Tag Archives: Mongolia
Some Mongolian Customs
The following list of Mongolian customs are compiled with the help of our friends: Nara, Ugi, Usukh, Tsagaantsooj, Uyangaa, and Priscilla. Thanks guys, and we miss you!!! Ovoos are mounds of stones and wood found on hilltops in the Mongolian … Continue reading
Narantuul: UB’s Not-So-Black Market
Narantuul is a sprawling labyrinth bazaar that promises deals and danger. Our Mongolian friends, and more experienced expats, filled our ears with stories of tourists getting hassled and robbed, by gangs of men! Steeling ourselves for a daring encounter with … Continue reading
Bactrian Camel Love
Being a westerner, I originally believed camels were stubborn, charmless creatures that spit at you. That was before I was lucky enough to be forced to ride a Bactrian Camel. On a 28 hour ride back from the countryside, after … Continue reading
Alice In Ger-Land
Living in a ger is like being Alice standing under the caterpillar on his fleshy mushroom. The wood burning stove vents plumes of white smoke out of a rusty iron pipe just like the chain smoking caterpillar. An umbrella of … Continue reading
National Center Against Violence (NCAV)
We have been helping the National Center Against Violence (NCAV), a wonderful NGO, and the first women’s and children’s shelter in Mongolia. They are in dire need of public funding, since the Mongolian government and businesses, contribute very little to … Continue reading
Mongolian National Judo Team Practice Photos
Mongolian National Judo Team Back Row (Standing): From Left to Right B.Sugarjargal (+100 kg), N.Tuvshinbayar (-100 kg), E.Enkhbat (90 kg), D.Nyamkhuu (81 kg), S.Nyamochir (73 kg), Kh.Tsagaanbaatar (66 kg), D.Tomorkhuleg (60 kg), B.Bat-Erdene (48 kg), M.Bundmaa (52 kg), Ts.Monkhzaya (63 … Continue reading
A Country Naadam, Part IV: Let the Games Begin!
After the opening ceremonies, we bounced outside of Altai City, in a dust veiled procession of ‘machines’, with our student, Cassandra, and her family, to watch the horse races. A handful of bumpy miles later, we pulled up to a … Continue reading
A Country Naadam, Part I: Happenstance
It was pure happenstance that we experienced our first country Naadam, way out in left-field of the Mongolian Gobi. A day after enjoying UB’s Naadam, and just five days after arriving in Mongolia, we rushed out to Altai City, to … Continue reading
Altai Naadam Wrestling Scandal
Wrestler With Dust by M. Orgil & Thantcyn Nyan Wrestlers B.Joronzonbold (in red top), ranked Elephant, and D.Lhagvadorj (in blue top), ranked Falcon, made it to the 7th level of the wrestling competition, for the 70 year anniversary of Gov-Altai. … Continue reading
First Day of Mongolian Kindergarten
The Today Newspaper needed first day of school photos so I recruited my friend, Ugi’s niece and nephew, to lead me to the promised land: Kindergarten! Chubby little Mongols, puffed and pressed into picture perfectness, bobbled around with armfuls of … Continue reading