Visitng a Camel Herder Family
Sorry it took so long. We went straight from the Gobi into homestays. Mine didn't have hot water, let alone internet! We are off tonight for 5 days to the countryside, so you won't hear from me again for a while. There are 2 new short videos to see too. Be sure to look at them!
Since I have been away from a computer for so long, I am going to give you highlights of our trip to the Gobi rather than a long summary. It was hot and oh so very dusty. I’ve never been so dirty in my life! The scenery was amazing though and the animal time was unforgettable.
Train to Sainshand
They added an entire car just for our group, so we could be 2 to a compartment. So, we were the Fulbright car hurtling through the Gobi. It was a 10 hour train ride that was hot and dusty. We had to close the windows or the sand would be unbearable. Even so, just sitting in our seats we were covered with a layer of grit and I had dirt under my fingernails.
Danzanravjaa Museum
This person was a monk in Buddhist and Shamanism in the 1800’s. Story is he was killed by Manchu rulers. The incredible part of this story though is how Danzanravjaa’s assistant, Baishinchoijoo, guarded all of his artifacts and taught his son how to do the same. This continued through the generations to the present day and this collection is one of the few that survived the Soviet years in Mongolia. We met the 7th guardian in this generational line of protectors and even had a chance to see the contents of two boxes that had just been unearthed a few days before. There are still around 30 boxes of treasure buried in secret locations!
Sleeping in a Ger
For half of the nights in the Gobi, we slept 2 to a ger. The hole in the middle of the ger is wonderful because it lets in light and you can see stars at night. If the ger is traditional, the hole is not covered and all kinds of flying creatures join you – not exactly a bonus. To keep the space cool, you leave the door open and prop up the felt and material on one side of the ger with wood sticks. This allows all kinds of other critters in however. We heard of scorpions, mice, and rats in the gers of our group. We were lucky and only had beetles, moths, and flying black insects!
Broken Down in the Desert
A 6 hour hot, dusty, bumpy ride on dirt roads turns into a 16 hour ride. We termed the day “Black Friday”. One of the 3 passenger vans broke down every km or so…something about a fuel pump. We explored and I saw tons of tiny lizards, horses, and a kangaroo rat. We once stopped at an oasis, which was cool. I cannot stress the bumpy term enough. Those of you who have been on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland know exactly what I’m talking about – no exaggeration. The day ended with me dozing in the van and cracking my head on the side of the Russian van I had moved to. One week later – still have the bump! Oh, and there are no “bathrooms” in the desert!
Ivanhoe Mines
We had the chance to tour the copper mine that has been in the news a lot lately. Sporting goggles and hard hats we had the chance to see how the rocks and people are lifted up and down the mine shaft on giant pulleys operated in a separate control room. We didn’t get to go down in the mine, which was probably a good thing since it’s .8 of a mile down.
Khankhongor – “Weeping Camel”
For those of you who have seen “Story of the Weeping Camel”, we went to the big village that is shown in that documentary. The village is quite small: one shop, a 9 bed hospital, 3 main wells, a school, and a cultural center. They did have the only senior center in the country and a felt making area – which was a bit of a surprise. We had the chance to meet the dance teacher who is shown in the movie, but not the musician. We were told he had an accident, broke both his hands, and no longer plays.
Khankhongor School
A highlight was working in small groups with Mongolian teachers to create materials for newly added English classes for the upcoming school year. In a group with one Mongolian teacher and 2 other US teachers we came up with a poster/game to teach the parts of the body. The school is attended by children of herder families who stay in the dorms beginning at age 7.
Ger Welcome
Our leader Brian had taught us all about the protocol of entering and being welcomed in a ger. Put nothing on the floor. Take what you are offered with two hands. Pass the snuff bottle with your whole palm. First, we were offered camel’s milk and then a heaping bowl of hard, fried bread and salty cheese curds was passed by the daughter. The herder joined us and passed the snuff bottle to each of us individually. Yes, I tasted camel milk – very sour. My one bite of the fried bread told me it was rock hard and very greasy. The nibble of the cheese wasn’t so bad – just a little salty! We had a similar routine at the end of our visit – but this time with the camel’s milk we were able to collect!
Camels
We had the chance to be up close and personal with the camels! I milked a camel – first thing I’ve ever milked! I also had the chance to ride one too. I wasn’t quite ready when the camel started to stand up and I nearly fell off! Thank goodness there was a hump to hold onto! There was one I wanted to bring home with me. He liked having his jawbone scratched and would lick my hand! They definitely aren’t as mean as they are made out to be!
Goats
I had read about how goats are milked in a museum we went to earlier, but you have to see it to understand. It’s amazing how the goats just line up and wait to be tied in these long lines where their necks intersect. To milk them, you just go down the line, moving your little stool and bucket, until all are done.
Since I have been away from a computer for so long, I am going to give you highlights of our trip to the Gobi rather than a long summary. It was hot and oh so very dusty. I’ve never been so dirty in my life! The scenery was amazing though and the animal time was unforgettable.
Train to Sainshand
They added an entire car just for our group, so we could be 2 to a compartment. So, we were the Fulbright car hurtling through the Gobi. It was a 10 hour train ride that was hot and dusty. We had to close the windows or the sand would be unbearable. Even so, just sitting in our seats we were covered with a layer of grit and I had dirt under my fingernails.
Danzanravjaa Museum
This person was a monk in Buddhist and Shamanism in the 1800’s. Story is he was killed by Manchu rulers. The incredible part of this story though is how Danzanravjaa’s assistant, Baishinchoijoo, guarded all of his artifacts and taught his son how to do the same. This continued through the generations to the present day and this collection is one of the few that survived the Soviet years in Mongolia. We met the 7th guardian in this generational line of protectors and even had a chance to see the contents of two boxes that had just been unearthed a few days before. There are still around 30 boxes of treasure buried in secret locations!
Sleeping in a Ger
For half of the nights in the Gobi, we slept 2 to a ger. The hole in the middle of the ger is wonderful because it lets in light and you can see stars at night. If the ger is traditional, the hole is not covered and all kinds of flying creatures join you – not exactly a bonus. To keep the space cool, you leave the door open and prop up the felt and material on one side of the ger with wood sticks. This allows all kinds of other critters in however. We heard of scorpions, mice, and rats in the gers of our group. We were lucky and only had beetles, moths, and flying black insects!
Broken Down in the Desert
A 6 hour hot, dusty, bumpy ride on dirt roads turns into a 16 hour ride. We termed the day “Black Friday”. One of the 3 passenger vans broke down every km or so…something about a fuel pump. We explored and I saw tons of tiny lizards, horses, and a kangaroo rat. We once stopped at an oasis, which was cool. I cannot stress the bumpy term enough. Those of you who have been on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland know exactly what I’m talking about – no exaggeration. The day ended with me dozing in the van and cracking my head on the side of the Russian van I had moved to. One week later – still have the bump! Oh, and there are no “bathrooms” in the desert!
Ivanhoe Mines
We had the chance to tour the copper mine that has been in the news a lot lately. Sporting goggles and hard hats we had the chance to see how the rocks and people are lifted up and down the mine shaft on giant pulleys operated in a separate control room. We didn’t get to go down in the mine, which was probably a good thing since it’s .8 of a mile down.
Khankhongor – “Weeping Camel”
For those of you who have seen “Story of the Weeping Camel”, we went to the big village that is shown in that documentary. The village is quite small: one shop, a 9 bed hospital, 3 main wells, a school, and a cultural center. They did have the only senior center in the country and a felt making area – which was a bit of a surprise. We had the chance to meet the dance teacher who is shown in the movie, but not the musician. We were told he had an accident, broke both his hands, and no longer plays.
Khankhongor School
A highlight was working in small groups with Mongolian teachers to create materials for newly added English classes for the upcoming school year. In a group with one Mongolian teacher and 2 other US teachers we came up with a poster/game to teach the parts of the body. The school is attended by children of herder families who stay in the dorms beginning at age 7.
Ger Welcome
Our leader Brian had taught us all about the protocol of entering and being welcomed in a ger. Put nothing on the floor. Take what you are offered with two hands. Pass the snuff bottle with your whole palm. First, we were offered camel’s milk and then a heaping bowl of hard, fried bread and salty cheese curds was passed by the daughter. The herder joined us and passed the snuff bottle to each of us individually. Yes, I tasted camel milk – very sour. My one bite of the fried bread told me it was rock hard and very greasy. The nibble of the cheese wasn’t so bad – just a little salty! We had a similar routine at the end of our visit – but this time with the camel’s milk we were able to collect!
Camels
We had the chance to be up close and personal with the camels! I milked a camel – first thing I’ve ever milked! I also had the chance to ride one too. I wasn’t quite ready when the camel started to stand up and I nearly fell off! Thank goodness there was a hump to hold onto! There was one I wanted to bring home with me. He liked having his jawbone scratched and would lick my hand! They definitely aren’t as mean as they are made out to be!
Goats
I had read about how goats are milked in a museum we went to earlier, but you have to see it to understand. It’s amazing how the goats just line up and wait to be tied in these long lines where their necks intersect. To milk them, you just go down the line, moving your little stool and bucket, until all are done.
