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selenakThis is my last but one post, aka the one before the grand finale, which is the Naadam Festival. We were now approaching the capital again, but not before two more stops with magnificent scenery and one awesome temple. Also in this post: Edelweiss (which in the Mongol mountains is as common as daisies are in Germany, whereas for us Edelweiss is a rare and protected flower), and a prelude to the festival as at the eve before it, people had thrown on their holiday dresses already.
Khutag Undur, where we spent the night, has its own old volcano, and as mentioned lots and lots of Edelweiss. Here's the proof:
The valley of Amarbayasgalant, the site of one of the most respected monasteries, is also great for herds. The nomad from the ger spam post who extended her hospitality to us lives there. The following photo shows not only the mixture of goats and sheep that's typical of a mongol herd, but also what gave the sheep their nickname of "fat tail sheep":
Not all the milk is taken by humans:
And this is a sight that sums up Mongolia. The temple buildings could be anywhere, China, Tibet, you name it. (Which is where the Mongols pinched the building styles from, of course.) But the horses in front? Only Mongolia. The white little small buildings on the hills are called "Stuppas". The red complex is the temple proper.
Amarbayasgalant, currently with 35 Lamas in it, once occupied by hundres of them:
Not al the visitors are tourists:
The little Lamas-in-training reawakened Davaa's Buddhist issues (see Ulan Bator post):
But the most beautiful sight of the Amarbayasgalant temple is surely this one:
That camp was our last one, last night spent in a yurt, before returning to the big city.
Which received us, wouldn't you know, with a bit of rain and clouds. But never mind! People were already jazzed up for the upcoming Naadam Festival, and wore their traditional costumes while going to eve-before concerts and other events, and their anticipation and cheer were as irresitable as their colours. Voilà:
Also present, and we would see them again the next day: soldiers in the historical armour, presenting the banner of Genghis Khan and standing guard in front of his monument at the Parliament. As the opening of the Naadam Festival the next day, they would ride to the big arena and plant Genghis Khan's banner there. Said banner are really nine: symbolizing nine horse tails, for nine yellow horses were all that was left to the young Temudjin when his father was killed and his male relations abandoned his mother & siblings. Temudjin didn't sell or slaughter them but made them the core of a herd, and thus as it turned out the core of his empire. That's why they are his banner, and why there are nine yellow horses standing guard, too. The brown horses and their riders symbolize his first followers.
Are you ready for the big festival yet? Genghis Khan certainly is. He even clears up the weather for us as the evening progresses:
Khutag Undur, where we spent the night, has its own old volcano, and as mentioned lots and lots of Edelweiss. Here's the proof:
The valley of Amarbayasgalant, the site of one of the most respected monasteries, is also great for herds. The nomad from the ger spam post who extended her hospitality to us lives there. The following photo shows not only the mixture of goats and sheep that's typical of a mongol herd, but also what gave the sheep their nickname of "fat tail sheep":
Not all the milk is taken by humans:
And this is a sight that sums up Mongolia. The temple buildings could be anywhere, China, Tibet, you name it. (Which is where the Mongols pinched the building styles from, of course.) But the horses in front? Only Mongolia. The white little small buildings on the hills are called "Stuppas". The red complex is the temple proper.
Amarbayasgalant, currently with 35 Lamas in it, once occupied by hundres of them:
Not al the visitors are tourists:
The little Lamas-in-training reawakened Davaa's Buddhist issues (see Ulan Bator post):
But the most beautiful sight of the Amarbayasgalant temple is surely this one:
That camp was our last one, last night spent in a yurt, before returning to the big city.
Which received us, wouldn't you know, with a bit of rain and clouds. But never mind! People were already jazzed up for the upcoming Naadam Festival, and wore their traditional costumes while going to eve-before concerts and other events, and their anticipation and cheer were as irresitable as their colours. Voilà:
Also present, and we would see them again the next day: soldiers in the historical armour, presenting the banner of Genghis Khan and standing guard in front of his monument at the Parliament. As the opening of the Naadam Festival the next day, they would ride to the big arena and plant Genghis Khan's banner there. Said banner are really nine: symbolizing nine horse tails, for nine yellow horses were all that was left to the young Temudjin when his father was killed and his male relations abandoned his mother & siblings. Temudjin didn't sell or slaughter them but made them the core of a herd, and thus as it turned out the core of his empire. That's why they are his banner, and why there are nine yellow horses standing guard, too. The brown horses and their riders symbolize his first followers.
Are you ready for the big festival yet? Genghis Khan certainly is. He even clears up the weather for us as the evening progresses:
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Date: 2013-07-18 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-07-18 01:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-07-19 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-07-20 01:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-08-12 12:02 am (UTC)But I must admit, as much as the amazing land and sky of Mongolia impressed me in the pictures, it's the people pictures that really draw me in, and I'm so glad you took all of them.