In Mongolia

Mongolia

Feb 6

A travel tale spanning 4000 kilometers of mountains, river valleys and deserts. A journey over time. Meeting and photographying a proud people still living their ancient way of life but also at home in their modern-day capital Ullanbator.
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Graced by the eternally snow-capped mountain, Tsambagarav, the powerful presence of this man. Champion eagle hunter, Shaimurat Askhabil.

With a flair for music. Champion eagle hunter, Shaimurat Askhabil.

Genghis Khan’s pet eagle, Garid, rode sitting on his arm.

Home gives us the frame from which to see and understand the world. Home is the frame in which the world sees and understands us.

Genghis Khan Memorial

Men will be boys, and good fun was had by all. Including me sitting-lying as low on the ground as I could, getting well splashed as they raced across.

Every action has a reaction.

We might not acknowledge it but our traditions reflect in us .

Count me these shades of gold and purple. Show me another sunrise quite like this. Where each moment holds the beauty of eternity. Where eternity stands still in breathless bliss.

Along the highway between Ölgii and Khovd

Sunrise by the Khovd River near Ölgii

As the gold of sunrise turned the river silver

Altai comes from the root word *altañ "meaning gold or golden" in different Turkic languages & dialects as well as in Mongolian. Pure gold in the heart of Asia.

A world of green. Breath in deeply.

Roads that seem endless. Roads that ARE endless.

Endless moments counting ponies.

This one tree. A landmark for miles.

On the road. Off the road. What a road!

A road across the grasslands

Make your own road left or right or somewhere in the middle

Give a girl a horse, then give her an eagle and she is unstoppable.

Lingering on for another shot and then another of this very photogenic family.

Many hearts were won with a smile like this.

Early morning light and shadows

Join us for a cup of butter tea and a chat

Power to the eagle

Father and daughter. A timeless tale

A rare small grove along and on a dry riverbed

The solitary shepard

Tsambagarav, Mongolia’s third highest mountain

Before sunrise, when the day was still not born

In the solitary quiet by the water, there was time to reground myself.

With the grace of age.

Shadows painted this landscape

Going home

For the love of trees

Stepping in. Looking in and looking out.

Best of friends. Dainbek Ay Moldyr and her Eagle.

Summer beauty

Unspoken friendships.

Black Kites waking up to their first morning soar.

Reflections from a beautiful morning

Lines and forms, light and shadows. Greens of fresh new grass, browns of trees yet bare, I come in astonished wonder. I left with deep regret.

The Eagle-hunters

Ulaan Tsutgalan or Orkhon Waterfall

The solitary Yak

From father to son, the tradition of eagle-hunting

The storm came at sunset but we were safe and dry in our snug Ger.

The essence of Mongolia.

Reflections of and on a beautiful morning.

A friend from home.

The country for horses

Far away there are mountains. Closer are these rocks. Standing proudly on miles of fragrant grass.

A dance of sunlight and shade on a stage of mountains

If you can't get to the Gobi Desert there is the 'Mini Gobi'

Yolyn Am

Take your breath away.

The beautiful landscape protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Amidst the ruins of a great era

White stupa on Highway road in Central Mongolia, the road trip from Ulaanbaatar to Kharkhorin city

An equal relationship of trust and dependence.

Timeless horseplay

The Flaming Cliffs site or Bayanzag

Quite stunning and my imagination ran riot

Horses that were a key to Chinggis Khan's conquests.

How birds see it.

The Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Early morning on the sand dunes

Melodies in sand

The lonely camel

Which way is the right way? Camels and rider facing a challenge in the Gobi Desert.

Where the grasslands ends and the sand starts...

In his world of sand. More sand and even more sand.

The singing Sand Dunes

The Camel Herder

And this also is the Gobi!

The green of the Gobi Desert

Night time urbanness @ Sukhbaatar Square

A massive bronze statue of Chinggis Khaan

City Lights in Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar is the cultural, industrial and financial heart of the country.

A center of art and culture

Riding out. In the Yolyn Am, local horse herders offer horses to ride into the narrow gorge.

Between endless plains of dry grass are ‘mountains’ of sand.

Camping adventure or a work necessity?

This vastness of space.

See Mongolia paintings here

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