Discover why Ulaanbaatar is Earth's most extreme capital - from -30°C winters and nomadic cuisine to urban grit beneath the Eternal Blue Sky. Full travel guide.
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TravelTranscript
00:00what's up world shibneth here your guide to the planet's raw edges and vibrant hearts
00:14welcome to world travelings we ditch the postcard cliches and dive deep
00:21from the frozen streets of ulaanbaatar to the bustling markets of bangkok
00:25we bring you unfiltered journeys we chase the authentic stories the flavors that define a
00:32culture and the people who call these places home strap in it's time to see the world for real
00:39let's go friends calling in from a place where survival and celebration are cooked in the same
00:47pot where the very concept of food transcends taste to become fuel history medicine and the purest form
00:55of nomadic hospitality welcome back to ulaanbaatar mongolia in our previous dispatch we skimmed the
01:03surface of its icy soul today friends we dive deep into the sizzling hot pots the aromatic steam of
01:12dumplings the ritualistic sip of salted tea we will explore not just the what but the why of mongolian
01:19cuisine and weave it into an expanded journey through the city's most profound cultural and natural
01:24escapes we're going well beyond in this travel video into a detailed manual for the senses
01:31this is ulaanbaatar served raw cooked and absolutely unforgettable the philosophy of mongolian cuisine
01:40survival on the step to understand the food here boss you must first erase all notions of delicate
01:46flavors light salads or frivolous presentation mongolian cuisine is a direct pragmatic response to a
01:54brutal environment its core tenets are calorie density every bite must provide maximum energy to
02:02combat the extreme cold and sustain a physically demanding life preservation with no refrigeration for
02:09millennia techniques like drying fermenting and using animal fats as natural preservatives became paramount
02:16utilization that nose to tail concept isn't a trend it's a millennial necessity every part of the
02:25animal is used meat organs bones blood milk portability food must be durable and transportable
02:33for a life on the move heat dishes are often served piping hot providing internal warmth this isn't just
02:42cooking it's edible engineering it's edible engineering and in ulaanbaatar you find this ancient culinary code
02:48playing out in gurd district kitchens bustling food markets and modern fusion restaurants alike
02:55the daily rituals breakfast tea and snacks the mongolian day begins with fuel
03:03a glory and whole breakfast this is often a simple sustaining affair leftover meat from the previous night
03:10perhaps some bansh smaller boiled dumplings or a bowl of buddha a hearty rice or porridge cooked with bits of meat and fat
03:17the star however is bortsog these deep fried doughnuts golden brown and slightly sweet are the ultimate companion
03:26dunked in su tzai salty milk tea or eaten with perule dried curds they are a staple in every home and girl
03:32su tzai salty milk tea this is not a beverage friends it's a lifeline a constant ritual brick tea is boiled
03:46with water milk cow yak or goat and a generous pinch of salt it's then strained and kept in thermoses all day
03:54it rehydrates you in the dry air provides essential fats and salt and warms you from the core
04:01the first sip is always a shock salty milky birthy but by the third cup you crave it
04:08it's the taste of mongolian hospitality refusing it is unthinkable
04:13arul and ease gi dairy snacks mongolia has over 600 types of dairy products
04:20arul are hardened sun-dried curds that come in various shapes and hardness levels
04:25some are chewable some could break a tooth they are a rich source of protein and calcium
04:31ease gi is dried stretched curd often flavored with berries these are not casual snacks they are concentrated
04:40nutrition carried by herders on long journeys the culinary pillars meat dough and fat now friends
04:50we get to the heart of the feast the main acts the dumpling trinity these are the undisputed kings
04:58of mongolian comfort food each with a specific cooking method and occasion bus the most famous these are
05:07steamed dumplings about the size of a ping pong ball with a pleated top that stays open the filling is
05:14minced mutton or beef onion and fat seasoned with salt and maybe garlic the magic is in the hot savory
05:22broth that forms inside during steaming you bite a small hole sip the juice then eat the rest in winter
05:31winter a plate of steaming buz is heaven kushushur the deep fried counterpart
05:38crescent shaped and flatter filled with similar minced meat
05:42they are crispy greasy incredibly satisfying and the ultimate street food often eaten at nadam festivals
05:50you hold them in your hands and the grease is part of the experience
05:55bench smaller boiled dumplings often served in soup or as a simple dish with a dipping sauce
06:04they are more delicate but equally flavorful
06:07the national dish butyl and noodle soups
06:11butyl a simple profound stew
06:14chunky mutton or beef is slow cooked with root vegetables and sometimes wheat flour noodles in a salted broth
06:21it's unpretentious nourishing and the definition of home cooking
06:27gyal thai shoal a clear soup with hand-pulled or sliced noodles meat and vegetables
06:33it's restorative especially when you're feeling the cold
06:37the festive and nomadic feast
06:40cork hog the ultimate social cooking experience
06:44lamb or goat is cut into pieces combined with hot stones from the fire
06:49potatoes carrots and onions and sealed in a large metal milk can or pot
06:55it's shaken and cooked over the fire
06:58the result is tender smoky aromatic meat
07:02the hot stones are passed around to warm your hands
07:05a primal communal feast
07:07boo dog even more dramatic
07:10a whole marmot or goat is deboned filled with hot stones and meat
07:15sealed and cooked over an open fire from the inside out
07:19this is pure ancient nomadic technique
07:23tsuvian stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables
07:27a hearty one-dish meal that shows central asian influences
07:32modern alambattar's food scene fusion cafes and markets
07:37friends alambattar is not stuck in the past
07:40its culinary scene is evolving rapidly
07:44the food markets to see the raw ingredients visit
07:48naren tull market the black market
07:51it's a sprawling chaotic city within a city
07:54mountains of arul shelves of doodle
07:57boots racks of deals and the meat section
08:00whole carcasses heads and every imaginable cut sold in the freezing open air
08:05it's an overwhelming unforgettable sensory education
08:10for a more sanitized experience
08:12state department store
08:14ik delgar has a great food hall
08:17modern mongolian fusion
08:19restaurants like modern nomads or luna blanca
08:22vegetarian are reinterpreting tradition
08:25think booze with creative fillings
08:27salads incorporating local berries and herbs
08:30and elegant presentations of classic dishes for a new generation
08:35the cafe culture surprisingly strong
08:38in the basements of soviet blocks or in glass-fronted new buildings
08:42you'll find chic cafe serving excellent espresso
08:45baked goods and western food
08:48it's a refuge for the city's youth and expats
08:51a place to warm up and log on
08:53beyond the city expanded expeditions into the wild
08:57now friends let's pair this culinary journey with the geographical ones
09:02the food tastes different more essential when eaten after a journey into the wild
09:08expedition one terrell's national park and the areyapala meditation center
09:13a deeper dive a 90-minute drive but worlds away
09:17beyond the iconic turtle rock we go further
09:21we visit a nomadic family and participate in the cooking
09:25we help make booze by their stove learning the precise pleating
09:30we sip a rag if in late summer slash autumn or its preserved winter variants
09:36we then hike or snowshoe in winter to the areyapala meditation center
09:41a complex of temples and retreats built into a hillside
09:45the climb is steep but the panoramic view of the frozen valley is a spiritual and visual reward
09:51spending a night in a tourist ger camp here is essential
09:56the ger is warm the silence at night is absolute and the stars in that pollution free sky are dizzying
10:03dinner here a simple butyl or corkhog feels like a feast for explorers
10:09expedition 2 the genghis khan statue complex and mongol nomadic
10:14the 40-meter tall stainless steel statue is just the beginning
10:19boss the complex includes a superb museum detailing the khan's life and the wider mongol empire with artifacts and replicas
10:29but more immersive is the attached mongol nomadic ger camp
10:33this is a living museum where master crafts people demonstrate felt making blacksmithing horse training and archery
10:40you can don a deal shoot a traditional bow and see the tools and skills that sustained the empire
10:47having a lunch of kushushur here watching a horseman demonstrate tricks on the step connects history to the plate
10:54expedition 3 bogd khan mountain and the winter palace of the bogd khan
11:01for a journey into spiritual and royal history we head to the bogd khan mountain south of the city
11:08this mountain is a protected area considered sacred for centuries
11:13a hike here offers stunning views back over the smog layer covering ub
11:18at its base lies the winter palace of the bogd khan mongolia's last theocratic ruler
11:25this serene complex of buddhist temples and the king's european style palace is a time capsule
11:31you see his collection of gifts from foreign dignitaries his throne and his personal girl lined with snow leopard pelts
11:39it's a stark contrast to the soviet and modern city showing a different path history could have taken
11:45expedition 4 the chingis khan museum and zaison memorial a historical loop
11:52for the history buff a day combining these two is perfect
11:56the chingis khan museum not to be confused with the statue complex in the city center is a modern world-class institution
12:05its 10 floors cover mongol history from prehistory to the modern era with stunning artifacts interactive displays and detailed explanations
12:14it provides the intellectual framework
12:18then head up to the zaison memorial a soviet-era circular monument on a hilltop
12:24the climb up the steps is a workout but the 360-degree view is the best in ulaanbaatar
12:31you see the entire city sprawl the toll river and the four sacred mountains
12:36it's a perspective that ties the modern metropolis to its vast encircling landscape
12:43expedition 5 a day trip to the manshire kaid monastery ruins
12:49for a more rugged off the beaten path experience a two-hour drive takes you to the ruins of manshire kaid
12:56this 18th century monastery was once home to over 300 monks before its destruction in the 1930s
13:05the ruins set dramatically in the bogged khan mountain national park are hauntingly beautiful
13:11one restored temple remains filled with original murals
13:16the hike up to the ruins through a pine forest is serene
13:20pack a picnic of bortsog errol and some meat pies from the city
13:26eating amidst these silent stones with only the wind for company
13:30is a powerfully melancholic and beautiful experience
13:34the winter specifics a seasonal gastronomic calendar
13:38winter changes everything friends including the food
13:43utz this is the mongolian tsagan tsar lunar new year feast centerpiece
13:49a boiled sheep's back often with the tail fat a prized delicacy
13:54it's presented as a masterpiece with specific cuts offered to guests based on age and status
14:00frozen treats they love ice cream eating it even in dash 30 degrees celsius
14:06also budog is more of a winter special celebratory dish
14:11the girl visit in winter a girl visit is the ultimate culinary immersion
14:17the stove is the heart
14:19you're offered dairy products then tea then vodka then meat
14:24refusing is rude
14:26you must accept everything with your right hand palm up with a slight gesture of support at the elbow
14:32the host will offer the best cuts often the fatty tail or the cheek
14:37it's a ritual of respect and survival
14:41a practical sorrel traveling's food and tour itinerary
14:45three days
14:47day one the historical and urban core
14:51am soup bader square parliament national museum
14:55lunch modern nomads for a refined intro to booze and kushushur
15:01p.m. gondan monastery for spiritual immersion
15:05late p.m. hike up to zaison memorial for sunset views
15:09dinner luna blanca for a vegetarian take on mongolian cuisine or a local kushushur hole in the wall
15:17evening
15:19evening traditional folk concert at tuman ek ensemble
15:21day two
15:23the step and history immersion
15:25am
15:27drive to gangas khan statue complex
15:29explore museum and mongol nomadic camp
15:33lunch
15:35at the complex restaurant
15:37trying corkhog if available
15:39p.m. drive to terolge national park
15:41visit turtle rock
15:43a nomadic family
15:45and hike to areapla
15:47overnight
15:48stay in a heated tourist ger camp
15:51enjoy a hearty stew dinner under the stars
15:55day three
15:56the sacred and the markets
15:58am
15:59return to ub
16:01visit the winter palace of the bogged khan
16:04lunch
16:05cafe culture fix at one of ub's trendy spots
16:09p.m. immerse in the chaos of naren toll market
16:13be vigilant with belongings
16:15late p.m. last minute souvenir shopping at the state department store
16:20farewell dinner
16:22a festive meal at a restaurant serving the full spectrum
16:25buzz, butyl, and perhaps a taste of us
16:28epilogue
16:30the taste of the blue sky
16:32friends
16:33to leave ulan bataar is to leave with a palette forever changed
16:37you'll crave that salty tea on a cold day
16:40you'll remember the explosive juice of a perfect buzz
16:44the communal joy of corkhog
16:46the resilient chew of arul
16:48the food here is not about subtlety
16:51it's about essence
16:52it's the taste of history
16:54of resilience
16:55of the vast steppe and the eternal blue sky itself
16:58clear, sharp, bracing, and profoundly nourishing
17:02it's a cuisine that demands respect and rewards the adventurous eater
17:09combined with journeys to sacred mountains, nomadic jairs, and soviet monuments
17:14it creates a travel experience that is challenging, authentic, and deeply moving
17:19it's not for everyone, friends
17:22but for the world traveling's viewer who wants to taste the world in its most raw and real form
17:27to break bread
17:29or bortzog, in the coldest capital
17:32and to feel the warmth of a nomad's hearth against the infinite winter sky
17:36this is your journey
17:38hack your appetite
17:40armor yourself against the cold
17:43come hungry, in every sense of the word
17:46and that's a wrap on another slice of our planet
17:50a massive thank you for riding with world travelings
17:54if you felt that chill
17:56tasted that buzz
17:57or felt the wanderlust
17:58hit that subscribe and bell icon
18:01your support fuels these adventures
18:04drop your dream destination in the comments below
18:07i'm always scouting the next frontier
18:10until the next journey
18:12keep exploring
18:14this is shibneth, signing off
18:17peace
18:19thanks for watching
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