It’s a three day drive from Murun to Ulan Bator, the capital city of Mongolia. Translated into English Ulan Bator means ‘Red Hero’, a name derived from the extended period of Communist rule that came to a conclusion in the 1990’s.

We arrive on the evening of 14th September and find a parking lot close to the city centre which becomes the trucks home for the coming week. The following days are spent preparing for their return journey to Europe, everything inside the truck is pulled out and nearly 4 months of life on the road is washed out of all their belongings.

The series of vital repairs and work on the truck is carried out by the specialised mechanics from Nomads Tours and Travells, a well run professional company that operates adventurous and educating tours all across Mongolia. Luckily for the Nomads Life team, the guys at Nomads Travells have amongst their fleet of well ordered vehicles, 4 identical Magirus Deutz Trucks and their own team of experienced workers soon have ‘Ghengis’ back in fine working order.

New headlamps are fitted, the whole brake system serviced, a new steering arm replaced and even a session with their high power cleaning hose leaves Ghengis looking like a brand new truck once again.

Myself and Ana make contact with Ben, an Australian volunteer who has been working with the Lotus Childrens Shelter in Ulan Bator for 6 months. He spends an afternoon taking us around the shelter which is situated on the outskirts of the city and is refuge to over 120 otherwise homeless kids between the ages of 2 months and 16 years. In future we will be helping to support the shelter with fund raising, with a percentage of any donations made to the project going towards the running expenses of the Childrens Home.

Read a full feature on the Lotus Children's Shelter here >>

We have to be at the border crossing of Altan Bulag for the 22nd September where we will start our return journey to Europe. Due to the current state of political affairs between Britain and Russia, holding a British passport I can only obtain a transit visa for the trip and must drive the 7000 km to Latvia in 12 days.

Ramsay.