20-Aug-2001 -- We travelled for two months in Russia and Asia this summer and we thought that it would be fun to visit a confluence point during our trip. Since there were no visited confluence point in Mongolia, we decided to visit the point 48N/107E, situated close to Ulaan Baatar.

Before we could start on our trip, there were a few adventurous steps to be taken:
1) buying a GPS in Kyoto (unexpectedly, the thing is simply called "GPS" in japanese and is not designated by some kind of poetic metaphor) - it seems that it is not a very well known device in Japan and Carlos had to visit all electronic and sporting shops of the city despairingly describing it in all details before finding one at last in a shop for extreme sports...
2) trying to understand the monolingual japanese-speaking GPS
3) deciphering Mongolian maps

After these few preliminary steps, we felt ready for the expedition and left on August 20, 12pm, after a good breakfast and a careful look at the weather (truly gorgeous on that day).

Since there were no public transport going close the confluence point, we needed to find a car and a driver (we did not feel fit to drive alone in Ulaan Baatar...). We were very lucky to meet Begi (Erdenbileg) who spoke Russian and German besides Mongolian. He was caught up by our enthusiasm, so that we walked together to the confluence point, once the car could not go any further.

Although we seemed quite close to the point when we had to stop the car, we still had to walk for about 40 minutes up from this point. It was actually a very beautiful stroll: the landscape was very scenic and quite typical from this region of Mongolia. The many edelweisses on our way reminded us of Switzerland, our home country (where actually there are only a few ones left...).

We first had to climb on a small hill on the top of which we enjoyed a beautiful view on Ulaan Baatar. As is common in Mongolia, there was also a small "ovoo" on the hill top. Ovoos are sacred cairns which are generally found at the base and/or summit of hills and mountains. After pausing at the ovoo, we walked down on the other side of the hill, went up and down on a further hill and finally reached THE point: 48N/107E.

After taking many pictures of the surrounding hills, pastures and cows and enjoying a small picnic, we walked back, happy and satisfied :-)

(more photos)