggered to take his seat, he missed - and accidentally propelled himself onto me. Nobody on the packed bus batted an eyelid. It was as if the overwhelming stench of alcohol had created a force field around him so strong that nobody dared go near.
Eyes wild, face wind-chapped and booze-bloated, he looked equally dazed and confused as he gripped the dirty floor like a child who had lost his step on a bouncy castle."

'via Blog this'

iReport: Eagle hunters in Mongolia | CNNGo.com

iReport: Eagle hunters in Mongolia | CNNGo.com: "iReporter Craig Smith was to Mongolia in October to witness the annual Golden Eagle Festival in Oglii County, western Mongolia. He submitted his iReport for "Travel photo of the day" assignment.

He says:

“The festival happens every year during the first week of October. About 70 eagle hunters came from the surrounding areas for the two-day competition.

The eagle hunters are nomads. The golden eagles are raised from birth and trained to hunt for foxes and wolves for their pelts."

'via Blog this'

CINEMA-TV - Dukha, ‘lost Turks’ in Mongolia

CINEMA-TV - Dukha, ‘lost Turks’ in Mongolia: "A new documentary film illuminates the life of the Dukha, a small population of people living on the outskirts of the Sayan Mountains in Mongolia. To make the documentary, titled “Dukha Halkı Kayıp Türkler” (The People of Dukha, Lost Turks), Turkish Atlas magazine editor Özcan Yüksek and photographer Selcen Küçüküstel spent two months living in tents with the Dukha, who speak Turkish.

The documentary film was released late last week in Istanbul. According to Yüksek, the Dukhas have a very different way of living compared to other people in the world, “This is a society living in the prehistoric age and speaking the same language as us.”

“They live the way people lived thousands of years ago. They share everything. They have egalitarian relations and there is no crime. Men are not superior to women and women are not superior to men. They are traveling on wild migration roads with reindeers,” Yüksek said."

'via Blog this'

Australian lawyer held in Mongolia

Australian lawyer held in Mongolia: "Ms Armstrong is a regular business traveller in and out of Mongolia as an employee of SouthGobi Resources and has been living in Hong Kong.

Australian consul general David Lawson accompanied Ms Armstrong and her lawyer to the interrogation. Mr Lawson was seeking answers as to why Ms Armstrong had been held by authorities.

The Mongolian embassy in Canberra has refused to answer questions about what laws they were using to hold Ms Armstrong in Mongolia and the nature of the investigation.

Mongolian media have speculated that Ms Armstrong was questioned by the Independent Authority Against Corruption over possible bribery investigation between SouthGobi and D. Batkhuyag, the former chairman of the Minerals Resources Authority in Mongolia."

'via Blog this'

Ts.Oyungerel: When Eric Prokopi was Arrested, Delivery of Another Dinosaur Skeleton Arrived at His Home | Ubpost News

Ts.Oyungerel: When Eric Prokopi was Arrested, Delivery of Another Dinosaur Skeleton Arrived at His Home | Ubpost News: "The following is an interview from the Undesnii Shuudan Newspaper with Ts.Oyungerel, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
-The Mongolian Police provided evidence to prove Eric Prokopi for smuggling a dinosaur fossil skeleton, and therefore he was arrested not long after. Does it mean the evidence had sped up the progress of the case?
-It was necessary to prove with undeniable evidence that a citizen of the United States, Eric Prokopi, violated the border of Mongolia, conducted illegal excavations, and illegally transported Mongolian valuable archaeological artifacts. Prosecuting organizations told that it would take time to prove that how exactly he did that. Actually, trial is set to take place in December regarding this case. The trial is pending to determine whether the dinosaur skeleton of Tarbosaurus Bataar was Mongolian or not, and whether it should be returned to Mongolia. We had no choice but to wait for the decision to be made by that trial. However, the Mongolian State Investigation Department, whose head has been recently changed, rapidly completed the investigation on this case, and collected and submitted evidence."

'via Blog this'

Mining-Company Lawyer Is Stopped From Leaving Mongolia - WSJ.com

Mining-Company Lawyer Is Stopped From Leaving Mongolia - WSJ.com: "MELBOURNE, Australia—An Australian lawyer working for a mining company in Mongolia has been stopped from leaving the country as authorities probe a case of alleged corruption, her employer, Rio Tinto PLC-controlled SouthGobi Resources Ltd., said Wednesday.

The travel ban comes amid growing investor concern over the investment environment in Mongolia, a resource-rich country on China's border."

'via Blog this'

Mongolian Nomadic Herders Get Electricity from Off-Grid Solar - CleanTechnica

Mongolian Nomadic Herders Get Electricity from Off-Grid Solar - CleanTechnica: "Over half a million men, women, and children now have access to electricity wherever they travel as they follow their herds of yak, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels around the 1.5 million square kilometres they call home.
“We are proud to be part of this effort, which means 500,000 people, or half the rural population of Mongolia, have electricity through portable and affordable solar home systems,” said Pamela Cox, World Bank Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific in her first visit to the country.
“Now, children can study at night, families can watch TV and recharge cell phones, enabling them to connect to the world while maintaining their nomadic lifestyles. This is one of many innovative ideas that we are putting to work on the ground to make growth more inclusive.”"

'via Blog this'

British man becomes Mongolian shaman | Ubpost News

British man becomes Mongolian shaman | Ubpost News: "By Cooper Baltis
A typical evening for Paul Diamond can include any number of things: an Indian fire ritual, yoga, a puja to Green Tara, a conversation about dream conceptualization, chi gong, a guided meditation, or a South American shamanic ritual. For the last twenty years, Mr. Diamond has traveled the world studying religion, mysticism, and indigenous shamanic practices. In September he arrived in Mongolian to study Mongolia shamanism. What happened next was frighteningly rapid and virtually unheard of: Paul was took an ancestor spirit in the Mongolian tradition.
It isn’t the first time Paul has brought forth a strange and exciting spirit. Years ago, he studied voodoo shamanism in Haiti. After an intense ritual of animal sacrifice, Paul was able to bring forth an African spirit named Legba. Legba is a door opening spirit, meaning that he has the power to open doors for those who call upon him. Doors of success, wealth, love are at one’s disposal but Legba is no fool, and is very hesitant to open a door without a good purpose behind it."

'via Blog this'

Roaming through nomads' land - SFGate

Roaming through nomads' land - SFGate: "Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan: With a name like "Lands of the Last Nomads" and an 18-day itinerary, MIR Corp.'s new tour for summer 2013 has to keep travelers on the go. It starts in urban Ulan Bator then visits reindeer herders, hunters who use eagles, and traditional folk artists as well as steppes, lakes and alpine regions.The base rate is $6,145, including internal flights. www.mircorp.com."

'via Blog this'

The FINANCIAL - EBRD delegation visits Mongolia for strategy consultations

The FINANCIAL - EBRD delegation visits Mongolia for strategy consultations: "On Tuesday 9 October members of the local press will be invited to a press conference allowing Mr. Freeman to summarise his observations from the visit. 

The EBRD directors will visit the capital Ulaanbaatar to meet existing and prospective corporate and bank clients and will travel to the South Gobi region to visit the site of the Oyu Tolgoi mining complex where the Bank is considering to provide finance.. ."

'via Blog this'

ADB Greenlights Mongolia's Sustainable Urban Transport Program - M.A.D. Investment Solutions

ADB Greenlights Mongolia's Sustainable Urban Transport Program - M.A.D. Investment Solutions: "“Ulaanbaatar is a boom town bursting with people and vehicles. For the long-term livability of the city, its growth needs to be managed to ensure it’s sustainable, and to allow greater access to the wide array of economic opportunities and social services available to its residents,” said Raushan Mamatkulov, Senior Urban Development Specialist at ADB.
Using a multi-tranche loan of up to $217.4 million, the first phase of the program will upgrade 7.7 kilometers of road and expand a bridge for a bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor installation, and also upgrade 14-km of electric trolleybus infrastructure, including electric wires, feeder cables and substations. The second phase will build three additional bus depots and upgrade 11.1-km of trolleybus infrastructure. The final phase, which will be completed by 2020, includes the further expansion of the BRT system."

'via Blog this'

Mongolian president visits Soltanieh Dome in Zanjan - Tehran Times

Mongolian president visits Soltanieh Dome in Zanjan - Tehran Times: "TEHRAN -- President of Mongolia Elbegdorj Tsakhia, who has traveled to Iran to attend the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, visited the Soltanieh Dome in Zanjan Province on Wednesday.

The Soltanieh, the mausoleum of Oljaitu, is an Islamic monument that was constructed from 1302 to 1312 in the city of Soltanieh, the capital of the Ilkhanids, a Mongol dynasty that ruled in Iran from 1256 to 1353.

The dome was registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2005."

'via Blog this'