Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – 09/24 (morning)

(Michelle) Today we left for a 1 night, 2 day excursion to Terelj National Park, which is about an hour outside of Ulaanbaatar. We were to spend the night on the land of a “typical” Mongolian family in a “Ger” which is a typical Mongolian Nomadic Tent. Historically, Mongolia has been a country of nomads, and even today, 43% of the population is still considered nomadic.

Terelj Park is one of the most beautiful and unusual parks I’ve ever been to. My pictures will of course not do it any justice at all. Part of what is so unusual about the park is the eerie silence and feeling of grand spaces. The rock formations are really cool and the horses and cows made it feel more alive. TJ had a good time chasing horses through the wide open spaces.

(picture notes, us taking a hike, our ger is the one in the middle of the picture, TJ getting ready to sneak up on a horse)

(TJ) Surprisingly I never could quite catch up with the wild horses, I must be getting slow in my old age. Part of the traditional Nomadic way is also freezing your butt off and not having much else to do except stare at the scenery and think of how you’re going to catch a horse or drink fermented horses milk.