Woke up at 7am to be the first one in the queue for a warm shower,
the apartment block where the hostel is located currently doesn’t have
hot water but there’s an electrical heater for one of the showers. Ate
breakfast and chatted to other travellers. It was pouring down. Went
outside at 9am in search of Khuvsgul Mongolian Travels office that was
supposed to be located in the City Plaza, 5th floor. I went to the
Aeroflot office instead where a guy googlemapped City Plaza. In 15 min I
was there but the Khuvsgul Mongolian Travels was not. Went around
looking, found an office on the 5th floor, unknown, a guy called
information and found out that the KMT office had moved two years ago
and was ‘too far for me to visit’. I got phone numbers for the KMT. Went
to exchange money. Went to the post office to buy postcards. Went to
look for the Mongolian Tourist Board that was supposed to be in the
Sports Palace. Looked for it for about half an hour inside out but it
wasn’t there. Was hungry and wet and wanted to find a cafe — the Loving
Hut near the main square. Really needed some tea. Did not find the cafe
but the foreign ministry. Went looking around, didn’t find the cafe.
Decided to head to the hostel to get a jumper, found the Loving Hut. Had
lunch. Went to the hostel to get my laptop, change clothes and go to a
cafe. In the hostel found out I have to find a new place for my last
night in Ulan-Bator before heading north, that is day after tomorrow.
Went to the French Bakery for a coffee to get myself going again. Did
reading on organisations actively involved in Mongolian tourism. Phoned
the Mongolian Tourist Board to find out their new address. I had a
feeling it might be at the Tourism Ministry, or part of it. They told me
to wait but never answered. I called again, they hung up. I called the
Mongolian Tourist Information, found out their address and went there.
Asked about the Reindeer Festival, got phone numbers that I already had.
Very helpful lovely people though. Asked about the Mongolian Tourist
Board, got misunderstood and given the location of an office where I
need to apply for the border permit instead. Took a bus and walked to
the office for the border permit (far). Was good to walk though a
residential area. Got there, found out that I should have brought a
letter in Mongolian and should come back on Thursday because tomorrow
(Wednesday) the presidential elections are held and the office is
closed. Walked back, took some photos, decided to pay a visit to the
Tourism Ministry. Found the Environmental and Sustainable Development
Ministry instead. Called a person from the reception desk. Got given
numbers of the director for the general planning of the Tourism Ministry
and the Env Ministry both. Got encouraged to contact them but got told
the ministries are closed on Wednesday as I’m leaving on Thursday I will
need to meet them when I’m back in July. Hopefully will have time. Went
back to the hostel to get a wire for my camera to make this blog post.
Chatted to a traveller who I had interviewed (read: talked to) earlier
to get photos from her trip to Norther Mongolia and exchange contacts.
Went to a cafe but the internet stopped working. Had more coffee and a
lot of cake (dinner). Came back to the hostel. Called another hostel to
make a booking for the next night. Easy and pleasant and surprising they
had space. Blogged. I guess the day is finishing, it is 10.30pm now.
Deciding to label it the beginning (rather than a failure of a day).
Should learn Mongolian as soon as possible. Sleep.
Some photos I took today.
Newly married on Sükhbaatar square.
In the search of the border permit office.
On the way from the border permit office to the ministry.
The road to the center. 
Nationalism is on. 
Selbe river and apartment blocks. 
A dog napping next to the Chinese embassy (emotionally descriptive of all the tourists who are refused a Chinese visa).
A graffiti in front of the dance and music school.
Many new apartment blocks are being put up.
