Traditional Mongolia

TRAVEL 2010
Still today many people live a nomad lifestyle in Mongolia. Even most people raced in the city have memories from childhood from living in a Ger, or have relatives’ somewhere living a traditional Mongolian lifestyle.

Child resting inside a Ger

Everywhere you go in Mongolia you find these traditional homes. Even in the city many people prefer to live in a Ger. A Ger is a circular house/tent constriction covered with layers of felt. It is the traditional home for millions of Mongolians and the space inside a Ger is used in a special way.

Ger-museum
After the liberation from Soviet Union in the 90th, Buddhism has become the official religion in Mongolia. But my impression from visiting Mongolia was that few people seemed to be devoted to Buddhism today. However the few Temples that have been left (after the massive destruction from Soviet Union in last century) these sites and religious places do offer a key towards historical perspective and some explanations to social habits in the country.

Manzshir monastery
Mongolians identify themselves and their spirituality with the Blue color. Blue symbolizes the sky, but also the very soul of “a true Mongolian”. The blue color is worshiped by all Mongolians no matter what religious believe they have

If you ever go to Mongolia it is worth visiting the monastery Amarbayasgalant.
You will have to drive some 250 km north of Ulaan Baatur. Roads are mainly good (by Mongolian standard), but last 50 km you need a jeep to get there. This tempel complex has more than 35 buildings, and is one of the four monasteries in whole Mongolia that remaind more or less intact after the Soviet imperium. Tradically all 800 munks and Lamas at Amarbayasgalant were executed by the Soviet regime in the beginning of 20th century, but more or less all buildings were left unscathed. Today the monastery houses 40 munks.

TRAVEL 2010, Mongolia and Nadam
Nadam is a yearly festival in Mongolia. It starts in mid-july in the capital Ulaan Baatur and continues in different areas around the country until mid-august. Celebrating and engagements in different sports and games is the very center of this festival. Traditional clothing’s is part of the festival and many Mongolians like to pose in front of a camera in their traditional dresses.

This photo was taken at Nadam in Ulaan Baatur and a very popular horserace 40 km west of the city. The horse races were performed by kids in age 8 -13, and with horses at the age of five. Mongolians believe that horses in the age of five, is the most vital and spiritual age in a horses life and this horserace is very popular.

This two photos was taken at “Bow and arrow” competition, Nadam, Ulaan Baatur. As the arrow hit its target, judges’ gives their opinion of the shot, by singing and racing their hand towards the sky. A good shot gives many raced hands, long tones and singing. Bad shot, no singing, no hand towards the sky.

Mongolia in ordinary daylight


Three different styles in architecture and photoshot from the countryside.
TRAVEL 2010
To me, it seems that Mongolia do have a few challenges to overcome and solve in the future.
Alcoholism is a major problem and people are suffering tremendously all around the country from this habits and their outcome. My impression is that Mongolians expect the government to do something about it, and seems disappointed, that too little has been made.
However, Mongolia is a free country in the sense that people can have their own opinion about right and wrong; political thoughts etc.

Dulaankhaan and Museum in Ulaan Baatur

The few cities built in Mongolia do have a characteristic “Soviet look”.
Surprisingly in UB (Ulaan Baatur) there was one official tiny garden with flowers, but from a closer look – it was a combination with plastic flowers!



Statue of Lenin in Ulaan Baatur.
For me as a tourist, I could not take away my eyes from all garbage laying everywhere; along roads, railway tracks, in suburbs, in national parks, lush valleys and rivers. Sadly, today you have to go very far away in wilderness, not to find plastic bags, vodka bottles and paper cans left in the landscape. We can only hope that this will soon change!