Western Mongolia with SGTrekkers Jun '17

[thoongeng]

Followed Singapore Trekkers again for a trip to Western Mongolia. The main aim was to visit the Kazakh Golden Eagle Hunters, a dying tradition, while enjoying the scenery and hospitality of the Mongolians along the way.

We arrived at the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar first. After a day's rest, we took an internal flight to Ölgii in Western Mongolia, then it was 4 wheel drive all the way into the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, where we did not have things enjoyed in cities like phone signal, toilets, central heating etc. We finally reached the campsite of Kazakh Golden Eagle Hunter Bagzat Kumsbek at Lake Khoton on Day 4. We stayed with him and his family, learnt about the life of Eagle Hunters and he allowed us to photograph him with his Golden Eagle.

Sharing some snaps I took during the trip, fellow participants feel free to share too!

Starting with our wonderful host and Eagle Hunter:

#1

Day 5 Kazakh Golden Eagle Hunter Bagzat Kumsbek, Lake Khoton, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#2

Day 5 Kazakh Golden Eagle Hunter Bagzat Kumsbek, Lake Khoton, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#3 - Mongolia adopted the Cyrillic script as it was previously under Soviet influence. The Mongolian script was re-introduced after the democratic revolution in the 1990s, but the Cyrillic script is still widely used

Day 1 Mix of Cyrillic and Latin scripts, streets of Ulaanbaatar, Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#4 - Gandan Monastery is the country's largest monastery.

Day 1 Gandantegchinlen Khiid (monastery), with main temple Migjid Janraisig Süm, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#5

Day 1 Gandan Khiid (Monastery), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#6

Day 1 Ulaanbaatar blue hour, from Bayangol Hotel, Mongolia, Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[Daoyin]

Nice photos. More please.

 

[thoongeng]

Thanks Daoyin! Continued...

#7 - Crossing rough terrain in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, with poor weather on the first day

Day 2 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia, Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#8

Day 2 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - Nomads moving their ger (Mongolian tent) by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#9 - Many thanks to our guides, drivers and cooks for taking good care of us

Day 2 Setting up campsite at Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#10

Day 2 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - Our cook whipping up dinner at our campsite by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#11

Day 3 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - on the way to Potanii Glacier by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#12

Day 3 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - a nomad with livestock by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#13

Day 3 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - looked nice but the marshes were a pain to trek through. Lucky we were on horseback by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#14 - Beyond the mountains are the borders of Mongolia with Russia and China.

Day 3 Potanii Glacier, Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#15

Day 3 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - Potanii Glacier by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#16

Day 3 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 - our campsite in moon light (It was full moon) by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#17

Day 4 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park sunrise, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#18

Day 4 Campsite sunrise, Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia, Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#19 - Everyone's favourite Russian made 'Bukhanka' (loaf) Van. It's also our 'food truck' which carries our supplies.

Day 4 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#20 - Making our way across the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park to find the Golden Eagle Hunter near Lake Khoton

Day 4 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Lake Khoton, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#21

Day 4 Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Tsagan Goi (White River), Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#22 - Finally made it after a rather difficult river crossing

Day 4 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#23 - Inside Kumsbek's Ger (tent)

Day 4 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#24 - Kumsbek and his youngest son Erali

Day 4 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#25 - Kumsbek's nephews

Day 4 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#26

Day 4 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#27

Day 5 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp morning, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#28 - Kumsbek returning to his ger after the photoshoot, his nephew helping to pull his horse

Day 5 Lake Khoton Kumsbek's Camp morning, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#29 - Back to civilisation and the capital Ulaanbaatar

Day 6 Zaisan Memorial, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#30

Day 6 Zaisan Memorial, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#31

Day 6 Zaisan Memorial, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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[thoongeng]

#32

Day 6 Chinggis Khan Statue, Tsonjin Boldog, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#33

Day 6 Chinggis Khan Statue, Tsonjin Boldog, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#34

Day 6 Chinggis Khan Statue, Tsonjin Boldog, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr

#35 - The largest traditional Mongolian boot

Day 6 Chinggis Khan Statue, Tsonjin Boldog, Mongolia Jun '17 by knowenoughhappy, on Flickr
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Thanks for viewing