Reading About Mongolia

Reading about Mongolia is a joy– so much history. And, of course it helps with trip planning. I suggest you start here:

Books

I loved this guidebook by Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs), and found it incredibly helpful, as did other tourists (and even my guides) who I shared it with! Since it was written by former Peace Corps Volunteers, I knew I would get good information on important topics, like toilets, food, and culture. Available on Amazon.com in hardcopy and kindle. I’d recommend the hardcopy, in case your Kindle loses charge.

I used this phrasebook, which was absolutely necessary in several situations. If you arrive in Mongolia without one, I saw some less good (heavier and bigger to carry around) phrase books and dictionaries in the Department Store in the bookshop floor.


Internet

This blog post by Nathan of The Open Road Before Me convinced me that Mongolia is the best ever place for me to have a vacation! He traveled solo in Mongolia in April of 2013.  Nathan is really nice, and messaged with me before my trip to provide additional information.

This Mongolia Travel Guide website is very informative, It answers many of the questions I came home with, since I didn’t travel with any fluent English-speaking guides.

Overland Discovery: Did you know that some people drive around the world? This couple drove from Germany, through Mongolia, around Asia, and then home to Germany again. I met them at the Fairview guesthouse in Tsetserleg. If you are planning to drive yourself around Mongolia, please use this as a resource. As described on the DIY Travel tab, you cannot depend only on published maps.

National Geographic has sponsored expeditions to Mongolia.  

Peters Wanderings – A blog by an American in UB

The Young Adventuress, an American woman, living in New Zealand, visited Mongolia for a horse trek tour in Altai Mountains (far west) in September, 2014. She’s a professional blogger, so takes trips to many places and writes about them.

Women in Mining in Mongolia. Wow! Who knew there was a website like this for Mongolian women, or any women?!? My aunt is in the mining industry, so I guess she would know. The photos on the homepage include one of a couple of women with a big furry bactrian camel. I love that photograph!

Mongolia Research Hub – another mining website, but by an Australian university. To stay within the Mongolia topic, use links towards the bottom of the page. Otherwise, you’ll end up in the university information, which is mostly unrelated to Mongolia.

Wikipedia gives an overview of the history of Judaism in Mongolia

Mongolian sports, which are played at Naadam, which occurs in early July each year.