Mongolian Wrestling- a 7000 year old tradition

The event starts of with the coach of each wrester singing a song lauding the strength and speed of his wrestler.

 

 The wrester then salutes the flag by imitating a falcon

The match begins

conflict resolution

The loser of the match passes under the "wing" of the victor and gets a slap on the backside.

The Victor then takes a victory lap around the flag pole all while imitating a falcon

Here's a video highlighting the post fight traditions. Note the falcon imitation, slaps, hat donning, and victory lap around the flagpole (clockwise in Buddhist fashion).

Mutton, carrots, and potatoes

My host father demonstrating proper knife use. There is a traditional saying which translates as "a sheep will thank you for a well cleaned bone" and another that states that a well cleaned rib will ensure a good looking child.  Throwing away food is a faux pas here with some even gathering the crumbs around their plate to avoid waste.

A ride on the steppe

Our guide Puujee

Byyz! (pronounced booze)

Chef Solongo

The finished product, steamed meat dumplings

Traditional brass kettle

20 years of growth

Ulaanbaatar ~ 1990 (www.everyculture.com)

Ulaanbaatar present day

Zaisan Memorial

An evening trip to Zaisan Memorial (a gift from the USSR commemorating Mongolian-Russian friendship) overlooking Ulaanbaatar.

Solongo and Orgil

On a side note, here's my new address:

Hunter Causey, Fulbrighter

American Center for Mongolian Studies

C.P.O.Box - 695, Ulaanbaatar-13, Mongolia

Tel: (976) 7735 0486

And local phone:
+976 99717905

I have arrived!

10 hours crossing the Mongolia-Russia border and a night train  payed off and I finally arrived in Ulaanbaatar after 6 weeks of travel. Happy to be able to stay still for a while and looking forward to soaking in Mongolia for the next 10ish months.

I am now settling in with my host family Tsevendorj (dad), Monkejargal (mom), and Solongo (sis). I have enjoyed a few broken conversations in mongolian with Monkejargal and Tsevendorj and look forward to improving my Mongolian to better our communications.  Turns out Monkejargal is a great cook and i've already sampled a slew of mongolian dishes ranging from boiled mutton with potatoes, fried mutton dumplings, vegetable soup (with mutton), and mutton stir-fry. Fortunately, I am fond of mutton.



my new neighborhood



Nogoitsai shol (vegetable soup)

Monkejargal cooking up khoshuur (fried mutton dumplings)

 

Hope everyone enjoyed sharing this trip with me. I will continue posting pics of my stay in Mongolia as well.