After being back to London for one week, we were off again to visit more family. This time we went east to Mongolia.
The trek to Mongolia is not one to scoff at. It’s really a two day journey.
Layover in Beijing
The kids look forward to long plane journeys as they can get their fill of movies. However, the shorter leg from Beijing to Mongolia was without. The kids couldn’t keep their eyes open at that point, no matter how uncomfortable the positions were.
Hannah & Caleb
We were so happy to see Uncle Joseph in the arrival area waiting for us! He helped us strap our luggage onto the mission car and then we were off.
The cousins were so excited to see each other. It was fun for us to bring some treats for them, like little cereal boxes, gifts from the family reunion, and other deliveries from the states.
But, as in all our travels, we wanted to make the most of it, so we hit the ground running.
Naadam
Loading up in the Mission Cars
We timed our visit just right for the national holiday, Naadam, which lasts for 3 days. During that time there are many games and tournaments, similar to an Olympics, I suppose. However, the festival is referred to as “the three games of men.” These games are Mongolian wrestling, horse racing, and archery.
We enjoyed walking around the festival grounds as they prepared for the opening ceremonies.
Boy Cousins
Girl Cousins
Stalls
Naadam is thought to have originated from the celebrating that was done after various occasions, like weddings, military success, etc. Then it was a way to train soldiers for battle. Now, Naadam officially celebrates when Mongolia declared itself a free country in 1921.
Genghis Khan’s Nine Horse Tails
Genghis Khan’s nine horse tails, representing the nine tribes of the Mongols, are transported from Sukhbaatar Square (the main square in Ulaanbaatar where the government building are) to the Stadium for the opening ceremony.
Marianne
Awaiting Ceremonies to Begin
Even though we didn’t understand what was being said, it was fun to watch all the groups march in – athletes, dancers, heads of state, military, and other performers.
Traditional Dancers
The best part was when the wrestling kicked off the games. There is no age limit – even the youngest of boys were out there. Even after one of the boys was beat – he kept getting back up to do it all over again!
Mongolian Wrestlers
Another popular Naadam activity is playing shagai, a traditional game using sheep anklebones. Because so many people come to Ulaanbaatar for the festival, shagai tournaments actually take place.
Shagai Tournament
We had played a version of shagai with the Benson’s so it was interesting to watch the different variations being played with teams.
Teams Lining the Sides
Shagai Shooter
It was fun to run into the sister missionaries as we were leaving the festivities. It was a fun day for them to mingle with the people wearing their traditional dress with their tags, so people could ask them about what they do.
Kids with Sister Missionaries
Scratching the Surface
We gave the kids the option of doing something in the city or going out to the countryside. They easily chose the countryside so we drove out to see the Chingiss Khaan (Mongolian spelling) Statue.
Emma & John T.
Our Family Group
It was interesting to walk through the visitor’s centre below the statue. There were exhibits from the Bronze Age to the 14th century.
Large Mongolian Boot
Gift Shop Finds
We went up the chest and neck of the horse for the panoramic view. Since I had done it my last time in Mongolia, it was fun to have everyone else enjoy it as well.
Genghis & Chris
Genghis Khan
Below the statue was set up a little ger camp, with Mongolian birds and food.
Camp Vulture
We were able to try one of the most traditional foods of Mongolia – huushuur (also spelled khuushuur). It is basically meat (mutton) and onions fried inside a flour/water dough. Even the pickiest of our eaters loved it!
Cami with Huushuur
On our way back to the city, we turned off the main road and tried to make our way to the river. With no country roads, it took us awhile to find a path we could follow. It was a little weird to think our off-roading was completely legal!
We finally found a great place along the river to picnic. Joseph showed us a spot in the river where they used to do baptisms when he was a young missionary in Mongolia.
Picnic View of Tuul River
The kids had a great time skipping and throwing rocks.
Herd of Wild Horses
At one point a small herd of wild horses came alongside the river where we were. It was all a little surreal.
Beautiful Scenery
Even with our time in the countryside, we still got in a short stop to the main square in Ulaanbaatar – Sukhbaatar Square . . . or Chinggis Square (newly renamed). This is where the main government building is.
Government Palace
We enjoyed attending church with the Benson’s on Sunday. The ward they attend is nearby and holds an English primary for all the expat families that live in the city. It was a comfort for our kids to hear English being spoken, as I’m sure it is for the Benson kids.
Mongolian Church Experience
Ger Camping
We were really excited for our biggest adventure during our stay in Mongolia – ger camping!
Packed & Ready to Go
The tour company picked us up at the mission home.
Tour Bus
When it was time to off-road, we had to transfer to a different bus, that could handle the terrain.
Off-Roading Bus
Unfortunately, Mongolia had been receiving a lot of rain up to this point, causing some flash flooding. We weren’t too surprised that we ended up getting stuck trying to fjord a small flooded area.
Looking Out on the Flood
Our poor driver had to call in for reinforcements, as we stayed put in the back.
Getting Towed Out
As we got closer to the camp, our excitement grew as the scenery became more and more idyllic.
Distant Ger Camp
As we arrived on site, we were greeted by a few of the staff and shown to our gers.
Welcome Letter
Attached to each ger (or between two), there were small ‘bathrooms’ attached. There was no hot water, but there was a toilet, sink, and small shower. Perhaps, this is why they referred to this accommodation as a ‘lodge’ not a ‘camp.’
Upgraded Gers
The kids enjoyed claiming their beds in our allotted gers. We ended up with 2 family gers, with the older kids getting one all to themselves.
Teen Ger
For the rest of the day, we were at our leisure to explore and relax.
Came Reading Outside Ger
Chris, Joseph, and I took the kids on a small hike, in hopes of finding an area where they could swim in the river.
Hiking to River
Crossing Flooded Areas
We had a great hike, but never did find a place to get down to the river. The kids were such troopers – holding out hope we’d find something.
Continuing Our Search
We finally had to go back to the camp and ask where the best place to get down to the river would be. They sent us in the opposite direction . . . which raised the kids’ hope.
Dashing to the River
We did get down to the river, but found it was way too high for our little ones. The excess rain made it very fast flowing and deep.
Disappointed Hikers
Never to be defeated, Joseph led us through cow fields to find a place where we could at least have the kids play around in the water for a bit.
More Traipsing
Finally, we came across a little island of rocks that the kids were able to wade out to and enjoy skipping rocks from.
Our Rock Island
It was a lot of fun for them, as the adults tried not to think of all the watered down cow poo they were picking up to throw or wading through.
Cami Crossing
It wasn’t until we had to wade back that we struggled trying to clean off whatever we had just waded through. Those with socks were just out of luck.
Crossing the Cow Pasture
After some rest and a good meal, we decided to take the kids on an evening hike, as we were told the sunset from the top of the hill was amazing.
Hiking up for the Sunset
As the sun was quickly setting, our pace was quite hurried. It took the younger ones a lot less time to get up to the top than it did the rest of us.
Straight Up
Once we were up, there was so much to see that we decided to keep going along the ridge to see what else we could see.
Hiking Fools
The best part of the climb for me was definitely doing some fun and memorable shadow pictures.
Tommy, Chris, Hannah, Bella, John T., Joseph, Cami, Caleb
By the time we came back down, we had to be guided by those with flashlights or phones.
The next morning, we had more adventures that were organized by the ‘lodge.’ They contract with a family who ‘summers’ on the hill (in a nomadic ger) to come down and do trail and yak rides.
Hurrying to Activities
The kids really loved the trail riding. I was a little nervous about the young ones going on the horses on their own, but they were great. The horses were very easy and well-tempered. The only drawback was the extremely hard wooden saddles that we used. Ouch!
Horseback Riding
The yak ride was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It was quite a bumpy ride and the year was a fly magnet, but we had fun.
Boys’ Yak Ride
Girls’ Yak Ride
Later that evening, we were invited into the lodge’s kitchen ger to learn how to make tsuivan, a noodle dish with vegetables and meat.
Ger Kitchen
Rolling out Noodle Dough
Cutting Noodles
Cutting Vegetables
It was really fun and we enjoyed getting to help make one of the Mongolian traditional dishes. The women in the kitchen were very kind and seemed to enjoy helping us.
Resting Before Dinner
As we checked out later that afternoon, we took a short stop on the hill to visit the nomadic family who had taken us horseback riding.
Nomadic Family
It was great that Heidi and Joseph could speak to them in Mongolian. I’m sure that always impresses the Mongolian people.
Mongolian Hospitality
We were invited inside for some Mongolian treats and mare’s milk. The kids were all excited for the treats but took one lick/bite and that was it. They are quite sour – not sweet, like you’d expect.
Pressing the Curd
Outside, the man showed us how they make the treats – some were in varying stages (being pressed or sun-drying).
Sun-Drying Treats
Our journey back to UB wasn’t any less adventurous as it was going. This time we got stuck in the mud and had to be towed out again. Joseph stayed with the driver as the rest of us got out and walked for awhile, until they came to pick us up on the way.
Stuck in the Mud
And, then, just like that, our adventure in the Mongolian countryside was done. With only a little more than a day left in our visit, the kids stayed busy painting, watching Studio C, and hanging out.
Hannah’s Water Coloring
John T.’s Water Coloring
We were so sad to leave, as we had just had an amazing experience – one that we never would have had if the Benson’s weren’t serving as mission presidents there right now. It was great to have our own little reunion on the other side of the world with them. Heidi and Joseph are doing an amazing job and, from what we’ve been told, the kids add a ‘fun’ feel to the mission. They are touching lives in Mongolia but also being amazing examples to their family spread across the world.
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