Mongolia Senior Couple Outing - June 2010

We flew into Ulaanbaatar on Monday, June 21st. Here we are gathered to leave on our outing - June 23rd. President and Sister Andersen are in front and they have a week left before they finish their mission and go home to Hong Kong. They have been a good Mission President and wife, and we have enjoyed serving with them. Elder and Sister Atkins, front and to the left, are also leaving when we return from our trip. There are some amazing couples here who are so willing to serve and do what is needed. They have been so supportive of us, being so far away.

13th Century is a Theme Park, camps that have been reconstructed to the time of Chinggis Khaan. They think he had 13 of these camps, only 6 of them have been finished.

Guard Camp: It was set up to train his soldiers - 2,000 at a time.

This is the dress they would have worn, when it is hot we see the men slip one arm out of their deels.

This is a Chinggis Khaan's Flag. The white represented peace. The black one, just like this except with black hair, meant they were coming to war. I think it would have been terrifying to see Chinggis Khaan and his army coming toward you with the Black flag waving! When C.K. went to war only half of the soldiers would go, he left the other half to protect Mongolia.

President Andersen and Dad. They did get to ride horses the next day. Dad was so excited! He still missed Minnie and Missy, I think.

Education Camp: This is where the children were taught. The big Ger at the top was the classroom and sleeping quarters for the children. It was huge and held 50-60 children at any given time. They were taught language, writing, poetry, music, domestic arts, how to make clothes and how to kill an animal, etc. The children learned to ride a horse at 4 years of age. The boys began training as a soldier at 8 years. One of the interesting things was the young boys would memorize poetry, which were instructions a soldier would have to know. When C. K. gave a command it would go down the line of troops in the form of a poem that they all had memorized and knew, so the last soldier knew exactly what the first one knew, there would be no misunderstanding.

She is writing our name, Anderson, in Old Mongolian Script. The Mongolian people have a very high literacy rate - like 95%. They all learn Mongolian and another language - usually English, sometimes Russian.

This is the bathroom facilities! No seat, just a place to put your feet. and two can go at one time!

Herder's Camp: We got to ride a camel! This camel is 8 years old. The hump is sagging, because his water is low. They can go 2 months before they have to drink! This camel is molting so there was hardly any fur, but they brush them and use the fur like wool, to make clothes and sweaters which are very warm. I felt like I was going to fall off, as he was getting up.

Next!

This is his wife and their homes. I think they live here during the summer, there was a herd of goats. We watched them "sheer" a goat. It is done with scissors and takes about 20 minutes. The colored goats, brown, black and red, are combed, it is sold for Cashmere wool. The white goats are used for food and family needs. She fed us goat yogurt and cheese, which tasted alot like rich butter. There were also a couple of children, 8 and 10, I think. One of the interesting facts that our Guide told us was - There are 30 million sheep, 20 million goats, 15 million cows, 5 million camels (mostly in domestic herds), and 3 million people - in Mongolia.

King Ger: This is like the Ger that C.K. would have lived in, it was never taken down. It is built on a huge wagon and transported as needed. This is where he received guests and visitors. We had a traditional Mongolian meal, soup, salad and hoshers. They had some music, also - Horse-headed fiddle, the Mongolian Long Harp, and Throat Singing. They were beautiful. The location is amazing, it is set out on a vast prairie, (the steeps). It is so hugh and open, it goes on forever! Every July they hold a traditional Nadaam Festival there with the 3 Manly Sports - Archery, Wrestling and Horse racing.

We were able to dress up in the King and Queens clothes. They told Dad that a soldier never smiles, he is trying not to smile!

Shamans Camp: This is Mongolia's traditional Religion, dating back to 545 AD. Buddhist did not come to Mongolia until the 1500, under the 14th King of Mongolia. All 22 of the Mongolian Tribes are represented here on a pole with an animal or symbol. They worship the sky and earth and various animals. This is a woman Shaman

Chinggis Khan Statue: This place is where he is said to have found his Golden Whip, which brought him good luck, and the place he fought China and Turkey and won. The Statue is 130 feet high. We climbed up the tail and out onto the horse's mane. You can see little people there.

A long ways down! The complex is supposed to be completed in 2012. It is amazing!

Us with His Golden Whip.

Buddhist Monastery Gate: A working Healing Monastery. Things are so colorful. The Russians came in and killed all but about 100 of their Priests. The others were able to hide in a cave, the people protected them. They still hold services here.

Heaven's Envoy Ger Camp: We spent the night here our Ger is the last one on the right.

We then traveled back to Ulaanbaatar and had a lunch cooked by Pres Batbold and Baatar.

It was a very fun Outing and we took so many pictures, it was hard to decide which ones to use. I hope this gives you an idea of the beauty and vastness of the land...it is truly beautiful and lives up to its name of "Country of the Blue Sky"!

We love you and are so appreciate of our rich Heritage,

and the opportunity to share it with these people!