September 26, 2001 – Ulan Bator

In the afternoon, after a shower and a sandwich, we joined our local tour guide, David, and had a tour of Ulan Bator. We stopped for a visit to the GANDAN MONASTERY, one of the few operating Buddhist Monasteries left in Mongolia.

Roughly meaning "the great place of complete joy", Gandantegchinlen Khiid (or just Gandan Monastery) is one of Ulaanbaatar's most amazing sights. Within it are several glorious temples adorned with gold and jewels. The 200 or so monks who live here do their bit to bring the temples back to life with plenty of chanting and ceremonialising.