mon

Emptiness in Mongolia. Like Iceland, Mongolia's countryside look this empty. 

Where are people? Most Mongols had gone on war in 13th century.

The rest of civilans gone "immigrating and found "refuge" in Ulaanbaatar, Seoul, New York, Berlin...Immensity or emptyness in Mongolia's countryside and "Manhatten" jam in Ulaanbaatar. Traffic in Ulaanbaatar is horrible and horrible. Photo taken by Bolod.

vegetables

Two travellers visiting by a Mongolian herder's family who grows some vegetables at their summer camp. Photo taken by Bolod.

history


  • "History of the Mongols, from the 9th to the 19th century" by Howorth, Henry H. Sir, 1842-1923. 
    Published: (1876)
  • “…Rubruquis visited the town, where  he met a German and his wife, with whom his man Goset had spent the winter, having been sent by Sertak that he might ease his court. Rubruquis tells us that Batu and Sertak, one on one side the river, the other on the other, were wont to descend as far as this place in their winter migration, but no further, crossing over the frozen surface of the Volga when they had occasion, and taking shelter among the woods on its banks in severe weather…”, page 101, Sertak Khan.

read online: https://archive.org/details/p1historyofmongo02howouoft

wtite desert

Where is it? It's in Mongolia's Dundgovi Aymag or Middle Gobi Province. Gobi is green as soon as it rains. It looks white because of flowers. Photo by Bolod.

milking goats

Milking goats in southern part of Dundgobi Aymag or Middle Gobi Province. You think these little kids are just entertaining themselves while mother and sisters work hard. Not really. Kids in herder's family help to bring sheeps and goats, bring water from container, take out rubbish from ger and bring it to can...Photo by Bolod.

evening at nomadic campment

A calm evening at nomadic campement in Mongolia. It's "too crowded"-there are "too many gers"\tents\ around. Here, there are "too many animals" too here like cars in New York. This ladscape is the greatest contract to Ulaanbaatar, the Mongolia's "New York City". There is no space left for parking cars in Ulaanbaatar. About New York City, it said the city that never sleeps. Something is similar here too-some nights, dogs may bark at a lot in case volves appraoch the camp. Photo taken by Bolod.

sarla

Western Mongolia is the land of yak. These hairy animals cannot survive in southern Gobi desert and semidesert or in eastern plains of the country-it would be too hot for them. Herders say yak milk is the most fat one. That's why yak milk cheese butter is  one of the most preferred in market in Ulaanbaatar. Photo by Bolod.

gongor

Mr. Gongor Purev or Undur Gongor\"Tall Gongor"\ as publicly known\1879-1931\, the tallest ever Mongol in the modern Mongolian history. Gongor was born in south of today's Huvsgul Province of Mongolia. He was measured 2.36 m (7 ft 9 in) high by Roy Chapman Andrews, but some other sources even give 2.45 m (8 ft). He is known all over Mongolia, and also mentioned or pictured in some accounts of contemporary western travellers. He moved to Urga\today's Ulaanbaatar\ and was employed in administration of last king taking care of an elephant. In 1913, Mr. Gongor went to Saint Pettersburg as a bodyguard to Mongolian delegation led by Prime Minister T. Namnansuren that sought help from Tzar of Russia. 

 Rs: Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer who in 1920-s discovered a lot of bones and eggs of dinosaurs in Mongolia.

basansuren

In 2006, Guinness World Records recognised Mr. Basansuren\Bao Xishun, born 1951\, a herdsman from Inner Mongolia, China as the world's tallest ever living man. The Mongol man is 2.36 meter. From father's side, the world's tallest man belongs to Borjigin clan as Great Chingis Khaan.

RS: In 2006, The Mongolian herdsman saved 2 dolphins in aquarium, China's Liaoning Province by extracting dangerous plactics that stuck in their stomachs by using his 1.06 meter long arms.

driving tank

Travellers are to drive an old Soviet T-55 tank in Mongolia.  By the way, this tank is still able fight. In war reportages from Syria, you can notice that there are many T-55 tanks like this one here. This tank is simple and less vulnerable to enemy fire. Along with T-72, these type of tank is a main battle mashine there. Photo taken by Bolod.

winter race

Race has just ended for this horse. The horse crossed finish line the first. Happy owner and his assitants are removing sweat from the winner. Horse race is entertainment and business in Mongolia. Some people call it as a business of wealthy people. Racing in bitterly cold weather is specially hard and dangerous for jokeys who are always chidren. Although jockeys have to be older than 7 by law, in countryside,  6, even 5 year- old kids manage to participate in races. School teachers and chidren's organisations in Mongolia try to make differences. Photo taken by Bolod.

travels to mongolia

These two men show very Mongolian features. Their faces are brotherly familiar to me. I advise you to read a very interesting book of Mongols: "Travels In Mongolia, 1902: Journey of C.W. Campbell", the British consul in China. Consul C.W Campbell travelled to Mongolia and met its people. That time there were no inner and outer Mongolia. There was just one Mongolia.

picking up dungs

Bas tuukh or picking up dungs of cows is just one of numerious tasks that each Mongol herder does on daily basis for centuries. My grand-mother probably picked up several hundred tonnes of these cow dungs during her 92 year- life time. I did many hundred kilos, believe me.

Picking up the dungs is for:

a. cleaning floor of animal's shelter.

b. piling them for drying for fuel. During summer dungs get absolutely dryed.

Nomads don't pick up dungs of sheeps and goats because they are too small in size. Mongols also don't collect those of horses because the animals don't stay overnight near camps and their dungs are fairy small. Camel dungs are still too small although sometimes camels can stay near campment.

Photo by Bolod.

new year

New Year is like changing tired horses to fresh ones. Using urga or lasso, these two Mongol men caught fresh horses on field and released those they rode for some days. Photo taken in Bulgan province by Bolod.

horses arrive

Horses arriving. A few meters left! This spectator can't keep his emotions. It's how horses of one of 6 races appraoching finish line. Naadam of Ulziit County of central westrern Uvurkhangai Province. The county is celebrating it's local Naadam today: July 8th, a bit earlier than central event in Ulaanbaatar which always starts on July 11th. Photo taken by Bolod.