jj wrote this a little while after arriving in UB, for the fine folks he is friends with on facebook. the roads have gotten even crazier since the start of school in september.

So what’s Mongolia like? I have received a few emails asking that question. First off, I live in a city. Not just any city but the countries largest at 1.1million, which is almost half of the nations population! Here in UB, we have lots of traffic. Lots. Driving here is crazy. If you thought it was bad in Mexico City, its nothing to UB. Specifically, the drivers here obey no laws. I have seen traffic cops on hoods of cars. Drivers are programmed to never stop. Today for example a car was pulling out of a lot behind me and ran right into me, expecting me to move. Instead I used my hand on the hood to keep myself upright. Despite all this craziness, I (and other expats) almost never see wrecks of cars or humans! And despite all the horn honking, this anarchy is not road rage. Rather its a city and it citizens dealing with the exponential growth of a city not equipped for so many cars. Most unfortunately bicycles are never seen. At least there are lots of carpools happening. Anyone with a car becomes a defacto taxi.

Due to the busyness of traffic I have to run early in the morning. Its ideal anyhow as the pollution from cars is at a minimum. I often see other foreigners running early. The bright sun and cool temps add to the peace of running through the various neighborhoods of the “Red Hero”