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Mongolia

May 2019
May - June 2019 Read more
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  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 1

    Ulanbaatar

    May 25, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Also known as Ulan Bator, however, that is the Russian rendering of the name. I chose to use the Mongolian Ulanbaatar. UB, as some here say, is the capital of Mongolia, and as much as half the country's population lives here. The first pic is an overview of the city from the hill where the monument in the second pic is located. It is a memorial to the Soviets in WW2 and the relationship between the USSR and Mongolia. Next is the national government building on the main square.the fourth pic looks across the main square opposite the government building. Next is a statue of Subaatar, a national hero for whom the main square is named. Last is one of the few older building remaining in UB.Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 1

    Munkh Tenger Ger Camp

    May 25, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    Ger (not pronounced like grr, but more like gehir in a single syllable) is also known as a yurt. These are round traditional housing in this part of the world, well adapted to the harsh climate. The first pic is of the camp from the balcony of the lodge where meal were served. Next is the first NS de of the ger. Third is a Mongolian Throat Singer followed by traditional dancers. There was an event that day (I never did understand what it was), and I was blessed to experience it.
    Throat singing is a technique I don't understand, but somehow the singer can produce two distinctive pitches from one voice box. It is extraordinary.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 1

    Manzushir monastery

    May 25, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ 🌫 9 °C

    Tibetan Buddhist monastery that was mostly destroyed by the Chinese. Only one building is original from 1733. That is the building in pics 3-5. The first pic is a diorama of what the site looked like before it was destroyed when some 300 monks were here . Second is a long shot of the site. All the rocks/boulders are natural, and landscape like this is not common here. Probably the reason for it being a holy site. In the 3rd pic, the old building has the yellow roof. There are several small structures that were ruined, and you can see one to the right of the old building, up the hill. The 4th pic looks closer at the original front of the old building, while the 5th is one of the shrines inside. Last is the view from the front of the 1733 building.Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 2

    Nomad family camp near the Gobi

    May 26, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Wonderful, welcoming multigenerational family group. The families move twice a year, summer and winter locations. The live in gers similar to the ger camps, except they're beautifully furnished (see the first pic). We were served yak yogurt, a couple types of fried bread and dried curds. Then we were invited to another ger where they were cooking sheep innards. I was served liver, lung, intestine, heart and a fat membrane. The second and third pics show how that was being prepared.
    This is rather well to do clan as they have more than a thousand head of sheep, goats and cattle plus almost 100 horses. While they live in gers without running water, they have solar panels and satellite TV. And they travel by car. 21st century nomads.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 3

    Erdenezuu monastery

    May 27, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Oldest monastery in Mongolia. It is built on the site of the ancient Mongol capital of Karakorum. In fact, they say that materials from the demolished buildings of the capital were used in constructing the temple complex. The first pic is the main temple which is now a museum. One of the exhibits is a carving of a temple made from a single block of ebony. The Buddha inside is sandalwood. Pictures 3&4 are of the active part of the temple. The ger is active with chanting. The building nearby is the main temple and residence. The 5th pic is of the foundation of a large ger that could accommodate 300 people and predates the monastery. Last is a stupa, the top of a pedestal. There are 108 of them here as part of the wall all the way around the site. 108 is the number of beads in a Buddhist "rosary."Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 4

    Ugii Lake

    May 28, 2019 in Mongolia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Remote lake in Mongolia known for adventure sport fishing, probably because it is so far from everything on mostly bad roads. Much of which are unpaved and rough. In fact, the ger camp runs on solar power right now and is only getting electrical power from the grid installed now.
    The pics are various looks at the lake from the shore and from up the ridge behind the camp. The last one is of a Buddhist shrine to the local God who protects the lake. Similar shrines dot the landscape on mountaintops and other thin places. (That's a term from Celtic spirituality, in case you are unfamiliar with it.)    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 7

    Forbidden City, Outer Court

    May 31, 2019 in China ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    This is the capital built by the Ming Dynasty and kept as capital when the Ming fell to the Qing. It remained the center of Chinese government until the 20th century when the monarchy ended. The outer court is the public area, or more accurately, the area open to the aristocracy, bureaucrats and dignitaries. The first pic is of the first Hall in the first court where visiting dignitaries met with government officials. The second pic is of the building of small rooms where those dignitaries waited. Next is a carving in the marble walkway reserved for the emperor. The next is a detail of one of the buildings that shows how the whole complex looked. Next is the building where the emperor rested during formal occasions as well as serving as the robing room to prepare for those occasions. Last is the main hall where the Golden Throne was located.
    This is another place that is incredibly more in person than any book or TV show can depict. It is quite stunning. I continue to marvel at being in these spectacular places that were no more than names or pictures or dim memories from some class in school.    Read more

  • skip's retirement travelMongolia
    Day 7

    Forbidden City Inner Court

    May 31, 2019 in China ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The inner court was reserved for the Royal family and servants, as this is were they lived. First is the emperor's home. Second is the residence of the dowager empress, and the third looks through a widow into one of the rooms. The entire complex is being renovated to be ready for the celebration 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC in October. Next is a look at the Imperial Garden where the emperor relaxed and entertained concubines, etc. 5th is the walkway in the garden that is a mosaic using natural stones, and last is one of the pavilions in the garden.Read more

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