___________________________________

One of the original 1985 Russian designed and built TB's.

___________________________________

___________________________________

In the last year of our stay, 4001 appeared on the city's streets with 4002 following soon after which was of a hubrid design and could work off line.

____________________________________

___________________________________

Gek gave Taiji classes each week for most of the time we spent in UB.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Our travelling companions.

___________________________________

___________________________________

John and Lyn taking a break.

___________________________________

___________________________________

No sure if these horses were wild. There was no gers in sight so possibly.

___________________________________

___________________________________

As viewed from the ruins of the temple distroyed by the Russians in the 1930s.

___________________________________

___________________________________

The inside of the building shown at the bottom of the hill in the previous photograph.

___________________________________

___________________________________

The town, founded in 1220 by Chingis, is on the old silk road and was the capital of Mongolia until Khubilai Khan, his Grandson, moved it to Beijing in 1276.

___________________________________

___________________________________

This mural is part of a display on the hill above the town and shows the extent of Ghengis's and Kublai's expanded empire.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Built in 1585, the monastery was destroyed in 1939 during a purge of Buddist monks by the communist government, during which more than 10,000 died

___________________________________

___________________________________

A great get-away from the city.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Stupendous views all round.

___________________________________

___________________________________

We took advantage to take our first country walk in a long time, Forrest Bathing.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Lunch time break.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Crossing the Ono, a do it yourself job. One of our jeeps crossed already and the pontoon on its return for the second. All a bit hair raising as none of us had experienced this sort of thing before. I did wonder how many vehicles were on the river bed.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Powering the ferry accros the River Ono.

___________________________________

___________________________________

We visited this senior citizen, his home filled with his collection of artifacts. Gek sipping a welcoming mare's milk.

___________________________________

___________________________________

He also was a gifted carve, having made this wonderful model.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Our last port of call in the countryside.

___________________________________

___________________________________

On the drive home, passing gers with modern high tech solar panels and satelite reciever. Amazing. Notice the ger's skirt up lifted to facilitate a cool air flow through the openning in the roof.

___________________________________

___________________________________

Well. Couldn't be more different. A refurbished city centre street ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games

___________________________________

___________________________________

Afternoon tea at the Raffles Hotel.

___________________________________