2008 Mongolia
Monday Aug. 18, 2008 Ulaan Baator
Monday Day 05 Submitted by

We were excited about our horse back riding this morning. For most of us it was going to be a brand new experience. The Mongolian horses looked quite inviting.  After spending some time to see who will get which horse we were finally mounded on the very calm looking horses. The wonderful landscape looked even more beautiful from the back of the horses. we have seen herds of yaks grazing in the green fields. We have seen artists with their canvasses trying to capture this beauty. Most daring tour members were taking pictures using both hands while their horses were trotting through the magnificent rock formations and grazing land. Our three hour horse back ride seemed very short when happy troopers arrived home to the ger camp.
The afternoon was scheduled for a ride back to Ulaan Baator and a visit to the Black Market.
the black Market was quite a contrast to our morning experience. It seemed like half the population of Mongolia was shopping at this huge market. Obviously the schools were going to start soon; there were many families doing their school shopping for their children. 

The nice shower at the hotel was very welcome this evening. Before we all went out to dinner we collected our luggage that was left behind and felt totally clean after washing off the smell of the horses.

The dinner was great.  I am so looking forward to see what tomorrow will bring us!
Good night.

Here is some of the info from Hulen :                  
Custom : Children cook meals- starting as young as 6 years old;
Land – In past no private ownership- soon where your house is will become your private land- After fall of 2002 will have to pay for land- but still will have open grazing- no fences.
Animals – saw no wild horses; horses have many descriptions including based on age, teeth, color, etc; saw yak – big hairy dog look; - 2 hump camels, sheep, goats & a few dogs.
Bus is hot; opens doors when driving; driver left parking break on & smoked up bus – had to stop.
Private show after dinner – 13 piece orchestra; contortionist; throat singer; Native American-like (Kachina-like) drum dance.
Politics – positive toward Russia – freedom from old enemies – China & Japan- comfortable with communism – never had private land ownership.  Ger = yurt=home/

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