travel adventurer and photographer, Scott Stallard, has documented many memorable experiences in these countries.

He has seen cities and travelled to remote areas in the country and rode on horseback into the mountains over a vast terrain.

Mongolia, located north of China, makes up one of the chief ethnic divisions of Asian peoples. The following passages are excerpts from Scott Stallard's travel diary June 23 through July 15, 1998.

" Bejing - Thursday. Arrived at the Palace Hotel 10 am by taxi (cost 240 yuan, $200 1680 yuan) from the airport. Big and modern but outside, streets are dusty and congested. McDonald's just around the corner.

Took a shower and changed clothes - went downstairs for lunch - Chinese buffet. Walked down to Tiananmen Square, very hot, 15 mins. Very spread out, lots of people, mostly Chinese. Shot a few pictures of Chairman Mao hanging above the entrance to Tiananmen. Spoke English with man practising.

Jankhai - Khorsgol Nuur (GPS 50 degrees 29 - 85N, 100 degrees 09-94E) Ulaan Baatar.

"July 8. Awoke to 47 degrees cold, so stoked up the fire in the stove and warmed the place up. It looked to be a good day out so we had breakfast in the ger then looked at the map. We decide to stay another night then take two days to get to Bulgan where we'll see the Nadaam Festival.

We ate and enquired about horseback riding which we found was possible to go for a couple of hours into the mountains. We went up to a paddock where a family had two horses saddled up, Mongolian style, i.e. small saddle.

We set off with the man guiding, climbed up hill through the forest until we reached a meadow overlooking the lake. We grazed the horses while I shot pictures and admired the blue /green waters. My horse was a shaggy dark brown Mongolian which had a mind of its own!'' TRAVEL TVL