Project Dried Oasis made on Cap Verde 2015

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Monday, August 16, 2010

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.


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