Blogs from Bayankhongor, Mongolia, Asia

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Asia » Mongolia » Bayankhongor » Bogd July 7th 2011

Sometimes plans do not always work out. That was the case on our final research trip to Ikh Bogd. I had planned many activities but weather, health and the nomadic lifestyle of the people I was researching were all against us this time. As we slowly climbed the steep rocky tracks into the mountains we should have taken heed of the warning signs. First we passed the door of a Russian jeep hanging from a pile of rocks at the edge of a steep precipice. Then we caught up with another Russian jeep just as it belched out a dying plume of black smoke. It was loaded floor to ceiling with components of a summer ger, with stove and other parts hanging off the roof and back of the car. In the front seats were 5, ... read more
Milking yak
Sunset stupa
skies

Asia » Mongolia » Bayankhongor » Bogd June 25th 2011

Guchin Us has a few redeeming features: a hot shower, internet cafe and a couple of good restaurants that will cook tasty vegetarian food on request. On our last day Erin and I had vegetable soup that did not contain meat, accompanied with freshly baked bread from the herder group bakery. I think Erin felt sad that we were going as she had become part of our team and it was refreshing for her to speak English with a native English speaker. She has also made a few more contacts through our work and was looking forward to starting an English class for some of the government employees, including Danzan the soum governor. It was as though we were travelling through a different country as we drove back to Bogd. The two days of rain had ... read more
evening drink
horse race
riders

Asia » Mongolia » Bayankhongor » Bogd May 28th 2011

As I sat in the hot sun pulling the coarse metal comb through the tangled knots of the goat’s wool I got a deeper understanding of how hard Mongolian herders work. The goat bleated loudly and struggled against its tied feet as I tackled the knots in its fleece trying to extract the soft undercoat that is valuable cashmere wool. Nyamaa and I were staying with Nyamkhuu and Natseg for a couple of nights to get deeper insights into their family network. Natseg appreciated my help as we worked together and talked via Nyamaa’s interpretation. Spring is especially busy for Mongolian herders. First the baby animals are born, then the goats are combed for cashmere, followed by wool cutting – sheep and camel wool is cut with scissors rather than sheared, another long laborious process. This ... read more
Sunji
Kid
Kids on bike




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