Weekend in Ulaanbaatar_Food Edition (including vegan food!)

Ah yes, one of the best parts about traveling: food!

I've heard Mongolia's meat of choice is lamb, so I was both excited and relieved. Most of Asia's meat staple is pork. I stay away from pork as much as I can (which can be a challenge in Asia). Lamb, on the other hand, is very much ok. I also don't have the opportunity to eat much lamb meat in Korea. Lamb just isn't that popular in Korea (then again, it is hard to find sheep in Korea, generally speaking).

Now I was in Ulaanbaatar, let me find some traditional meals I can enjoy with a clean conscience and unaffected digestive tract.

Simple Mongolian Dumplings

1 simple but delicious dumpling.

Oh, can you imagine the smell and the broth?

1,600 MNT = 58 cents USD!!! That's for 2 dumplings!

Seeing how cheap Mongolia is, I was very encouraged to try and buy as much as I could. 

Luna Blanca Vegan Restaurant

In carnivorous Mongolia, imagine how shocked I was to find Luna Blanca Vegan Restaurant in Ulaanbaatar. Sure, it was in a Buddhist center, but still. I was utterly shocked. I had to go in and check it out!

Inside the gate, you see the sign on the right.

Said gate

I took the liberty of capturing the entire menu for you. I'm not vegan, but that didn't stop my mouth from watering and debating about which dish(es) to order.

Remember, as you look at the prices that USD 1 = 2,747 Mongolian Tughrik.

View from my seat

A couple of traditional Mongolian musical instruments

Lovely place, right?

My order: Mongolian Plate Combo (14,500 MNT)

See how HUGE this was?

Oh, look inside that vegan dumpling.

This one too

Hahaha, I have conquered!
What's for dessert?

Vegan cheesecake!

It didn't stand a chance.

18,600 MNT = $6.77 USD TOTAL!!!

Here's the building.
You seriously have to check this place out, even if you're not vegan.
Seriously, when and where can you stuff yourself with vegan cuisine for less than $7 USD? 

I returned the next day.
My order this time: "Flour Power" for 8,500 MNT

Dessert: Vegan chocolate cake

Seriously reminded me of Vienna's Sachertorte.

 Loving Hut--in Mongolia too?

I know it's an international vegan restaurant chain. I saw them in Korea.
I had no idea I'd see any vegan restaurants in Mongolia.
Now I've seen 2 just a few meters from each other!

 Toyoko Inn Breakfast

I went to a hostel when I first arrived, but I felt that I needed a hotel. Seeing the prices and knowing there was a Toyoko Inn in the city, I thought I'd go and get a room.

I went ahead and got a club card. If you compare all the prices together (of where you could join), Mongolia has the cheapest one-time membership fee! See for yourself.

This is a great Japanese budget hotel chain. Highly recommended!

Alright, enough about the hotel. How is their breakfast? Scroll on.
(Deepest apologies for the bad photo quality)

Juice/coffee/tea/milk bar

Apologies for the blurriness.

My plate.
I was delighted with this breakfast.

Oh, and the single room was perfect for me. The bed felt like heaven.

Weekend in Mongolia (4 months late >.<)

Happy 2020, the Year of the Rat, everyone!

I feel like a rat. You don't know how behind I am with posting travel pictures. Can you believe I finished posting my photos and videos from Hokkaido, Japan, just this month? I went back in August!!!

I'm desk-warming at school now. I have time and no excuses. Let's do this...

From October 3 - 6, I went to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I had plans to explore outside the capital, but the weight of realizing I was there for really only 2 full days, I decided to stay in the capital. I really want to go back and give Mongolia the time it deserves (I'm thinking 2 weeks at least). I traveled solo this time, but I want to explore Mongolia with someone next time (LORD-willing).

Let me share a few random snapshots.

Mongolian Airlines

I flew Mongolian Airlines from Busan, South Korea, direct to Ulaanbaatar. I could've also flown with AirBusan, but MIAT was cheaper, and I wanted to experience a different airliner.

Very smooth flight there

The food was alright.

We've landed!

Chinggis Khaan International Airport

Behold, Chinggis Khaan International Airport

Thank you, I feel welcomed.

Walking around departures, you see the portraits of the different Khan's.

Yep, that's it. This is probably the smallest international airport I've ever landed in.
I hear they're building a new one, and it should be done by April or May this year.

Some unique Mongolian things

Language nerd excited to see different types of written script at a bookstore.

Mongolian money (front)

 blurry Mongolian notes (back)

For currency exchange rates, click here. If you want a quick reference, 

1 USD = 2, 747 Mongolian Tughrik

1 Euro = 3,027 MNT

1 GBP = 3,576 MNT

1,000 KRW = 2,336 MNT

1 ZAR = 188 MNT

Seriously, your money can stretch very far here.

Did I catch your attention?

Here's a dedicated videographer for a wedding party as they drove by.

At the main post office.

Gotta love how the "International" bin is clearly marked.

This doesn't come across as very useful unless you only drink after your workout session.

Those who know the Spanish channel "Univision" would be tickled to see this.

There are a few gers up this hill.

Across the street is the same neighborhood from the previous picture.

That bus is an old Korean bus (wanna bet it's from Seoul).

Very simple (and empty) check-in counter--but that's because this is not the one used.

... and welcome to Mongolia!

Let's explore more of Ulaanbaatar in the next posts (hopefully done and posted before July).