Mongolia is one of those places Kenric and I had always wanted to go, but never knew if it was ever going to happen. So, when my schoolmates invited us in February to join them on a private tour, we said yes almost immediately.

Kenric and I landed at Chinggis Khaan (also spelled Genghis Khan) International Airport in Ulaanbaatar (also spelled Ulan Bator) around 6:00 pm. The drive to our hotel downtown took a little more than an hour because it was rush hour. The ride was very special to me because I didn’t know what to expect of Ulaanbaatar, yet I love it all – so familiar yet so different, unexpected yet not surprising.

Tomorrow, our guides will drive the four of us west to the Mongolia I have imagined and fantasized about a thousand times. I’m sure I will still be surprised. During the week-long excursion, there will be days when we resort to a “dry shower”, so I won’t dare to dream about WiFi. I’ll share photos whenever possible. Have a good start to your September!