Hi,
I'm booked on wilderness trip in August and am really quite worried about the milky tea. I have been looking at Mongolia for the past few years and have always been put off by the food. I have finally plucked the courage to do it, but my main concern is the tea - I can not stomach tea with milk at the best of times, is there any way around it - I can not stand the smell of any milk let alone the taste - I would hate to appear rude in any way to the locals but I truly doubt I would be even able to stomach even a mouthful.
I would appreciate any advice you could give me on this, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this info or if I should wait until I get there and discuss it with the tour leader.
Thanks a bundle
Jen ![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Thanks Brendan - I think I may take a little more than tea bags with me, but I will at least give everything else a try - I may even enjoy it.![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Hi Jen
I would love to hear about your Mongolian experience when you return. My husband and I hope to take that trip next year. How are you getting to and from Ulan Batur from Sydney?
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Hi Lois
Flying Malaysian to Beijing then MIAT air from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar. Costing around $1800 all up including taxes - I could have done it around $100 cheaper but chose to use above airline and slightly more expensive class for frequent flyer points.
The Beijing to UB leg was $594.40 tax incl - I don't know if you can get better, I found it very difficult to find prices to UB on internet so booked through travel agent. I think there are other airlines like China East that fly to UB from Beijing but decided to do the Mongolian airline.
One thing, it works out cheaper to get cheap flight to Beijing then add UB leg than trying for combined (does that make sense?) - cheapest quote I could get was 17++ before taxes which are around 200-250 making total close to $2000.
I don't know if this is of any help or if you wanted all the detail but there you go....
And by all means I will definately tell you my thoughts on the trip on my return.... I am so excited, I have wanted to do this for some time now.![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Jen
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Hi Jen,
You will have a great time in Mongolia - I went last year and still think of it as my best ever trip.
When you visit a ger you will get offered the milky tea but if you ask the interpreter to explain why you can't drink it then I'm sure the hosts will not be offended. You could even offer to share your tea with them and they will try it. Last year one local lady we visited spent ages eating a sandwich we offered her, only to eventually admit when questioned that she didn't like it! As Brendan says it is each to their own and if you are friendly and polite it's unlikely you will cause offence.
I hope you have a wonderful time and if you have more questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Thanks, Jen, for all the detail. I organise a lot of international travel where I work and am always interested in this sort of thing. We hope to have some extra time and thought of doing something like flying to Hong Kong and travelling by train and then maybe using the Trans-Siberian to Moscow where we have friends. If it works out too time consuming, I'll keep a note of your arrangements.
Thanks again.
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for your advice, I will make sure I bring enough tea/coffee.
I was thinking of taking some small gifts with me, what would you suggest?
I was thinking balloons, coloured pens (for kids) and maybe dried fruits and nuts for households. If you can suggest anything that may better suit I would really appreciate your ideas. I have a few days in Beijing prior to joining the trip, so if there is anything that could be picked up along the way you can think of - maybe cigarettes?
Re: Mongolian cuisine
hi Lois,
I really envy you going on the train journeys - I love trains - I unfortunately can't get the extra time of work. I'll settle for a few days in Beijing. Next time maybe..![[Smile]](smile.gif)
jen
Re: Mongolian cuisine
Hi Jen,
Thanks for your reply. In terms of small gifts for families in gers you might call in on, I'm sure dried fruit and nuts would go down very well. Likewise pens and anything that the children can use at school. I don't think balloons would be good for the environment - although they would be great fun they would soon blow away and get popped, and would not break down into the earth.
Many of the Mongolian men I met did smoke (unfortunately!), and other travellers on my group were sharing their cigarettes, which was also very well received.
Another thing which I came across was that if you take photos of the inside of a ger, the hosts like it if you can send them copies afterwards. If you can do this they will be really pleased to keep the photos - just get them to write the address down in Mongolian and send the photos as soon as possible to try and make sure the family don't move before they get them.
I think it's a good idea also to make sure that you give these gifts when you are guests in someone's ger, as a gesture of thanks to their hospitality, rather than just to kids/people you meet on the way (as that could encourage begging from future travellers). It's very thoughful of you to take these things and I am sure they will be appreciated. The tour leader and interpreter on the tour can also give you advice on giving gifts once you are there.
Have a wonderful time!