As depature date approaches I'm coming across more and more information about our destination that both intruiges and scares the life out of me. Here are some interesting facts about Mongolia that I certainly didn't know:
- Half the 2.6m population live in tents.
- It is the 4th most sparsely popualted country in the world with 3.9 people per square mile this compares to London at 12,335 people per square mile.
- Livestock outnumber humans 8:1
- Literacy is at 98%, UK literacy rate is 99%.
- In 2005 Donald Rumsfeld was given a horse as a present on a visit, he apparently left it behind ...what a shame it wasn't the other way round.
- The capital city is Ulan Batar, or Ulan Bator, or Ulan Baatar or Ulaan Baatar, or Ulaanbaatar??
- There is 1,581km of paved road in the entire country. We will be covering nearly 2000km within Mongolia.
- Gerbils are considered wild animals and infact the common pet Gerbil originated in Mongolia. They became so numerous there that the Mongolian people could no longer sleep at night because the gerbils were constantly running on their squeaky little exercise wheels (http://my.athenet.net/~hoffmann/biog4.html)
- The most popualar local drink is "Airag" or fermented Horse Milk.
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Where Are We?
Please Sponsor Us
We are attempting to raise £1000 for two charities Mercy Corps Mongolia and Hope and Homes for Children.
Hope and Homes http://www.hopeandhomes.org/
Work in Eastern European countries focusing on closing down the state institutions and removing children from the terrible conditions in these centres. The children are reunited with siblings, and where possible placed with their biological families. Other children are relocated to small family homes, which provide them with a loving, stimulating environment enabling them to reach their full potential.
Mercy Corps Mongolia http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/
Support rural communities to meet their economic and social needs, helping individuals, families and communities to become more self-sufficient, diversified in their production, and better linked to local, regional and national markets. Over the past five years Mercy Corps Mongolia has established a strong reputation across the vast Gobi region, and continues to work with business associations and local organizations to ensure a robust economy that preserves ancient traditions.
Please Sponsor us at http://www.willwemakeit.com/fundraiser/theseventyseveners
Hope and Homes http://www.hopeandhomes.org/
Work in Eastern European countries focusing on closing down the state institutions and removing children from the terrible conditions in these centres. The children are reunited with siblings, and where possible placed with their biological families. Other children are relocated to small family homes, which provide them with a loving, stimulating environment enabling them to reach their full potential.
Mercy Corps Mongolia http://www.mercycorps.org.uk/
Support rural communities to meet their economic and social needs, helping individuals, families and communities to become more self-sufficient, diversified in their production, and better linked to local, regional and national markets. Over the past five years Mercy Corps Mongolia has established a strong reputation across the vast Gobi region, and continues to work with business associations and local organizations to ensure a robust economy that preserves ancient traditions.
Please Sponsor us at http://www.willwemakeit.com/fundraiser/theseventyseveners
2 comments:
Well, this is not about you personally; However the Mongol Rally is already observed from the Asian side of the world.
http://mrjam.typepad.com/diary/2008/07/the-importance.html
If you send a comment: Then it will be about YOU!
Thought I'd let you know :o)
Cheers
Rika
PS: and could you please try and come back in one piece?
As usual Cédric your holidays are original and breathtaking for sure ;)
I hope everything will go fine with Ew'n for this long trip, specially when you are in some unpopulated areas.
Good luck for both of you. I will follow your trip on your blog.
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