Saturday, October 24, 2015

Mongolia: Ulaan Baatar and the Gobi Desert

The first surprise landing in U.B. was to see GERS among houses
even one on top of a new building
from the Zaisan Hill soviet monument we saw mostly soviet buildings
but in the center of U.B. this beautiful tower
but the cleaning of window panes has to be safer
a new tradition is born in front of this statue...
Wedding photos...
with Champagne cork flying in the air
They show the disparity of clothing...
modern style for young people...
but traditional style ...
for older ones
This couple chose to have also a photo in front of this camel
What a cultural gap: the mother breast feeding in public and her son lost in his smartphone!
a modern family of 4 on the same bicycle!
Older generation with a kid on an electric car
Students in their graduation robe!
In front of the old Bhuddist pagoda...
another wedding photo...
the decorated older generation
last example of adaptation: The dinosaurs in a mall during the renovation of the museum!
We flew to our camp in the Gobi desert
to see the two humped Bactrian camels
the spectacular sand dunes
beautiful landscape
Our first petroglyph
this one of a deer
and the sunset at the flaming cliffs

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Mongolia: Golden Eagle Festival Oct. 2015

We staid in a rustic ger camp...
by a beautiful river...
They came to our camp
holding the eagle with a heavy duty glove
The golden eagle with fully open wings
This 11 year old girl was the youngest competitor
with her brother
but the competition is not restricted to young riders
She won last year's festival
still has her winner's smile with her eagle
His armrest is made of a deer antler
connivance
a senior competitor well protected from the windy cold
there was a camel race with a very young rider
His eagle flew to him
the eagle had to fly down from the hill to catch the prey
and bring it to his master
Here, the rider has to galop and catch the cap on the ground 
He shows the beheaded sheep 2 riders will have to compete for.
they defy balance rules
are pulled almost to the ground
... like here
it's a tough fight
which can last
I was proud...
She smiled and say: Jacques have him open his wings!
and the eagle did it