News, Views and Reviews from Mongolia with Jess and Eternal Landscapes No Images? Click here Those that know me, know that part of my philosophy behind EL is to promote tourism to Mongolia outside of the peak profit making season. This update is dedicated to our 2017 February/March experiences in Mongolia as a way of illustrating what Mongolia has to offer at all times of year. Gobi Gua Undur Yes, I'm from the UK but Eternal Landscapes is a registered Mongolian company. We operate under the name Gobi Gua Undur. These images are from this February during Mongolian Tsagaan Sar - visiting the site and blessing it.
Let me introduce you to a place. It is Erdenedalai in Dundgobi Province - also known as the middle Gobi. Is it considered a highlight? A must see destination? No. Not by guidebooks or other tour companies anyway. But, I'm in love with the ‘in-between landscapes’ - the ones where everyday Mongolians make their home and do daily battle with the elements. I am an advocate for land travel in Mongolia and firmly believe that the power of Mongolia’s ‘eternal landscapes’ is an integral part of any journey. It’s a place where the open steppe starts to turn into the desert steppe. Where grass meets gravel plains. It is a beautiful region little visited by other travellers. And a place I love dearly. It is also the inspiration behind the name of the Mongolian side of our business - Gobi Gua Undur. It is actually the name of a small hill just outside of Erdendalai - the area of land where Turuu’s father was born and where a majority of his family still live. Tsagaan Sar - Mongolian Lunar New Year February 26th - 28th 2017 Most people will have heard of Chinese New Year. Not so many people know that Mongolian New Year is a completely separate celebration to that celebrated by the Chinese throughout the world. Tsagaan Sar (White Month) is Mongolia's Lunar New Year - celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. It is a deeply traditional holiday bringing together family members and lasts a minimum of three days. We spent Tsagaan Sar in Erdenedalai in Mongolia's middle Gobi. Thousand Camel Festival March 6th and 7th 2017 Mongolia's livestock are known as the tavan hoshuu mal - the five snouts and Bactrian camels (two humps!) form one of the five snouts. The camel festival was first initiated in 1997 and is organised by a local NGO and the Governor's Office of Onmogobi Province to help protect the Bactrian camel and the essential role it plays in the lives of the nomadic herders in the region. It is a celebration of the way of life in the harsh Gobi and a chance for the local herders to come together as a community at what can be quite an isolating time of year. Don’t get caught up in notions of authenticity - the Camel Festival features a lot of local involvement. The festival draws local Mongolian spectators as well as westerners and the locals are always more enthusiastic. Hunting With Eagles There are approximately 150,000 Kazakhs living in western Mongolia - a majority in the province of Bayan Ulgii. There are no definite numbers but there are roughly 60 Kazakh eagle hunters. For our March 14th Hunting With Eagles small group trip, we stayed with three eagle hunters and their families. Bashakhan at his winter home in Ulaankhuus with his wife, daughter in law and three (gorgeous) grandchildren The 'eagle huntress' Aisholpan playing a competitive game of Ghost with her siblings at her winter home in Altansogts At the home of Aibiolat and his brother Babiolat at their winter home in Sagsai Nauryz Festival March 21st and 22nd 2017 On March 21st and 22nd, Mongolia's Kazakhs celebrated Nauryz. It translates into 'new day' and falls on what is considered the first day of the spring equinox. It is considered a New Year celebration about renewal and spring. Nauryz is not only a state holiday for Kazakhs in Mongolia, it is celebrated in all countries of Central Asia, as well as Georgia, India, Iran, China, Turkey and others. In 2009, Nauryz was included in the (bit of a mouthful) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. As well as celebrating Nauryz at the home of Jako - our Kazakh translator, we also headed to Ulgii Square where we joined in with the local concert and parade. Eternal Landscapes Mongolia Small Group Trip Ideas Where will 2017 take you?Welcome to my new update on our availability and what new trips are live. This month the focus is on my small group trips.If you're interested but unsure, advice is free and without any sense of expectation. Please just email me - jess@eternal-landscapes.co.uk. I would love to be of help Gobi Conservation and Research - June 17th - 10 DaysIn alliance with the Association Goviin Khulan NGO. The link will take you to our conservation tours page.Untamed Mongolia - June 17th / July 22nd - 23 DaysThe ultimate discovery trip - Gobi Desert, Khangai Mountains and Khovsgol Nuur. June 17th trip can be extended with national Naadam in Ulaanbaatar. The link will take you to our small group tours page.Khovsgol Trails - June 26th - 19 Days Two separate horse treks in remote northern Mongolia - including five-day exploration to the Tsaatan - Mongolia's reindeer herders. Includes local two-day Naadam. The link will take you to our horse treks page. Journey Among Nomads - June 24th - 17 Days A slow journey through the middle Gobi and central heartland exploring the way of life in rural Mongolia. Includes a two-day rural Naadam and can be extended with the national Naadam in UB Mountains, Monasteries and Nomads - July 6th - 16 Days Northern and central Mongolia form the backdrop to this trip where you learn about traditional Mongolia whilst experiencing experience the diversity of the way of life . Includes a local two-day rural Naadam Festival Wilderness Trails - August 5th - 15 Days Includes 7 days glorious trekking in the remote Khangai Mountains - no other people, just you and wilderness. The link will take you to our trekking tours page. That's it for this edition. As always, thanks for reading and do get in touch with your thoughts! You can always keep in touch with what we're up to through my EL Blog, or my previous newsletters, or even the EL Facebook page. For a more personal introduction to Eternal Landscapes, you can also read my EL Notes about running the business. Wherever the road continues to take you - Sain Yavaarai - Journey Well, Jess |