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Монголия была сложным испытанием для меня , и пока я находился там , я ненавидел её . Всё было проблемой . Еда , вода , дорога , люди . Странная штука в путешествии : как только ты покидаешь страну или город , ты начинаешь ценить ситуации , в которых ты оказался именно там . Монголия , явно , не одна из моих любимых стран , которые я посетил , но это , безусловно , уникальная страна , которую я буду помнить . И я ни капли не жалею , что побывал там .
Пока я эту пишу , я чистый , сытый , мне тепло и комфортно . Китай - это полная противоположность тому , что я испытал за последний месяц . Я починил « Стеллу », однако я решил перезимовать здесь . Найти работу и продолжить своё путешествие весной . Центральная Азия ждёт .
I packed my things the following morning and set off . Lots of the snow had melted now , which meant I had a lovely downhill , asphalt ride . Great ! I was enjoying the ride again , and by lunch had done over 40kms ! About 10 kms later I started hearing a strange noise coming from Stella . I got off and inspected . As soon as I looked at her rear wheel I knew my ride in Mongolia was over . The rim had broke , forcing the tube to protrude out from the tire . I felt nothing . Just stood there in disbelief . I couldn ’ t fix it so had little choice but to wait for a passing car to hope they would be able to take me . So far that day only two cars had passed me . So , I knew it might take a while ! 3 hours later of waiting and finally a car passed . They were going to the next town about 40kms away . I got in and it was dark by the time we arrived . The family of three I think felt a little uncomfortable having to housesit a strange foreigner , so they offloaded me too another family . They were very kind and interested in talking and I enjoyed my evening with them .
The next day was all about waiting . It took 4 hours before a car stopped that was heading to the Chinese border town . I was in luck with the lift that eventually did arrive as they were a group working for the Cultural and Tourism industry . One of them spoke English , so we were able to communicate . It was dark by the time we arrived in Bulgan . I was tired , and to be honest sick of Mongolia . I just wanted to leave . The border was closed on the weekend however , so I had to stick around another two nights . Walking Stella to the Petrol station early on the Monday morning I managed to get a lift with a truck driver heading to China . After unloading and walking into immigration I was at last stamped out of Mongolia . It was the 17th . The last day of my visa . I made it out just in time . Mongolia was hard work , and while I was there I hated it . Everything was a struggle . Food , water , the road , the people . The strange thing about travelling is , as soon as you leave you find an appreciation for the situation you were just in , and the bad memories suddenly become fond . Mongolia is certainly not at the top of the list of my favorite countries I have visited , but it certainly unique and one I will remember . And I certainly don ’ t regret going .
As I write this I am clean , have a full stomach and am comfortably warm . China is of vast comparison to the last month of travel . I have fixed Stella ’ s wheel , however I have decided to stay here for the winter . Find some work and set off again in spring . The Pamir highway of Central Asia awaits ….
“ Sam has been travelling consistently for the past 10 years . He has travelled extensively trough the Indian Subcontinent , Middle East and West Africa and has called Nepal , China and Ghana home for various periods of time . This is his first cycle trip , and possibly last big trip in general . After he returns to the UK by bike he plans to travel to India to start his study of Yoga . ‘ If you don ’ t know where you ’ re going , anyroad will take you there ’ www . anyroad . net ”