(left) These youngsters are engaging in one of Mongolia's most popular leisure activities - wrestling. They already seem to have got to grips with the right moves. As adults (right) they'll take it more seriously - with one intention - to beat the opponent!
Wrestling bouts among herdsmen are quite common and draw a good crowd with family members urging their menfolk on. Their arena is bare grassland, rough and unprepared. If a fall happens to be on a small rock or boulder unnoticed in the grass a cracked rib could be a souvenir of the bout ! It is a national sport, and great pains are taken (literally) to be the best in any contest
Children learn to ride at a young age, as they will need this skill in their future lives. In a landscape of rough tracks, they will learn with increasing skill, to become involved in herd management, as well as use horses as transport, for sport and leisure
A ger being erected to be home to a nomadic family. It can be assembled in 2 hours but will contain bedding, a stove, utensils, and simple furniture serving a family frequently on the move from one pasture to another. Its outer felt is made of wool, wetted, flattened, dried & wrapped around the framework. Wool is a super insulator against extremes of heat and cold, (-45C to +45C) and good insulation is essential. The scene right is probably of the youngster being given some cookery advice.
(Left) A settlement of gers in use during the grazing season. The inner frame is clearly seen where the felt has been rolled up perhaps to increase ventilation on a hot day.
(right) a camel being used to help move camp, with dismantled ger and other possessions on board.
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