Tag Archives: mongolia

Summer in Mongolia – Mongolia Highway

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I can’t believe it..It is certainly amazing…the steppe, the large grassland, the sheeps and the blue sky looks like the masterpiece of an artist. You will never be able to find it some other place. The Blue sky contrast with the large grassland. The best time to visit Mongolia is in the month of July to August though their summer starts from end May. From May to Mid Jun has a lot of rains and it may not be a good time to visit. Moreover, the greenery of Mongolia mountains still can’t be seen during May or Mid Jun..

I joined my friend’s family for a tour to the 13th century park and the Chinggis Khan monuments. It is my first experience going to the countryside, staying in a ger. Thanks to my dear friend-Judy for inviting me to join her family trip. Thanks to our friend- Samed and Bayarnam for their effort in preparing the food, making the trip as one of the most enjoyable one I had in Mongolia ever since i reached here.

 

a) Mongolia Highway:

The highway route condition is still far behind developing country. It was narrow and may not be supply with electricity at night. There’s no rest house or toilet. U can’t expect any emergency telephone or towing services either if your car breakdown. Thus, b sure to get your vehicles service before it goes to the countryside.  For me, the most difficult part is to find toilet. It is quite common u can see people stop by the road side and pee especially man. However, women just get to cover themselves with umbrella or go to an area which is not noticeable to settle themselves. Thus, i usually don’t drink lots of water or ensure that i don’t need to go to toilet throughout the journey. Thus, dehydration is another problem of going to country side.  Another funny thing is that there is no signboard along the highway. Most mongolians can recognise the way by recognising the mountains or just drive off the highway towards the direction of the mountain they know. It is just like a dessert where u can find nothing but mountain. I was very surprised with their ability and asked my mongolian friends how they can recognise the way. They told me, they follow their instinct and every mountain is different to them…Isn’t this amazing? I can lost my way even with signboard and direction while i am in Malaysia.

 

I guess people in the city can really drive in the countryside without any signboard…Can u imagine driving without any direction in a desert?

To be continue in my next blog on places I visited the Chinggis Khan Statue Complex & The 13th Century Park.

Mongolia – Urine Therapy

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Have u ever drink your own urine or your own children urine? Unbelievable, right?

This is something amazing that i discovered from my Mongolian friend. One day, my friend was not feeling well and she told me she needs to drink her daughter’s urine when she got back. She told me that when her daughter not feeling well, she will let her daughter drink her own urine and vice versa.It was unbelievable to me at first. She then told me that some Mongolian believe that urine could help to prevent sickness and some even believed that it help to cure cancer. It is very effective for high fever. The urine that they drink will usually be the first discharge in the morning.

Urine is a slightly acidic fluid which carries waste from the kidneys outside the body. However, urine- being a waste product does not mean that it is toxic or harmful. It is just that some substance that the body cannot absorb the substance at the present time which like some leftover foods. Unfortunately, we cannot ingest waste products in the form they had when first ingested. Thus, urine is not likely to be harmful or healthful in some research.

Anyway, some people who have tried it found that it is effective. Is there anyone out there who have tried it? May be you can share with me about the effectiveness on the Urine therapy.

Mongolian Ovoo Ceremony

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Ovoo?

"Ovoo" – what does that mean? This is the first question i asked my colleague. She was surprised that i don’t know about it. I told her all i know about Mongolia is about the cold winter, Chinggis Khan and some basic facts about population and economy in Mongolia. I knew nothing about the culture and the way the people live here.

How is Ovoo Performed?

Ovoo ceremony is a traditional religious ceremony where the Mongolians’  pray at the mountain facing the direction which the sun rise. It is an offerings to the gods with a pyramid collection of stones, wood and silk scarves. Mongolians will usually walk around the Ovoo three times in clockwise direction.  Rocks, clothes, a bottle or a little money will then be offered to the prayers. It is also believed that if a person does not do this ritual or behaves disrespectful, the person will fall ill or will die.  Activities like hunting, digging or taking down trees at the presence of the Ovoo is also prohibited. The Ovoo worship ceremony usually consists of monks saying prayers, people making offerings and a small subsequent feast, usually with horse racing.  I heard from my friends that some women are prohibited in certain Ovoo ceremonies. I have not attended any before but i just watched from the TV. The rituals are commonly held around Mongolia especialy in the countryside. It celebrates the end of winter and pray for good rainfall, plentiful grassf or the livestock, fish and anumals for hunting.The mongolians even pray for peace and safety on events around the mountains. It’s kind of interesting..I shall take a picture of it when i see it.

Has anyone seen it before probably you can share with me?

Ulaanbatar – Gateway to Mongolia

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Ulaanbaatar (Red Hero) is the capital of Mongolia. It is located at 1351 meters above sea level & in the central region on the banks of the River Tuul. It has about 250 years of history. The first capital of Mongolia was Urguu which is located at the Da Khuree Monastery at Arkahngai aimag(province). Ulaanbaatar was established in 1639 as the centre of Buddism in Monoglia and home to Zanabazar – Head of Buddhism in Mongolia. The nomadic encampment shifted from place to place until 1778 when it settled in UB and later ruled by Bogd Khaan. In 1924, it was officially declared the official capital of Mongolia.

UB is a gateway to Mongolia. It has a population of over 1’000’000 and a surface area of 135’800 hectares. It currently contributes 40% of the gross Domestic product. The city is surrounded by Holy Mountains – Bogd Uul, Songino, Bayanzurkh, and Chingeltei mountains. The city is thus divided into 6 districts: Sukhbaatar, Chingeltei, Bayanzurkh, SonginoKhairkhain, Khaan Uul and Bayangol. Sukhbaatar district is the central for Government House, Cental Post Office, museums and hotels. UB contrast the aspect of present Mongolian society as well as the traditional nomadic culture. You may also find many Buddhist monasteries, temples, traditional gers and cultural places contrast between modern and socialist era old buildings. Besides that, there are many dining places and pubs popular for foreigners and tourists. UB has the only international airport in the country and the Tran-Siberian railway corssess Mongolia from north to south connecting Moscow and Beijing.

There are a number of museums, cinemas and theaters, art galleries and some shopping centres around UB. However, you can still find some street loitering kids and adults walking around UB. Some could be begging, sleeping along the street and trying to find some food/treasures in the dumpsite. I remember once I found children as young as 4 or 5 years old begging at night in the winter outside some pubs with the family. It is really sympathize seeing them. However, I did not give them any money even few approach by them. I think it is not a proper way to help them in such way. Giving money to them is just making them realized that “Begging” could be a career to these small children to earn a living in the future. This will also encourage the parent to make use of them to beg for life. I have also seen a family got two of their children into the big trash can to dig some rubbish whereas the parent standing ouside the trash can to search for food and valuables from the trash. It is really a pity to see such scene. Thus, I think we should help them through proper channel and not giving money to them on the street. Don’t u think so?

Some picture around UB in the Summer and Winter seasons.

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