I have always been fascinated by the nomadic lifestyles of people across Asia, particularly as portrayed in Chinese and Korean films—the varieties of their cattle, sheep and horses; the vast landscapes of grasses, herbs, and shrubs; the mountains, and the way communities navigate harsh winters.
Their languages, cultures, art and traditional clothing have also intrigued me. So, when I was selected for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) media fellowship in Mongolia, I was not just excited—I saw it as an opportunity to finally realise my long-held dream of visiting Asia.
A quick Google search about Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital and host city of COP17, described it as the world’s coldest capital city. I therefore arrived expecting the snowy, smoky and freezing landscape I had often seen in movies.
Interestingly, it is now summer in Mongolia.
UNCCD fellows and officials engaging researchers in the field during the tour of the Hustai National Park in Mongolia (PHOTO CREDIT: Abdulkareem Mojeed)
