Erlian is not cool and anyone who says otherwise is a liar

Everything is written in Chinese, Mongolian, and Inner Mongolian. (The russian looking writing is Mongolian) They have such a false economy, there are tons of buildings and lots of construction, but with a population of 20,000, they are all vacant. It’s really quite creepy. Huge hotels and streets of modern buildings, all empty. It looks like a life-size version of a ‘model-city’ in the middle of a desert. There is nothing around Erlian except the Mongolian border, which isn’t anything to write home about. It’s trips like these that remind me of the phrase, “This is the first and the last time…" 

These Soviet-era jeeps are also the only cars that can transport people across the border, which of course comes with a fee. I was in Mongolia for close to 5 minutes. At which point I decided to buy Mongolian liquor with a dead snake in it. Mexican tequila with a worm has got nothing on this stuff. 

Finally...

Moving into Fall weather here in Beijing. The days aren’t humid, cool breezes blow by and there were actual clouds in the sky, compared to the usual haze of smog. I’m told that September/October are the best months for Beijing weather. All too soon, Winter hits and the air is yellow because everyone is running their heaters 24/7.

Headed to Mongolia in a week or so for a visa run. Not too exciting, just your run of the mill border crossing after countless hours on a charter bus. It’ll be nice to get out of Beijing though.