It has been a while since we last featured someone in “Ubiers”. Now we are back. This time, we interviewed the guy who has profession of “an explorer” in the countryside of Mongolia. But his exploration activities do not end in the countryside. He also loves to explore in the sky. So, let us know who he is and how he explores both on the ground and in the sky.
Lets start our interview with a simple question. Do you enjoy living in Mongolia?
Oh yeah, I have been living almost 6 years now. It is already home, actually place where I have lived for the longest since leaving my parents’ house, which was almost 20 years ago.
How long do you plan to stay here?
I do not have an end plan; I am just here until life changes. I am pretty good at entertaining myself. I do not think I am getting bored. If anything, I am getting more interested in Mongolia.
Was it easy or difficult to socialize and make friends at first?
I found Mongolia very friendly. When I first came here, I actually did not have any expat friends. All of my friends are Mongolian, mostly from workplace at first. Then, I was going out and making Mongolian friends gradually. But, for last two years, I started to know and making friends with real expats. It is backwards compared to others.
Please tell us more about yourself and your job?
I came here in May, 2010 to start the job with a small oil company. I am geologist. I mostly work in Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor and Uvurkhangai provinces. We have been working for 5 years and hopefully, we are expected to try first drilling for oil in coming years. It is huge project; our block is 700 km wide and 200 km long. It is actually as same size as Ireland. I need to walk a lot because of my job. That is interesting part of it. Most expats live in the city. I think I am very lucky spending a lot of time in countryside and got to know certain parts of the country very well, which keeps me really interested.
Then, I come back to Ulaanbaatar in winter. Being able to spend few months out there in countryside breaks up the year and makes it interesting. I always like coming back to the city after spending few months in the countryside. UB is a great city.
So you did not have any problem with getting adjusted to life in here?
No I do not have. Everyone talks about air pollution for example. I get almost used to it – that is scary. I would just say that air pollution is much less in last two years, probably because of windier conditions. But, it was very difficult for first two years – you almost chew air.
What do you miss most from your life back in your home town?
What I missed most is sports I liked to do. I am not very much interested in team sports. I am more into extreme sports. For instance, the Sky Resort is excellent for skiing though it is not enough for such extreme moves. I did not have a mountain bike when I first moved here. I did not have a chance of biking for first couple of years. I am also skydiver and base jumper. There is no real skydiving facility here. But, I did make friends with some of military and search in rescue jumpers. So by the second year, I started to get my sports back and now I have just stared sports club “Wild Nature Sports” here in Mongolia, with aim to introduce and to promote extreme sports in Mongolia. For example, we organized mountain bike race in last summer. I have already done some parachute jumping.
Have you already started training courses for extreme sports?
We have not started yet, especially skydiving which people mostly ask about. We are hoping to start training within next couple of years combined with skiing, mountain biking, off road driving and climbing. I started the club with mountain climbing and skiing friends. I have another group of people specialized in mountain biking. There are other friends doing other extreme sports. I am trying to gather all friends doing extreme activities to make all the opportunities available for people.
Are there any Mongolian people in the club?
Usually, I am the only foreigner in the club. I can speak Mongolian a little bit and try to communicate my Mongolian friends with Monglish while they also speak English a little bit. I am not very good at deep conversation in Mongolian. But I am getting better especially in countryside where I have to use it. I know more words about countryside life and city life, so that my vocabulary is always improving. I can say that I am no longer worried about communicating.
As you said, you visit western regions of Mongolia a lot. How about other parts and have you visited there yet?
I have been living here for six years but I have never seen Gobi area. Unfortunately, there is no time for me to visit to eastern or southern regions since my job travel is always about heading to western areas.
I saw the video in which one guy does base – jumping from a building in Ulaanbaatar city. Do you know the guy?
Actually, I am that guy. I did some base jumping in Mongolia. I did post a video of base jumping in 2014, which collected over 20 thousand views within two days. It is getting more popular in Mongolia. One of the groups we are working with is called “Base jumpers without borders”. I am hoping club “Base jumpers without borders’ is going to bring some other base jumpers and trainers to the country. There are many good skydivers in Mongolia, who are eager to learn how to base jump. One of the main goals working with “Base jumpers without borders” is to do base jumping from the highest buildings in Ulaanbaatar city for charity and raising money to help local schools, orphanage and people who need help. The hardest part is to reach an agreement with building owners over base jumping. Best building for base jumping is “Shangrila” building because it has best landing area.
Mongol BASE 2 from Wild Nature Sports on Vimeo.
You said that you have already done some base-jumping in the city?
Yeah, I have done base-jumping from several tall buildings in the city. Base jumping is very dangerous but it is what I like most.
Base-jumping is not a crime. It is sport as same as other extreme sports. I want to show positive view of base jumping in the city, so that more people are going to understand. It is exciting because it is dangerous. It can be done safely. Hopefully, we can do it.
Also, I do skydiving regularly at Nisleg center, which is a flying community.
Are you living alone or with family here?
I came here with my dog. He is the happiest immigrant in Mongolia because there are so many animal parts all over the city such as bones. He works with me in the countryside and loves it out there. I have a girlfriend who also does skydiving, with the certificate of skydiving received after doing three month training in USA.
How did you come to Mongolia?
One of my old university professors was asked by the company I am working for to be exploration manager in Mongolia. Oil and gas industry had not been highly developed in Mongolia, which means there was lack of experience. They brought him as experienced professional. When he came here, he brought me and one other expat. And, we started exploration operations as team. However, my professor already left with the guy who came with us after their contracts finished.
What are your top tips for foreign people coming to Mongolia to live for long period of time?
Don’t be scared of it but don’t expect it as same as your country. It is going to be different and difficult sometimes. To me now, I know where all things are. It does not make me crazy anymore. So, just be open-minded and be cool to new culture. Mongolia is different from other Asian countries. It has own thing and might be a little more wild. If you are coming to UB, you will find everything you need. If you are coming to countryside, just have a fun.
How is the cost of living here?
You know, it is very strange thing because it is more expensive than where I was living in USA, including my apartment rent and food. That is difference. Developing countries are usually different.
What would be your dream expat destination?
I really like Europe for different reasons. If it is not Europe, it might be South America. I like Argentina where there are big mountains where I can try my extreme sports. It is all about choosing mountains first and then place.
If you can, what would you have changed here?
There is certainly nothing I can change. I feel Mongolia is going to change in good way for next 5-10 years. Mongolia is very old country and has old culture. But it is actually very young, when it comes to democracy and new structure of government. So, there will be a lot of change going to happen. I do not think Mongolia has a huge problem.
98classMPA from Wild Nature Sports on Vimeo.
It has been a while since we last featured someone in “Ubiers”. Now we are back. This time, we interviewed the guy who has profession of “an explorer” in the countryside of Mongolia. But his exploration activities do not end in the countryside. He also loves to explore in the sky. So, let us know who he is and how he explores both on the ground and in the sky.
Lets start our interview with a simple question. Do you enjoy living in Mongolia?
Oh yeah, I have been living almost 6 years now. It is already home, actually place where I have lived for the longest since leaving my parents’ house, which was almost 20 years ago.
How long do you plan to stay here?
I do not have an end plan; I am just here until life changes. I am pretty good at entertaining myself. I do not think I am getting bored. If anything, I am getting more interested in Mongolia.
Was it easy or difficult to socialize and make friends at first?
I found Mongolia very friendly. When I first came here, I actually did not have any expat friends. All of my friends are Mongolian, mostly from workplace at first. Then, I was going out and making Mongolian friends gradually. But, for last two years, I started to know and making friends with real expats. It is backwards compared to others.
Please tell us more about yourself and your job?
I came here in May, 2010 to start the job with a small oil company. I am geologist. I mostly work in Gobi-Altai, Bayankhongor and Uvurkhangai provinces. We have been working for 5 years and hopefully, we are expected to try first drilling for oil in coming years. It is huge project; our block is 700 km wide and 200 km long. It is actually as same size as Ireland. I need to walk a lot because of my job. That is interesting part of it. Most expats live in the city. I think I am very lucky spending a lot of time in countryside and got to know certain parts of the country very well, which keeps me really interested.
Then, I come back to Ulaanbaatar in winter. Being able to spend few months out there in countryside breaks up the year and makes it interesting. I always like coming back to the city after spending few months in the countryside. UB is a great city.
So you did not have any problem with getting adjusted to life in here?
No I do not have. Everyone talks about air pollution for example. I get almost used to it – that is scary. I would just say that air pollution is much less in last two years, probably because of windier conditions. But, it was very difficult for first two years – you almost chew air.
What do you miss most from your life back in your home town?
What I missed most is sports I liked to do. I am not very much interested in team sports. I am more into extreme sports. For instance, the Sky Resort is excellent for skiing though it is not enough for such extreme moves. I did not have a mountain bike when I first moved here. I did not have a chance of biking for first couple of years. I am also skydiver and base jumper. There is no real skydiving facility here. But, I did make friends with some of military and search in rescue jumpers. So by the second year, I started to get my sports back and now I have just stared sports club “Wild Nature Sports” here in Mongolia, with aim to introduce and to promote extreme sports in Mongolia. For example, we organized mountain bike race in last summer. I have already done some parachute jumping.
Have you already started training courses for extreme sports?
We have not started yet, especially skydiving which people mostly ask about. We are hoping to start training within next couple of years combined with skiing, mountain biking, off road driving and climbing. I started the club with mountain climbing and skiing friends. I have another group of people specialized in mountain biking. There are other friends doing other extreme sports. I am trying to gather all friends doing extreme activities to make all the opportunities available for people.
Are there any Mongolian people in the club?
Usually, I am the only foreigner in the club. I can speak Mongolian a little bit and try to communicate my Mongolian friends with Monglish while they also speak English a little bit. I am not very good at deep conversation in Mongolian. But I am getting better especially in countryside where I have to use it. I know more words about countryside life and city life, so that my vocabulary is always improving. I can say that I am no longer worried about communicating.
As you said, you visit western regions of Mongolia a lot. How about other parts and have you visited there yet?
I have been living here for six years but I have never seen Gobi area. Unfortunately, there is no time for me to visit to eastern or southern regions since my job travel is always about heading to western areas.
I saw the video in which one guy does base – jumping from a building in Ulaanbaatar city. Do you know the guy?
Actually, I am that guy. I did some base jumping in Mongolia. I did post a video of base jumping in 2014, which collected over 20 thousand views within two days. It is getting more popular in Mongolia. One of the groups we are working with is called “Base jumpers without borders”. I am hoping club “Base jumpers without borders’ is going to bring some other base jumpers and trainers to the country. There are many good skydivers in Mongolia, who are eager to learn how to base jump. One of the main goals working with “Base jumpers without borders” is to do base jumping from the highest buildings in Ulaanbaatar city for charity and raising money to help local schools, orphanage and people who need help. The hardest part is to reach an agreement with building owners over base jumping. Best building for base jumping is “Shangrila” building because it has best landing area.
Mongol BASE 2 from Wild Nature Sports on Vimeo.
You said that you have already done some base-jumping in the city?
Yeah, I have done base-jumping from several tall buildings in the city. Base jumping is very dangerous but it is what I like most.
Base-jumping is not a crime. It is sport as same as other extreme sports. I want to show positive view of base jumping in the city, so that more people are going to understand. It is exciting because it is dangerous. It can be done safely. Hopefully, we can do it.
Also, I do skydiving regularly at Nisleg center, which is a flying community.
Are you living alone or with family here?
I came here with my dog. He is the happiest immigrant in Mongolia because there are so many animal parts all over the city such as bones. He works with me in the countryside and loves it out there. I have a girlfriend who also does skydiving, with the certificate of skydiving received after doing three month training in USA.
How did you come to Mongolia?
One of my old university professors was asked by the company I am working for to be exploration manager in Mongolia. Oil and gas industry had not been highly developed in Mongolia, which means there was lack of experience. They brought him as experienced professional. When he came here, he brought me and one other expat. And, we started exploration operations as team. However, my professor already left with the guy who came with us after their contracts finished.
What are your top tips for foreign people coming to Mongolia to live for long period of time?
Don’t be scared of it but don’t expect it as same as your country. It is going to be different and difficult sometimes. To me now, I know where all things are. It does not make me crazy anymore. So, just be open-minded and be cool to new culture. Mongolia is different from other Asian countries. It has own thing and might be a little more wild. If you are coming to UB, you will find everything you need. If you are coming to countryside, just have a fun.
How is the cost of living here?
You know, it is very strange thing because it is more expensive than where I was living in USA, including my apartment rent and food. That is difference. Developing countries are usually different.
What would be your dream expat destination?
I really like Europe for different reasons. If it is not Europe, it might be South America. I like Argentina where there are big mountains where I can try my extreme sports. It is all about choosing mountains first and then place.
If you can, what would you have changed here?
There is certainly nothing I can change. I feel Mongolia is going to change in good way for next 5-10 years. Mongolia is very old country and has old culture. But it is actually very young, when it comes to democracy and new structure of government. So, there will be a lot of change going to happen. I do not think Mongolia has a huge problem.
98classMPA from Wild Nature Sports on Vimeo.