Here am I sitting in Murun airport with the locals ready to board the plane to Ulaanbaatar and it hurts.

I have been on many adventures around the globe but this country has touched me the deepest.

I don’t belong in smog filled concrete jungles and don’t care for material wealth. I want to dance in open fields and fill my lungs with crisp clean air.

During the last 10 days I have lived with wonderful people who are self sufficient.

Every morning they collect water from the stream, use wood from the forest to; build their accommodation, construct a bed, put in the stove to cook and heat the Ger or Teepee. They respect and rely on their animals who supply their meat, milk, clothing and ride them to wherever they want to go.

There is no human waste pollution washing out into our oceans, instead, they dig a big hole. The electricity comes from car batteries and solar panels, there is not a great signal for internet connection and no real desire to sit in silence round a metal box. Instead, they sit round an open fire and talk, they talk for hours, discuss life and laugh.

As I observed them in their humble lifestyle and I realise it’s a harsh existence, especially in winter, but I witnessed inner contentment.

Now I’m on a plane heading back to city life. I managed to get a window seat and I wanted to be alone for the journey but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The adjacent seat was taken by a young Korean boy who fidgeted the whole flight. We wrestled for the middle arm rest a few times and he ate his food at 100 miles an hour slurping every mouthful- just great!!

An hour later, I arrived in chaotic Ulaanbaatar. It was everything I remembered, car congestion, petrol fumes and massive unfinished building work – welcome to the infrastructure of city life and the needs of those who live here.

How quickly I have slipped back into this lavish lifestyle with flushing toilets, crisp clean cotton sheets on a soft double mattress, a hot shower and a fancy restaurant with amazing food on the menu.

I pre-paid for my lunch and dinner in the original booking. I’ve already eaten a huge lunch at 1:30 and have been allocated 7pm for dinner 😳

My bedroom is a riot as I’ve emptied all 3 rucksacks then fell asleep trying to decide how to repack 😂

All I want to do now is get home as I’m just hanging around hotels here and Istanbul for the next 2 days. 🥱

I stayed in my room all-day apart from lunch and dinner. I’m not confident enough to go out and explore the city on my own. I was never blessed with a sense of direction nor the good memory needed to retrace my steps.

As I ate my evening meal, the restaurant began to fill with the younger generation as the karaoke was about to start – think that might be a step too far for me. I’m sure it’ll be entertaining (if you were 20 something) but I’ll head back to my room soon to tackle the heap of clothes I’ve left on the bed as I’m up at 5am to be picked up at 6am for the airport run – UB to Istanbul ✈️

Nite

😘