There is a photo album covering these two days. However, I am working with a very small computer with just a touch pad so the photos are not in order and I have been unable to type in all the captions as funny things keep happening. Also please excuse the spelling mistakes and typos as the screen is very difficult to read.

We have just spent an incredible 2 dayson a 'trip to the country'.Sounds peaceful enough but getting there was anything but peaceful.Mongolia is one big 4 x 4 park.Left Ulaan Bataar early Thursday morning in Toyota Landcruiser Prado with my friend Ariun andBold, a driver she had organized.My Lonely Planet Mongolia guide did say that all drivers in Mongolia are called Bold or Dorj!The first 50 or so kms was on a wide, flat, bitumen road but this suddenly ended(still under construction ) so now it was 'Mongolian roads'.Our destination was a monastry , Erdene Zuu Khiid, about 350kms from UB near the ancient capital of Kharkhorin.

It was a good run through to Erdene Zuu Khiid and we had a lovely visit to the monastry.It is a popular pilgrimage site amongst Mongolians as well a foreigners.By the time we finished our visit it was well and truly lunch time.Off to the stalls in search of food.One promised 'fast food' but turned out to be drinks and snacks.No Maccas out here.We found a place preparing khuushuur (fried mutton pancakes) filled the bill.I enjoyed mine, especially with the Polish sauce provided - don't know what it was because the label was in Polish.Zoe is still deciding her response.

By this time there was intermittent light rain.Bold mentioned another old motastery about 70kms away but over real Mongolian roads this time.Decision made we headed off to findTovkhon Khiid.Turned out to be quite an adventure.Swollen rivers from recent rain meant that some river crossings were not possible so much backtracking, direction asking, disembarking while vehicle extracated from hairy position, sudden stops at gully edges and lots of slipping and sliding before we almostreached our destination at about 6.30.Constant rain by now meant that the last bit of track was too steep and slippery for vehicles and besides it was too late to attempt to go to the monastery.

We had planned to camp but the cold, wet weather put a big question mark on this.After much asking, checking and negotiating with accommodation providers - one ger had no beds but would be warm however the floor was concrete.Another options was a room with one bed and rugs on the concrete floor but no oven for warmth.We eventuallyfound a family ger where we could stay for the night.This meant that the family would stay somewhere else for the night but this is fairly common as it givesthem a bit of income when the opportunity arises.We had a great night, warm and comfortable.It was like camping but indoors as we cooked our noodles on the gas burner.

Friday morning dawned cold, clear and sunny.Such a change from the day before so it was a quick pack-up and off to the foot of the mountain for our visit to Tovkhon Khiid.Some local herdsmen provided horses for a fee and it was off up the mountain with much uncertainty.The track was very muddy and slippery and the saddles were made of wood - very different from our Australian ones.Although I had thoughts of landing in the mud, as I was certain I would part company from my horse, the trip up and back was successfully completed.Once I got into the swing of it I found it very relaxing riding through the quiet forest.As we neared the end of the track we heard the sounding of the horn from the Monastery to herald the opening for the day.

It was a short climb up a very steep rocky path to the Monastery and the most wonderful view you could imagine.The photos really don't do it justice.

The way back to UB was a confusing as the way out.We still had to find river crossings and tracks.We had a picnic lunch of noodles at a lovely spot where the White River joins another one form further west.You can see the contrast between the water from the mines further west and the clear water of the White River.

We also stopped at some burial stones that were put there by the Huns who came from that area.The graves date from about the 2nd century BC.

We finally arrived back in UB about 8pm, very tired and ready for a shower and bed.