First get a bed sheet; green if you have it but don’t worry if you don’t. Now get ten to twelve shoes of various sizes and arrange them randomly on the floor. Shake out the bed sheet and let it fall, resting over the shoes. Kneel down and lower your head as close to the floor as possible, looking out over the lumpy bedsheet. See that? Welcome to Mongolia.

Being a vegetarian is difficult enough at home “we’ll slap your mushrooms on the barbie next, Dan — that way they’ll have a lovely taste of steak”), but it can be nearly impossible when travelling overseas, writes Dan Miller.