Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mongolia Today
Mongolia may be a little fish in the big pond of globalisation but its import-
ance on the world stage has only just started to grow. Pundits have dubbed
the country 'Mingolia', a nod to its enormous mineral wealth. Mongolians
are stepping cautiously ahead, wary of the fact that other natural-resource-
rich countries have been ruined by corruption and mismanagement. The
government has set up checks to ensure transparent accounting of mining
revenue but whether or not the bonanza is spent wisely is something only
time will tell.
Best on Film
TThe W
e Weepiing C
g Came l (2005) Docu-drama that follows a camel-herder family in
the Gobi.
MMongool (2007) Dramatic depiction of the rise of Chinggis Khaan.
Tracckiing th
g the Wh
e Whiite R
e Reiinddeer (2009) Docu-drama on reindeer herders, available
online.
Best in Print
GGhengis Kh
rld (Jack Weatherford; 2005)
Groundbreaking book and a bestseller on the Mongol empire.
WWhen Th
is Khan a
n and th
d the Mak
e Makiing o
g of th
f the Mo
e Moddern W
n World
t Darrk (Matthew Davis; 2010) Raw examination of life in Tsetser-
leg from an American teacher.
HHeariing B
n Thiings G
s Get D
ds Fly (Louisa Waugh; 2003) Recollections of a year spent in remote
Bayan-Ölgii by a British teacher.
Wild E
g Biirds Fly
ild East (Jill Lawless; 2000) Slices of Mongolian life written by a Canadian expat
editor of the UB Post.
MMörön t
o Mörön (Tom Doig; 2013) Wacky adventures of two Aussies making their
way across Mongolia on pushbikes.
n to Mö
The Great Leap Forward
The hot topic of conversation in Mongolia is the US$6.6 billion Oyu Tolgoi copper and
gold mine, developed by the Anglo-Australian company Rio Tinto, but 34% owned by the
