Mongolia
A month or so ago, I was asked by
Glenfiddich Explorers to become one of their travel "experts". It's a great site that showcases different countries and different adventures. My first assignment was to write seven reasons to visit Mongolia; the difficult part was limiting it to only seven! Here are the reasons I came up with:
1. Wide Open Spaces: For those who like the serenity of miles of unpopulated land, surrounded by endless skies and open plains, the steppes of Outer Mongolia are paradise. It is a place where you can clear your thoughts. Often
the only other sign of life is an occasional herd of wild ponies. You
won’t find the bustle of a major city here, only the uninterrupted view
of the blue sky meeting the yellow earth.
2. Sleeping in Gers: A ger, typically a white felt structure, more commonly known as a yurt
in Central Asia, will most likely be your home if you decide to sleep
on the steppes of Mongolia. Fuelled by wood or dung, the iron stove in
the middle of the ger will assume great importance. Stoking the fire
becomes second nature, especially after your first frigid night. Fall
asleep to the distant howling of wolves and the crackling of the fire.
3. Riding Horses: A must for any trip to Mongolia, riding horses through the wooded paths
of Terelj National Park is accessible for all, whether one is an
experienced rider or not. Horse racing is one of the national sports,
and seeing a local herdsman gallop bareback across the plains is truly a sight to behold.
An additional treat for the adventurous is a ride on a Bactrian camel;
nestled snugly between its two humps, the ride is surprisingly
smooth…once you’re up.
4. Mongolian Cuisine: If you are lucky enough to find yourself in a Mongolian home, you may be
offered a snack of airag – fermented mare’s milk – and aaruul, a curd made of yak or camel milk.
Although dry and hard at first, aaruul soon tastes sweeter as it
softens in between sips of airag. This appetizer is a fine start to the
main course of mutton that usually follows.
5. The Mongolian People: The
most sparsely populated independent country in the world, Mongolia is
home to approximately 2.75 million people. Friendly and open, Mongolian
people are more than willing to help visitors. You will be greeted with a
smile everywhere you go, and instantly be made to feel welcome, comfortable, and safe.
With a rich background that includes the rise and fall of Genghis
Khan’s empire, the people are patriotic and eager to share their
history.
6. Sukhbaatar Square: If you visit Mongolia’s capital city of Ulaanbaatar, you will inevitably find yourself in Sukhbaatar Square,
home to the Government Palace. Statues of significance include Genghis
Khan and Damdin Sukhbaatar, leader of Mongolia’s 1921 revolution that
was a major step in the country’s independence. The square is still a
site for cultural and political events and offers many great photo
opportunities.
7. The Trans-Mongolian: Snaking its way across the country, the Trans-Mongolian railway connects
travellers between China and Russia, and is an amazing way to see the
countryside and interact with local people. You’ll lose yourself gazing
out the window at the expanse of open country dotted with the occasional
white ger. The only time the hours drag is when entering or leaving
Mongolia; border crossings are notoriously slow, but take the
opportunity to get to know your neighbour, as they may have some aaruul
to share.
If you have a chance, you should check out
Glenfiddich's site. Once you get past the log-in page (entering your location and age is enough), you can look at dozens of other contributions by other travellers. If you'd like to see my contribution, search for either "Mongolia" or "Brenna" in the right hand corner.
I'm writing a new piece for them on the history of
sumo wrestling in Japan, so look for that soon, too!
