Nigeria, Aug. 23 -- I have always been fascinated by the nomadic lifestyles of people across Asia, particularly as portrayed in Chinese and Korean films-the varieties of their cattle, sheep and horses; the vast landscapes of grasses, herbs, and shrubs; the mountains, and the way communities navigate harsh winters.

Their languages, cultures, art and traditional clothing have also intrigued me. So, when I was selected for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) media fellowship in Mongolia, I was not just excited-I saw it as an opportunity to finally realise my long-held dream of visiting Asia.

A quick Google search about Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolian capital and host city of COP17, described it as the world's coldest...