Eco Nature Travel

What is so special about a boat ride in Khovsgol lake? The crystal clear  & fresh water, the mountains, the lake, the weather and the surroundings…it’s awesome!

All of us was so tired after the horse ride, took a rest and had our dinner and back to the ger to have some drinks and chat for the night..The sky at night was full of bright & twinkling stars surrounding the ger camp.

The second day, we decided to go for boating..the weather was not too good..cloudy, drizzling and it was so cold..Actually, i did not expect the weather to be such cold & did not even bring any winter clothes. When we started the boat ride, reached the opposite side of the lake, it was sunny with some sunshine. When we reached there…there is a small stoney hill where u need to walk up in order to have a view of the lake from another angle. It was always nice to see things from the top. As the lake is so big and huge that you can’t see the whole lake. On the other hand, u can see different things when u are standing at different location. I guess this applies to our life to where we should see things from different perspective….hehehe…

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Well, the weather was not that promising for us as it is rainy season..Somehow, the god helped us someway…hehehe..

After took some nice pictures up the hilltop, we took a rest while waiting for the camp owner to arrange the horse ride. I then walked along the lake alone for a short while..I heard some sound of birds coming from somewhere. I then found some birds and seagulls swimming along the lake & took some pictures. The lake water is crystal clear and fresh. Just take a look at these pictures down here. Then, a mongolian boy riding a horse came to me and informed me that my friends were waiting for me for horse riding. Of course, he doesn’t know how to speak English..He just tell me “horse! horse!”

Pictures that i took along the lake…look at the crystal clear water of Khovsgol lake…

  This boy is about 10years old and can ride the horse well and fast. I heard that most mongolian boys started to ride a horse as young as 3 or 4 years old especially those that are from the countryside.

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Horseriding along Khovsgol (Huvsgul) lake is so fun! Can u imagine we rode for 3hours and we experienced different kind of weather. We experienced the sunshine, the rain, the ice drop, the snow, windy and cloudy weather along the lake within these 3hours ride.  Enjoying the beauty of the lake at different point along the lake. The scenary, the people u met and the natural surroundings is not the same along the lake. I guess that’s not only a path to discover the nature but the path of life…Anyhow, the journey of one’s life is full of discoveries, unpredictable with ups & downs. Due to all these differences, we then can differentiate what is life or what is happiness and what exactly we want in life. Anyway, it is our choice to think and lead the kind life you want. It’s a matter of thought and decision. Once u have a peaceful and clear mind, you will find your own path to discover the things that u need. Don’t you think so? This journey of mind is really awesome…I have never ride a horse for such long hours and along such a huge and beautiful lake..

Oh…while we were taking a break at a nearby shop, one of the guide grabbed me near to his horse and i think it scared the horse. The horse gave me a kick as i was standing somewhere behind the horse…Oh..gosh…I felt that i was caned by my  mom on my thigh & stomach. It was really a hard kick but i think the horse did not use its full strength yet..Thank god! i am alright..just some light bruises..Anyway, this is my second horse ride experience! It is still a joy ride.  These pictures were taken by my korean friends, Mr Choe..only the last two pictures were taken by me as the ride was too bumpy for me to take a picture while riding..

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It was so cold when we reached the camp. We stayed in the ger. The camp owner was waiting for us and start up the firewood for us to warm up the ger. There were so many bright and sparkling stars outside the gers. We were exhausted. We then chat for a while and went to sleep after dinner as all of us didn’t sleep well along the bumpy ride journey.

We wake up in the morning but it was drizzling…the breakfast was simple with just an egg and some rice & korean hot pepper paste. Though it was drizzling, we can’t wait to see the Huvsgul Lake. We then approached to the lake…it was so huge and it’s as large as a sea..where u can’t see the end of it….This is the first time i saw such a huge lake.

Some of these pictures are taken by my korean friend - Mr Choe

Some locals was selling some local made goods but selling in dollars. Well. u can negotiate with them. Some are quite pricey but are handmade. Some are cheap.

Thanks god the rain stop in the afternoon. We then walk along the street and take a trip to one of the hill nearby the camp to see the view of Huvsgul/Khovsgol from high land area. The road condition up the hill is so narrow that it can only afford one car at a time and the road & not paved. I guess the skills of the driver must be really good. The scenery up the hill was fantastic as u can have a full view of the lake and its surroundings were amazing..!When we came down from the hill, we saw many yaks, white & black yak…This is the first time i saw a real yak. I see yak only in the TV or in a book.

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You may see many beautiful wild flowers around the city and countryside of Mongolia. Just take a look at the pictures down here. You can see these flowers blossom during the summer time. These flowers looks small & tiny on the ground but the flowers has certainly beautify the steppe around Mongolia.

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What’s a nature camp? Is it fun? If you are a nature lover, probably you will like it….

My company organised a summer camp in early August to this summer camp. It has nothing but surrounded by mountain contrast with the bright blue sky. There’s a river nearby called the Tuul River for you swim, wash your hairs or take a shower if you want.  Yes, no shopping center, no TV, no air-cond, no restaurants nearby, no cinemas… Oh, yes, there is no proper toilet but a wooden built house with no door and a big hole underneath for you to settle your business. Thus, it may be a boring place to some people who use to the modern lifestyle. It is certainly a good place to runaway from the hustle and bustle life of the city for me. A short stay of experiencing such a simple life in a remote area like this is certainly a good therapy to relax your mind.

Barbecue in the Summer with open nature surroundings

What I like most is barbecue in the summer of Mongolia. It may be hot and sunny but it is windy. Thus, it makes u feel not too hot to have barbecue. Of course, the food is the one that will make u enjoy most. Besides that, doing it with the surroundings of the nature. That is really awesome. Not like Malaysia, it would be better to barbecue at night and even that, u will sweat like mad.

Swimming & Washing up in a crystal clear river

The water is cool and cold although it is summer time. I was shivering when i was thrown into the river by my colleagues. Animals nearby will come to the river for thirst. As there’s no proper toilet for shower, i decided to dry clean myself. My colleague whose locals just walked to the river and wash their hairs along the river. It was a nice scene which i have took a picture of it…It was quite fun to play with the shallow water and canoeing or kayaking along the river is fun too.

Settle business in the bush

As I approach the wooden no door toilet…I see many flies around, I can’t really step in. How do I settle my business? Do it in the bush where it’s not so noticeable. It is more difficult when u want to do it at night as the bush will be dark. Thus, don’t drink too much water before u sleep. Well, i remember when it takes 4hours to reach KL before the current North-south highway of Malaysia was built, there is not highways and rest area for us to pee. My parent will usually pull over and asked us to settled along the road side. That was when we were small & ignorant. It is unbelievable that i do that again after so many years…out of no choice..

Does this consider one of the nature stay? I think so.

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Technorati Tags: flowers,flora,mongolia,Ulaabaatar,Ulan bator,summer

Do u know that the capital is usually crowded and the most polluted place in the country? This does not exclude the capital of Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator). What is so special about this place? Have u noticed the flowers grown around UB?

During the winter, this place smell smokey everywhere as people burn wood or coal for heating purposes. When comes to summer, u can see flowers blooming everywhere, people started to wear casually like Malaysia. Besides that, everywhere is grown with nice and beautiful flowers. Although it is being developed but u still can see nicely grown flowers grown every where - along the road side, walkway, and not to mention about the country side. To me, all these flowers have beautified the place with various colours and added lives to this place compare to the winter. When u have experienced the cold & harsh winter here, u will definitely appreciate the beauty of the summer in UB.

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Technorati Tags: mongolia gers,ger,yurt,mongolia tent,tourist camp,travel mongolia,discover mongolia,cultural stay,home stay mongolia,culture

Both "Girls" and "Gers" have the same sound. When u heard people said The Mongolian Ger is nice - Make sure u clarify whether that’s a Ger or Girl the person are referring? hehehe

What is the Mongolian Ger? Have u seen one? A Mongolian Ger (meaning home in Mongolian) or "Yurt" (in English) is a large white tent which could keep the Mongolians living comfortably from the harsh and extreme weather. U will not see so many gers in other parts of the world except in Mongolia. Many Mongolians still live in the gers and you can find gers around the city easily. It is the symbolic of the Mongolian nomadic life and culture.  This is because nomadic people need to build dwellings that could be easily moved and mobile. A ger can be assembled in 1-3hours.

The ger may look flimsy or may not seem to have a solid structure but it could actually withstand strong wind or stand storm in Mongolia. The Ger structure is supported by collapsible wooden frame. The Ger is covered by canvas with insulating layer of felt sandwiched in between.More layer will be added during the winter to keep the ger warm. During the summer, the sides of the Ger can be rolled up and mosquitoes netting is used to stop the bugs from flying into the ger. The door of a Ger usually faces the south. Men usually move around the left and women vice versa, with the believe that the protection from the God of sky (men) and sun (women). There is a small cartwheel-shaped opening at the top of a ger which called toon. It allows smoke to exit and air to enter. The walls and doors are usually brightly painted.

Of course, the Ger is not like a any modern house in the capital or any other brick house where u get modern toilet, kitchen, living room and few bedrooms. The basic facilities of the ger is some low beds, few simple cabinets, a table and chairs and a stove. The stove with a steel chimney is being used for cookiing and keeping the ger warm by burning the firewood. There isn’t any central heat adjuster and the door is the only adjuster of the heat during winter.  Some gers don’t even have electricity supply in the country side. There are a lot of tourist camp which offered Ger camp stay. It is certainly a good and unique experience to stay in the ger if u have not experience traditional ancient stay like the nomadic people here.

These are some Ger camp pictures which i have took below. I have experienced it during the summer and winter. I was surprised that it keep us cool during the summer and keep us warm during the winter. The problem during the winter is that u need to wake up during the night to burn the firewood when the wood finished burning, and i can’t shower in the ger or the camp as there was no hot water in some camps and some camps do not have a proper toilet…Thus,  be prepared and enjoy the nature living in Mongolia and i think this is one of the best place u can get close to the nature especially during the summer.

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