Day 3 - Ulaanbaatar to Karakorum

Early departure from hostel on our five day driving tour. In minivan with driver and our guide Dodo.

Once away of the polluted skies of Ulaanbaatar, I am struck by the expanse of the steppes. The sky crushes the terrain below it, rendering vehicles, people, and the occasional ger settlement into tiny specks.

Eventually arrive at Ouorkhangai (the old capital of Karakorum), step out to tour Erdene Zuu Khiid.

Just standing around in royal traditional attire, waiting for photos to be taken of them.

The old capital is now mostly a grassland, surrounded by a low wall of stupas. The few remaining structures house monasteries, some with a great deal of sacred offerings and mandalas.

The boundary wall of the ancient capital is dotted with 216 stupas. People making religious pilgrimages are meant to walk the perimeter, saying a prayer at each stupa.

First night in a ger! These round tents are normally used for 3 or so months at one location, then dismantled and moved on to somewhere else.

Note the chimney! We never spent a night in a ger without warming it up with a fire before bed.

A pair of musicians visited the cafeteria building at our ger camp this evening. They played morin khuurs, yatugas, and performed throat singing.

Mongolians are very proud of their skill at throat singing, which can produce multiple notes simultaneously, by using the throat’s resonance characteristics.

Mongolia