Kharakhorum
Click on the links below
to visit
other parts of Mongolia:
Eclipse, Gobi
desert, Hustain
Nuruu
Reserve, International
Intellectual Museum,
Kharkhorum, Kherlan
River
Valley, Ulaanbataar,
Ulgi,
Yol
valley, Mongolia
wildflowers
A map showing where we
visited can be
found by clicking
here.
Remember to come back to see the rest of our trip after you look around
Goggle maps.
Our
travels took us to Kharakhorum the site of the original capital of
the Mongol empire.
Founded by Genghis Khan
in 1220 it
served as the capitol of the Mongol
empire until 1388 when it was destroyed by the Chinese.
In the early 1500's it
was rebuilt
and served again as the capitol but
was eventually abandoned.
In 1585 the Erdene Zuu Buddhist monastery was built on
the
spot surrounded by an imposing wall 400 meters on a side.
It can be seen in the
distance in
this picture.
In 1939 a Mongolian
Communist leader
had the monastery destroyed except
for the wall and a few of the structures which were converted to
museums.
In 1990, the monastery
was returned
to Buddhist lamas and Erdene Zuu
was once again a place of worship and study.
Just inside the gate is
this monument
inscribed in Mongolian, Chinese, Tibetan, and Arabic scripts
You can
see the marks on
it where visitors have touched it.
Most of the architecture
had a heavy Chinese
influence.
One of them in the style
of Tibetan
Buddhist buildings.
Some of it seemed to be
a blend.
In the compound there
were several
structures that looked like the
stupas we saw when we visited Tibet.
Within the buildings
were sculptures
and paintings.
Many of them
depicted/honored Buddha
There were geometric
forms.
This one had the symbol
that is also
seen on the flag and throughout
the country.
An elaborate model was
displayed.
Strange and scary
figures were often
the subject.
Consider the mental
state of the
person who first imagined these.
Monks were walking on
the grounds.
They had probably just
come from
study or worship.
This turtle sculpture is
said to have
been one of four that marked the
boundaries of the original city.
Only two of them have
been discovered
so far.
A sculpture created to
hold the
carnal impulses of the monks and
encourage their good behavior
More recently it has
become a charm
thought by many to be instilled with the power to
overcome infertility.
One of the many places
where
souvenirs
were available
or, if the vendors are to be
believed, artifacts.
Folks in historic garb
posed for
pictures.
One of the tracks that
pass for roads
that we traveled on.
For a more complete
description see
the web page on the Hustain Nuruu Reserve
There are paved roads
but that
doesn't make them any more likely to be
free of herds of horses, cattle, camels, goats or in this
case
sheep.
The steep transition
from a dirt to a
paved road probably was what was
responsible for this load of wool shifting.
Fortunately the
construction crew
were on hand to help straighten it.
Throughout the country
you will find
piles of stones like these topped
with scarves.
Travelers add a stone or
scarf , walk
around it, or if you are like our drivers just beep three times.
Black vultures were
picking at a
carcass of a cow along the road.
Antelope
The
Mongolian
road rally was in full
swing with some competitors having driven from Europe to participate.
This one was just
leaving a
checkpoint near our next stop.
Our next camp had these
extraordinary
gers where we dined.
Yes, that is a crystal
chandelier.
Some of the group took
another camel
ride, others took in some of the local sights, or did some bird
watching, while the rest just hung
out at the camp.
We had enjoyed dumplings
at several
stops on our trip.
When we were here
someone had the
idea of asking for a lesson in how to make them.
The cook seemed
surprised but was
happy to show us.
Our driver was a wizard
making the
dough circles and our guide also really got into the fun showing us a
variety of shapes that we could copy, or try to.
Nearly everyone tried
their hand at
it though some required considerable coaxing.
You know who you are.
Some of the products.
The recipe is simple: a
dough of
white flour and water, divide into small lumps and roll them into
circles with a thicker spot at the center.
The rolling process has
to be seen, I
really can't describe it.
The filling is ground
meat (your
choice), chopped onions, garlic, and salt.
A spoonful of
the filling is
placed on one of the dough circles then you fold it artistically and
put it on an oiled pan until ready to put it into the steamer to cook.
A fitting end to our day.
Many thanks to our
friends from the
trip for sharing their good company, videos, and pictures with us and
with you.
Thanks again Alice, Lee, Eleanor, Michael, Joyce, David, Juliana, Tom,
Stu, and Tanner.
Click on the links below
to visit
other parts of Mongolia:
Eclipse, Gobi
desert, Hustain
Nuruu
Reserve, International
Intellectual Museum,
Kharkhorum, Kherlan
River
Valley, Ulaanbataar,
Ulgi,
Yol
valley, Mongolia
wildflowers
See
other places we have visited here.
Go
to our Personal
home page
Go to our Community
page
Go
to our Science
Fun page
E-mail Nancy
and
Alan