What Lusi loves!: Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar

If you had asked me whether I would be going to Mongolia earlier this year, I most probably would say let me google the location first. So I'm glad to be given the opportunity to go to a destination some considered in their bucket list.

Note: I don't have a bucket list, yet. Wait, I really want to go US and Europe.

Here is the Land of the Blue Sky. Tell you the story later.

Ulaanbaatar is a relatively small city with only 2 tall buildings. The star attraction is the square which we passed gazzillion times a day.

Here is the view from above.

Close up of the statue of horse in the middle of the square. Apparently there is also a marker on the floor in the middle of the square which is the exact centre of the whole city. But we missed it.

Cute pink opera house juxtaposed beside modern tall building (with LV store).

One of the only 2 tall buildings in UB.

Shopping at the best department store (according to the locals) - State Department Store near the Square. Here is me trying on furry hats. I have a thing for hats..

It has the usual department store layour, as well as souvenir shops. The fashion items are meh, or perhaps the display is old-fashioned. Anyway who comes to Ulaanbaatar to shop?

Mongolia is also known for its cashmere. Below is the Gobi store which produced the best quality cashmere. Prices are reasonable too, compared to elsewhere. Cashmere is great for winter as it is lightweight and warm. Didn't buy much as I hardly travel to cold countries. The styles are so-so too. But I love touching cashmere and furry things in general.

I stayed at the Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace, supposed to be one of the best in the city. I expected more from a Kempinski brand, this feels and looks like a three, four star hotel. The service is also mediocre. The only plus point is that they provide cellphone rental with local number for free! and you can probably do some people watching. There are seriously gorgeous and stylish ladies going about the hotel.