My First Day in Ulaanbaatar

Episode 1 — Visa Dramas, 30-Hour Journeys, and First Impressions

The two weeks following my flight to Ulaanbaatar were nothing if not memorable. But to be honest, the drama started well before I ever boarded a plane.

It was May 12th, 2025, and I still had not secured my visa to Mongolia. I was juggling final exams and countless trips to the Embassy of Mongolia in New York, tucked somewhere near Central Park. Unfortunately, the designated officer was on leave and my application had been in limbo for a week. The uncertainty was nerve-wracking.

So, on that Monday morning, I took matters into my own hands. I boarded a train to Washington, D.C., determined to get my visa processed once and for all. From Union Station, I took a quick Uber to the Mongolian Embassy. Within two hours, I had the visa in hand. A one-page-sticker stamped into one of the pages in my passport that held so much relief.

To celebrate this hard-earned victory, I wandered into Dua Coffee, an Indonesian café in D.C. and treated myself to a Brown Sugar Latte. My first coffee in a year, I usually avoid caffeine but that moment truly called for it. At that café table, latte in hand, I finalized all my flight and accommodation plans for the first week of my stay in Ulaanbaatar. The next day, I returned to New York and wrapped up the remainder of my exams.

Wind turbines welcoming me

Fast forward ten days and I was on a 34-hour journey from New York to Ulaanbaatar (including a 14-hour overnight layover in Incheon, South Korea. My first flight was 16 hours long and had no Wi-Fi. That offline stretch was the moment it really hit me: I’m going to Mongolia.

When I landed at Chinggis Khan International Airport, it was a bright and sunny morning. I had a window seat and watched the endless steppe roll out beneath us. I saw some wind turbines across the steppes, which I feel like a surreal welcome to the country.

My pink suitcase survived the trip

In the airport, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude when I saw my suitcase survived the 30+ hours of travel on the carousel.

The airport is about 50 km from downtown Ulaanbaatar and the ride took about an hour. I had not expected to see livestock and gers (traditional Mongolian yurts) so soon. They lined the outskirts of the city as we drove in. I later found out the city center had closed some roads that day for a car-free event, which also explained the detour and traffic.

First impressions on the way from the airport?

• So many Japanese cars.

• Buildings still carry some post-Soviet architectural flair, especially the residential blocks.

• Doors are thick, double-layered, and the concrete structures are clearly designed for Mongolia’s brutal winters. I am extremely thankful to be here in summer because my tropical-Indonesian-born self would not last a day in minus 30 degree Celcius.

The very nice gentleman helping me to bring my luggage home

My Airbnb is tucked near some dorms and schools, which gives the area a cheerful and peaceful vibe. The narrow pavement from the main road made it hard to roll my suitcase all the way, but the driver kindly helped me carry it to the apartment. I almost cried.

I had planned to stroll around Sukhbaatar Square, scope out the route to the UN House, and stock up on groceries that afternoon. But the jet lag hit hard and I ended up sleeping the rest of the day. Stay tuned for what happened during my first full week in Ulaanbaatar, complete with my first day at the office, food adventure, and some very unexpected weather.