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More Mongol Rally Mishaps
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 12 September 2011
We've told you about our many flat tires on the Mongol Rally, we've shared our story of the broken exhaust, we've survived river crossings and even a broken gear shift, but our final obstacle came on the final stretch of the Mongol Rally to Ulaanbaatar.
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Deb’s First Photostory, Mongol Rally Moments
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 10 September 2011
What did we see on the road during the Mongol Rally? A Lot. I know that Dave always does the PhotoStories on the Website, but I had a few gems that I took during our 5 weeks on the road.
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A Ger to Remember
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 9 September 2011
It was at a Ger Camp just outside Khvod in Western Mongolia. We had seen many Gers (also known as Yurts outside of Mongolia) during our drive through the country on the Mongol Rally.
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Slowing Down – Mongol Rally
Blog: Ottsworld - 8 September 2011
Since we had made it into Mongolia – it was time to slow down and enjoy our surroundings. One problem, Rick had a flight to catch. He hitchhiked a ride with another team to Khovd to try to sort out his flight issues while Dave, Deb, and I took a slow day of filming and [...]
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The Car Takes a Licking but it Keeps on Ticking
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 8 September 2011
Driving an inappropriate car for 9000 miles across two continents during the Mongol Rally isn't easy. After surviving some of the toughest roads on earth in a 1.5 litre car, we thumb our noses at luxury land cruisers.
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The Mongol Rally – Punctures are Part of the Game
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 7 September 2011
I must say that we went through the Mongol Rally with very little problems. Our Nissan Almera bought by AllWaysRentals in New Zealand stood up to the harsh conditions and passed with flying colours.
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Mongolia Freedom – Mongol Rally
Blog: Ottsworld - 6 September 2011
At 11AM a border guard walks across the parking lot carrying passports and some forms, looking official with a stern look on his face. All of the teams perk up, and eyes follow the official’s every move; each wondering who will get the ticket to freedom. The official doesn’t say a word, scans the license [...]
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Lost in the Mongol Rally
Blog: Ottsworld - 5 September 2011
We are traveling in Mongolia with a map that is 5 years old. This normally wouldn’t be that big of deal, but in a country where roads are only dirt and they change every season as new tracks are made, this IS a big deal. Every day we start off confident of our direction. Then [...]
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River Crossings, Driving Excitement and Adventure
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 5 September 2011
We were worried about the river crossings during the Mongol Rally once we reached Mongolia. We had heard that we would have to be towed across flowing bodies of water and that there would be a possibility of our cars engine flooding which would mean game over for us en route to Mongolia.
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24 Hours at the Mongol Border
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 3 September 2011
We knew it would take a while to enter Mongolia from Russia during the Mongol Rally. We were importing a car to be donated to charity through The Adventurists after all and there is a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy to deal with.
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The Russian Border, Our Final Crossing
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 2 September 2011
It was Friday morning at 11:00 am when we arrived at the Russian border to get ready to leave the country. We knew that the Mongolian border closed on Sundays and if they had the inkling to take a long weekend, it could close on Saturday too.
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How To Wait at a Border – Mongol Rally
Blog: Ottsworld - 1 September 2011
They say patience is a virtue. I’ve learned to developed my patience through traveling, but the border crossings on the Mongol Rally kick it up to a whole new level of patience that is required. For our last border crossing, “Wait” is the word of the day…and night. This was it , our last border [...]
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Epic Trip #3 – the Gobi Desert 2011 Expedition
Blog: Solo Traveler - 21 June 2011
In this Epic Trip story a traveling couple goes separate ways for a bit so that Lauren can travel solo with the amazing Gobi Desert Expedition. A new article has been added to Solo Traveler
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How To Live Like a Nomad in Mongolia
Blog: Two Backpackers - 17 June 2011
Megan of On My Way RTW shares her experience as a nomad in a Ger Camp. Spending three weeks in the Mongolian countryside I was able to experience a little of what life is like for nomadic herders in Mongolia. Tourism in the country has begun to take off, but it is only a lucky few that benefit. [...]
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Mongol Rally by the Numbers
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 12 May 2011
As we struggle along with our planning for the Mongol Rally, we tend to forget just how much fun we are going to be having in two months time. Our great adventure begins at the beginning of Ju
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The Cheapest Way to Buy Trans-Siberian Train Tickets in China
Blog: Flying Coach - 28 April 2011
Shortly after our Egypt trip, Flip and I made a decision to go on our dream trip – the Trans-Siberian railroad. The timing was perfect. My brother-in-law, Daniel was finishing up his two-year assignment in China. That meant we would still have a place to stay in Shanghai, and Sophia and her family would be [...]
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Update from the Field: Earth Day, Celebrations + Exceeding Expectations
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 25 April 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky Kiva Fellows observed Earth Day by sharing projects initiated by their partner microfinance institutions and host countries and by celebrating Kiva.org's first batch of "Green Loans". The upbeat mood also extended to anniversary parties at MFIs in Jordan and Armenia, enthusiastic endorsements to travel to Colombia, and reporting on a great opportunity for Kiva clients in Mongolia. Fellows also visited with borrowers in the Philippines, South Africa, and Armenia, and took us on a typical commute in Mexico City.
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Photos That Inspire – Shambala of the Gobi, Sainshand, Mongolia
Blog: Flying Coach - 20 April 2011
5:20 am on a rainy day in September, we were the only travelers that got off the train at Sainshand, Mongolia. I never imagined that our visit to the Gobi Desert would be greeted with pouring rain. Our local guide ran to us in the rain and waved us into a van. She told us [...]
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Update from the Field: Social Quirks, Justin Bieber + Lots of Carbs
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 28 March 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky, KF14, South Africa While it may have been a slower "official" news week than usual, I can assure you that the Fellows are keeping busy. One Fellow spent hours searching fruitlessly for borrowers in the jungle, another has been suffering from serious gastrointestinal issues (aren't you glad he didn't post about that?), and the rest of us have been plotting something very special for the end of the week.
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Update from the Field: Fun Facts, Field Visits + Back to Basics
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 21 March 2011
Compiled by Alexis Ditkowsky, KF14, South Africa For many Fellows, this week was about getting back to basics: the borrowers. In between fun facts about Kiva Fellowships, doing database detective work, and reflecting on the internal dynamics of Kiva's partner microfinance institutions, Fellows found themselves in the field again and again, much to their delight and often to the delight of borrowers.
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Paperwork Around the World
Blog: Ottsworld - 24 February 2011
While in Jordan I saw all of the main tourist sites, but I also had an opportunity to get off the beaten path with my local host family. I had the opportunity to see a place few foreigners have seen; In fact, I am willing to bet that no foreigner besides expats have been there [...]
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Ten interviews with Mongolian entrepreneurs
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 23 February 2011
By Amber Barger, KF14, Mongolia A borrower verification is a thorough check of ten random Kiva borrowers of a field partner. It's used to verify the accuracy of the information published on the borrower profiles on the Kiva website. A borrower verification happens several times throughout the course of a partnership in order to assess a microfinance institution's performance levels.
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Happy Lunar New Year! How local traditions affect the business cycle
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 3 February 2011
Happy Lunar New Year! Сар шинэдээ сайхан шинэлээрэй, as we say in Mongolian. Today, the countries and communities across the world who traditionally follow the lunar calendar are celebrating the first day of the New Year! Boy! – Microloan demands sure have been high lately. The need for loans center around traditional activities practiced for [...]
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“9 Nines” – Nine sets of nine days of Mongolian winter
Blog: Kiva Stories from the Field - 20 January 2011
The winter technically began on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year – December 22. Although from October, families have been making fires to keep warm and temperatures have been well below freezing. Now we’re in the fourth set of nines in the Mongolian winter, the coldest set! I woke up this morning to -33 degree Fahrenheit temperatures in the capital city. The seasonal calendar greatly influences the types of micro businesses in Mongolia.
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The Power of Ten
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 12 January 2011
The Mongol Rally may be a thrill ride through deserts and over mountains but it is also a drive for a very worthy cause? We will be buying a car to donate to the people of Mongolia. Yes, whatever vehicle we manage to acquire, we will be giving to someone in need. We are raising the bar and setting high goals to donate an emergency vehicle like an ambulance or tow truck.
