The final Dune image from my solo National Geographic Expedition in Mongolian is special for it is the scene that greeted me when I fell down to my knees as I made it to the top of the dunes.
I was astounded by the unique culture and rich history of this country. I did not know much before I went, but with the tremendous knowledge of Sue, my translator and guide, one of the best kept secrets I have stumbled upon was revealed.
There are no roads and no cell service, so navigating anywhere by yourself is impossible. You can either buy an expensive plane ticket to some of the regions, or have a local drive you.
I chose to go the driver route so that I could experience the landscapes in a way that felt more real. The drivers in Mongolia are incredible in their knowledge of the way to the Gobi desert and mountains in the north; they know the lay of the land from memory and landmarks so even with changing terrain from the extreme weather, no roads, not even dirt paths, they will always get you there.
People in Mongolia don't like to tell you a time when they arrive, its bad luck. Instead, they will say, "I am 200km away."
Distance gives people a better expectation on arrivals instead of giving a timeframe
It took three days and many hours of bumping our heads against the ceiling to reach our destination.
In the end, every jostle and every sore muscle was worth it.
манхан is Mongolian for Dune
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