Proudly Made In Mongolia

The deel is an item of Mongolian traditional clothing and remains an integral part of Mongolian culture. You can find plain and practical ‘working’ deels and then more ornate versions worn at ceremonial occasions such as Mongolian Tsagaan Sar (Mongolian Lunar New Year). The deels worn by Mongolian herders are an all-purpose garment. They are usually a […]

Slow Lane Tourism

Let Me Introduce You to Dakhar Dakhar calls the Tsambagarav Uul National Park his home. High above the provincial borders of Khovd and Bayan-Olgii Aimag in western Mongolia, this snow-capped peak stands tall at 4208m, surrounded by vast open valleys. It’s part of the magnificent Mongol Altai Mountain Range, and it’s where Dakhar has lived […]

Our Focus During Low Season In Mongolia

As a company, we call ourselves ‘manaikhan’ which translates from Mongolian loosely into ‘ours’ or ‘our people.’ Essentially, we’re a family – with all the same stresses, strains and disagreements that all families experience. But, then, also, the support, the unity and the strength that a family can bring as well. For those that know […]

Getting started: The Philosophy of Travel

“To begin, begin.” A deceptively simple sentence, yet its truth resonates deeply in the journey of life—and travel. William Wordsworth, the poet behind this quote, wasn’t calling for a complicated analysis. He was offering a reminder: to start anything, we must take that first step. It’s as straightforward as it sounds. But why do so […]

Real Life Is Everywhere

Look at the image above. It is not the most prepossessing image, is it? But I like it because of what it represents. It is the business plan of a young fashion designer who lived in the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city. I met her in 2014 on one of the best city […]

There’s no ‘I’ in team

I recently received negative feedback about certain members of my beloved team. But I didn’t pass the buck. Instead, I apologised and said that I take full responsibility for the mistakes made by my team members. When EL was first created, it was just Turuu and I as driver and guide. It was easier then […]

Making A Positive Difference Through Tourism In Mongolia

Any ideas? Any ideas what the image represents? This is how our group spent a day recently in Ulaanbaatar – the capital city of Mongolia – at a felting project run by the Buddhist NGO Asral. The group learnt how to clean the wool, process the wool, colour the wool & then how to create […]

Writing Emails Like a Woman

I am guilty of writing emails like a woman. Yes, I am a woman but it seems I am unconsciously using certain speech habits to soften my email communication. It was my Mum who pointed this out to me – looking over my shoulder one day as I was writing an email and reading the words […]

The Power Of Books

I recently read a BBC Capital article on why ‘microbreaks’ when working can have a powerful effect on your body and your mind – basically tiny breaks that help to ease your body and reboot your brain. What was interesting is that I read this article during such a break when I spent a few […]

In Love With Mongolia

One of my favorite quotes about Mongolia comes from Steven J. Bodio’s book *Eagle Dreams*. In just a few short lines, he perfectly encapsulates what draws me back to this incredible country time and time again. He writes: “Each time I return I see constant changes alongside the things that never change. I love its […]