Hi all--before I get started on our little camping trip in the countryside---I first wanted to give you the link to the pics of the Naadam festival--which Terri wrote about earlier. You can see them here.
So after Naadam, we loaded up and headed out to Terelj National Park. It's relatively close to UB--but here, close is a really subjective term, mainly due to the infrastructure. Ready to stop breathing dirty city air--the six of us happily set off--accomplished driver and hardy Soviet Era Van in tow (called a Forgone) for the country.
The drive was beautiful and incredibly bumpy--just as they all have been. We had some extra adventure by crossing several rivers in the van--lifting our feet and bags to avoid any incoming water. We were following the family member of the place we were staying at -- but he was on horseback and could go places much easier than we could. Never the less, after lots of chanting and cheering on of the driver---we got to our destination--a family ger camp inside the park boundaries.
Boundaries, that's kind of a funny word here---seeing as there are (outside the city at least) none. Its strange for me--who is so used to trails, fences and velvet ropes guiding me through sites, to be allowed virtually anywhere. The family had set up shop inside the park. They had their own ger---and kept one for tourists, and also offered themselves as horse guides. We had a traditional Mongolian meal (Bowl o'meat, yogurt curd jerky, botz--a type of yummy dumpling filled with--you guessed it, meat, and vodka.) We spent the rest of the day hiking--chatting and playing scrabble.
The next day we hit the "non" trail and went horse back riding. Now, Becky was a little concerned about us going, she recently fell off of a Mongolian Horse, one of her interns fell of a horse when we first came to town and ended up going home AND we saw someone bite it when we were driving to the camp. Eleanor, Jerri, Terri and I were determined though, so Becky had a talk with the family---please go slow.
Mongolians don't do slow on horseback--at least they don't seem to like to --- the old man who was leading us kept teaching us how to say "go faster" (Choo) to our horses. We never did learn slow down or stop. It was great to be given free reign (sorry no pun intended) to guide our horses over streams, through valleys and across hills. Just knowing that, given the time and the ability, that you could go anywhere in the country was incredibly liberating.
We've settled back in UB now--couple of days for museum and souvenir shopping. We have had an incredible time. This will most likely be my last post in country---I'll do one more final thoughts, with pictures, once I get back home. For anyone that's been reading this--thanks for taking this journey with us--and please keep us in your thoughts for safe and speedy travel back home. Terlj Pics can be found here.
Take Care All.
Love,
Mel
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