Category Archives: Curios

New to Ulaanbaatar in late 2015

I’ve been keeping a list of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar: May 2015 | May 2014 | October 2013. I’ve copied the 2014 and 2015 lists here and am adding to it. New items since previous posts appear in italics. What has … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Social Change, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | Leave a comment

Methodology as a Methodology

As exhausting as all-day meetings with stakeholders can be (with a bit of jetlag, multiple languages and instant coffee thrown into the mix), I am always fascinated by how individuals present themselves, what they are looking for, and how questions … Continue reading

Posted in CIRDI, Countryside, Curios, Social Issues, Society and Culture | Tagged | Leave a comment

Countryside Impressions

On recent visits, I have generally been stuck in Ulaanbaatar. In late October, however, I had the opportunity to travel out to Arvaikheer, the capital of Uvurkhangai and to collect some impressions from this brief foray into the countryside. As … Continue reading

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Ulaanbaatar Impressions

By Julian Dierkes Yes, another periodic visit to Ulaanbaatar, yes once again too short a visit, but here are some immediate impressions along the lines of observations on previous visits that I noted down: May 2015 | November 2014 | May 2014 … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Ikh Khural 2016, Politics, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 2 Comments

Graduates of Archery 100 in Mongolia

Presenting graduates of the Archery 100 course in Mongolia Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in 2009 (source link) Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014 (source link) Finnish President Tarja Halonen in 2011 (source link) The US Vice President Joe Biden in 2011 … Continue reading

Posted in Curios, Foreign Policy | Tagged | 3 Comments

New to Ulaanbaatar in 2015

By Julian Dierkes I’ve been keeping a list of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar: May 2014 | October 2013. I’ve copied the 2014 list here and am adding to it. New items since 2014 that I’m adding in italics. … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 3 Comments

Guessing the Next PM

By Julian Dierkes In response to some discussions on Twitter, I now offer this prediction board in three categories, time to election of new PM, coalition that will elect the new PM, and the new PM. While individuals may choose to … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Will Green Party, Curios, Democratic Party, Mongolian People's Party, Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, Party Politics, Politics | Tagged | 3 Comments

Parliament(s), Rifles and Me

By Julian Dierkes With all the turmoil in the Mongolian government at the moment it seems very challenging to write a blog post that will add any clarity as it will become obsolete virtually the moment I might press <publish> … Continue reading

Posted in Curios, Security Apparatus, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | Leave a comment

New to Ulaanbaatar in May 2014

By Julian Dierkes Back in October 2013, I made a list of things that are arriving to/disappearing from central Ulaanbaatar. I’ve copied that list here and am adding to it. New items since October 2013 that I’m adding in May … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 3 Comments

Visible Manifestations of Social Change in Ulaanbaatar

By Julian Dierkes It seems to me that social change has accelerated in Mongolia, or at least in Ulaanbaatar, or at least in central Ulaanbaatar in the past two years. I’ve had the food fortune to have visited Mongolia three … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Curios, Social Change, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 2 Comments

My Governor General’s Medallion

It is a bit embarrassing to toot my own horn in this way, but the Rt Hon David Johnston awarded me a Governor General’s Medallion at the Friends of Canada reception on Oct 26 2013. During the award, the following … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Curios, Governor General's Visit 2013, Research on Mongolia | Tagged | Leave a comment

Let’s Call them Sumo Bonds

In a great conversation with a fellow long-time Mongolia watcher, we were contemplating what to call a ¥-denominated Mongolian bond. This follows Prime Minister Altankhuyag’s trip to Japan last week. It appears that a ¥-denominated Mongolian bond with a volume … Continue reading

Posted in Curios | Tagged | 3 Comments

Back in the UB

By Julian Dierkes It’s become a bit of a tradition for me to post about my first impressions back in Ulaanbaatar after an absence. This time, my absence was not very long, i.e. from the presidential election in late June … Continue reading

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Investigating the Rural Vote

Over the past weekend, I was very fortunate to have the chance to travel to Khentii Aimag and to speak to a number of locals. I was particularly interested in how the campaign messages of the three candidates played in … Continue reading

Posted in Curios, Presidential 2013 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Back in Ulaanbaatar Town

Für Mongolei Nostalgiker… 懐かしいねえ After too long an absence, I’m back in Ulaanbaatar. Returning 1-3 times per year over the last eight years has given me time lapse glimpses of rapid developments in Ulaanbaatar. At ULN, I was delighted to … Continue reading

Posted in Curios, Society and Culture, Tourism, Ulaanbaatar | Tagged | 1 Comment