The Trip to Lake Khovsgol

 The trip to Lake Khovsgol started early with a 530 am start for us. We had to be ready to board the bus for the airport at 7 AM. Breakfast was a bit hard to swallow at 6 so I just settled for fresh fruit. I did try some baked beans but they were stone cold and not as palatable as the Aussie beans. 


When everyone had finally arrived we were briefed on the events and boarded the bus for the airport. We arrived at the check in gate just behind another group but were processed pretty quickly.  Our baggage limit is 15 kg and ours were 20 each so we got a 50000 excess baggage cost. 

Finally on the plane and we were off to Murun to meet our local guides. We had two hyundai mini buses to take 10 of us and all our luggage. It was a tight squeeze but we all fit in. Our first stop was in Murun town for lunch and to do last minute shopping. Its funny how almost everyone went to the grog aisle. We came away with a bottle or 3 of vodka and a bottle of white chocolate and macadamia liquer. That should last us 19 days.

Back in the vans we headed out of town, stopping at a horse farm. Here they milk the mares and make fermented mares milk. We were invited in to taste the mares milk and then the femented milk. It is actually very nice with the fermented tasting a little like Yakult probiotic. The old man in the yurt was churning the milk for an hour before we got there. Back on the road again and they were slowly deteriorating. The constant pounding over the bumps was taking its roll on my lower back and neck. One of the legacies from my time in the army. 

 We had a few stops before we arrived at the ger camp and our final destination for the day. The ger or yurt as we know them is the tradional tent used by the nomadic people of central asia. They are very comfortable and even have a wood fire inside.

After a much earned shower and dinner we gathered around the fire for a while before retiring for the night. Somehow I got the wrong tent. I went to stoke the fire then realised there were 2 singles instead of a double bed. It was a bit of a talking point the next morning but not as much as someone leaving a g-string in the shower.



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