Travel to Mongolia

[cossacks368]

Fresh air, space, peace and quiet
· Rugged open landscape
· Ancient nomadic lifestyle still common
· Fascinating religious practices (Tantric Buddhist)
· Friendly people
· Few tourists
· Rare animals, birds, fish and plants
· Wild flowers and medicinal plants
· Great fishing, swimming, hiking and biking
· Horse riding
· Camel riding
· Yak riding
· Excellent art - ancient, modern and religious
· Cheap cashmere
· No inconvenient restrictions on women
· Fishing and Hunting
· Fine vodka and fermented mare's milk






Happily, we arrived at our ger site for the night where we met Purederj and Enkhlyya, our elderly Mongolian hosts. We were based at the foot of a set of granite rocks that towered 100 metres above the four gers that comprised the family’s camp. We were shown our ger for the night, which housed the traditional, colorful furniture and about 200 flies. Of course the decor is spectacular, but in terms of cleanliness and the volume of flies, even Gana’s Guest House had nothing on this place! We immediately wished we’d brought our mosquito net, but the beds felt comfortable enough.



Next, we were taken into Purederj and Enkhlyya’s ger, which housed the traditional Buddhist alter directly opposite the door. On the right hand side of the ger was Purederj (the man’s) bed, and his wife’s was on the opposite side. Just offset from the middle of the ger (with the support columns) and close to the door was the furnace, which exhausted through the ger’s roof. On the other side of the columns, close to the Buddhist alter, was a table, with four very short, colorful stools where we were seated. Enkhlyya poured generous (FAR too generous!!!) bowls of airag – fermented mare’s milk. I managed one sip of what tasted like off-milk, my entire mouth exploding in protest. Lloyd managed only a little more. Not something that western tummies are ready for! We were also offered little curd-like patties, shaped by hand from some milk product (could be cow, camel, goat or horse!) that was sun-dried on the roof of the ger. I wasn’t brave enough to try it.

[cossacks368]

[cossacks368]

Hundreds of horses raced within feet of the stands, kicking up sand and creating a timeless atmosphere as the riders recreated a famous battle orchestrated by Genghis Kahn (a national hero here in Mongolia).











Sure, the music may have been overdone at times, and the commentary was comical in places, but the horses, the costumes (I can’t even imagine the expense!) were first rate. We were thoroughly impressed, and incredibly relieved that we had taken the risk to go to this event. The last time I took so many pictures was on safari in Kenya watching things like lions mate - we’re talking like 500-700 frames! After 5pm, the horses rode off, and formed up into four sections about half a mile away.

[cossacks368]

Show time was scheduled for 3.30pm, and at about 3pm, and after we had killed some time attempting one of Mongolia's 'three manly sports' (see picture - the other two are wrestling and horse-riding) and posing with camels, we started to see coaches on the horizon. Coach after coach of Japanese tourists were arriving strictly in time for the main event. Mongolian students clearly hired for the purpose greeted the Japanese in their own language, bowing respectfully to each as they filed into one of four stands laid out in a straight line in front of a massive sandy area. But still, no sign of 500 horses. With the Japanese contingent, we were now a respectable group of 300 or so, but I felt sure we’d be short-changed on the horses. Why would you bring them all out for less than a full house?
But bring them out they did. From 3.30pm to 5pm, we were treated to a display of incredible horsemanship, and choreography with military precision and timing. The horses marched over the horizon, at least a kilometre from the stands, in single file and just kept on coming.

[cossacks368]

The fact that they were still in formation at 5.30pm led us to the conclusion that this was – indeed – a military unit. And really that has to be the only way that this kind of production could be possible. I can’t imagine any other country attempting it, but what a great and proud way for Mongolia to promote its reputation as a nation of skilled horsemen.

[teh.frickin.pope]

That is just awesome, wish we had a vid though.

[spooksman]

Wonderful pictures! Thanks!

[Miraj]

Interesting stuff, I hope to visit the lands of the great steppe one day. Want to sleep in a yurt like a nomad.

I guess I have been close since I visited the great wall last winter.

[kepper]

Wonderful pictures!

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

Wonderful posts!

[Strelac]

Very interesting.
How long did you stay, did you run into more western visitors?

Do you have higher res of this photo. There seem to be some siege engine in the background?
http://www.travellerspoint.com/photo.....d-Horse1.jpg

Ths for posting cossacks.

[CelticPagan]

Very interesting.
How long did you stay, did you run into more western visitors?

Do you have higher res of this photo. There seem to be some siege engine in the background?
http://www.travellerspoint.com/photo.....d-Horse1.jpg

Ths for posting cossacks.

Nice eyesight Strelac!! +rep to you and Cossacks!

[Oberhut]

Looks like a Ballista to me - though I only spotted it after reading your post

[Fenix_120]

To Mongolia!

The land where the sun is hot and woman, hotter


I would love to go their one of these days, but I will see Britain and Belguim first as it is the land of my ancestors.


I have it planed when I re-tire I will start in Britain and slowly go eastward from their.

[Boztorgai_Khan]

MONGOLIA is HOT and Very Nice LAND. ( MY LAND ).

Very Nice Cool Pictures cossacks368

+REP

[_TheChevalier_]

Awesome pics cossacks368 (+ rep).

[The Mongol]

What an awesome trip that must've been.

I'd love to visit Mongolia, something about the ruggedness is appealing. Then again I live in Northwestern Ontario. I love the wilderness.

[caratacus]

Looks like you had a great time in Mongolia, I envy you it is a part of the world I would certainly like to visit. The great openness of the Steppes and the simple lifestyle of many of the nomadic herdsman there, has I think preserved a nobleness of spirit that has been lost in our modern world. The people contrary to the reputation of their ancestors are very warm and friendly, although the lactose based diet largely devoid of fruit and vegetables, would need some getting use to.

That battle recreation is fantastic! It would be great to ride those plains on a Mongolian horse and take part in some real Mongolian wrestling, which I doubt would last very long as they are tough guys those Mongolian wrestlers. It seems very similar to Cumbrian wrestling which I have already tried.

[Valdamar]

Outstanding! I always wanted to vacation there!

[AdmiringtheEnemyeh?]

Wow, that looks beautiful! That might actually be a more exciting experience than visiting a city in Europe. Not too sure about the food, though it might be fun to live on the edge.