Last trip - Olgii and Hovd (14/18.07.09)

Last trip to the countryside, the far far west of the country: Olgii and Hovd...

Olgii was on my top 3 places to visit in Mongolia and I thought for a little while I was not going to be able to make it, but I did!

Olgii is the region of the country where Kazakh live, a very strong community and where Mongolian is hardly spoken... Well it is but mainly people are bilingual... It is an amazing scenery, the Altai mountain chain is not far and the landscape is breathtaking! We flew to Olgii (by car it could take a week) and from Olgii drove to Hovd, about 5 hours, from where we flew back to UB. A short but totally worth trip!

As usual I had too many photos and couldn't really choose so there you go!


Olgii

A Kazakh ger, the are quite different from Mongolian gers, bigger, only one pole and higher plus the decoration/embroidery is stunning. All of it is hand made by the women of the house and a newly wed will bring theirs as a gift and part of the wedding.

Yogurt, is just so good!

During the cold winter Kazakh live in houses as their gers do not have stoves.

And most commonly Kazakhs are known around the world by their eagle hunting skills. Still today many families have their eagle, they train them during the year and the hunting season is usually fall, I've seen then in action is it quite impressive. Last time I tried to hold an eagle the hunter didn't let me as women are not supposed to hold them, but this time i got lucky. They do blind them though.

Olgii to Hovd
the road trip...

This symbol was done by a man who left Olgii to live in Kazakhstan. Once there he got very sick, he had to come back, he draw this as soon as he finished he passed away.

00 = toilet
female - male sides

Hovd

the main square

drying the erol (curd)

Mongolian children are the cutest, cheekiest ever...

some singing...

and dancing...

the ger district

theatre

Picnic in the outskirts of Hovd

with Ulzii and Naraa

Look close, intestins, liver, kidneys, stomac, pancreas...
Not only nothing goes to waste but it is an honor to eat those...
and yes I did it, the idea of it really repelled me, but I have to say the taste is not that bad... But no, if I dont HAVE to I wont do it again!

Khar Uus Nuur
Due to massive thunder storms in UB our flight was cancelled a perfect ocassion to go and visit the Khar Uus Nuur (Black Water Lake)