Terelj National Park

Trip Start Aug 10, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Mongolia Terelj, Mongolia
Sunday, October 5, 2008

On Sunday morning, I set off for with a group from the hostel to the national park. It cost just USD 40 for transport there and back, breakfast, lunch, dinner, an overnight stay in a ger and horse riding. We also had to pay 3000T (about �1.50) entrance to the park. It was a beautiful place and nice to get out to the countryside again. In the morning a took a walk around the trees and rocks and took in some of the landscape, then after lunch I went for a short horse ride. I was a bit embarrassed that I had to ask again for a bench to get up, but once on it I was fine and really enjoyed it although it went very quickly.

Once back we found out that we had arrived on a very special day. Once a year the family brand their young horses and as this is a very important time it is cause for a huge celebration. Family and friends arrived from all around to watch the branding and then for a huge feast, singing and lots of vodka. The family gave money and gifts to the owner of the horses, and expressed their wishes that he should have the strongest, healthiest and fastest horses in Mongolia. As a group we also gave some money best wishes. Then we tucked in to potato salad, melon, meat, rice, vegetables and pasta. One of the brothers was a vodka producer and exporter and I've never seen so much to drink - we started with 3 big bottles just on our table and the supply kept coming all afternoon and evening. Airag was also drunk and used as part of a tradition - a large bowl was filled and passed to the family and guests. When taking the bowl, you would stand and sing a song, then take a sip and passed it on. Everyone joined in with the singing and the Mongolians sung many songs about horses and mothers. We also took turns, the English sang 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot', a New Zealander performed the Haka and the Aussies sang 'Waltzing Matilda'.

In between eating and drinking, more fouls were branded and the guys were dragged around the ground trying to lasso and catch one of the bigger horses. One actually had to put out the fire in his boots after-wards! The family welcomed us warmly, making sure we were eating and drinking and talking a little about where we were from and to explain what they were doing . I even managed to practice my Russian with one of the older men, but had to give up after a few difficult sentences! It was a fantastic day, and I felt very fortunate that we had unexpectedly arrived on such an occasion - it was a fantastic insight into Mongolian celebrations and hospitality.

That evening we had to rescue our ger's stove which had been used for the branding and we warmed up with a fire before sleeping. The vodka ensured we had a good and warm night and we were amazed to wake up to snow in the morning - it just settled for a moment before it melted in the morning sun and our van arrived to take us back to to the hostel.