The Capital / Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia
Mongolia, a landlocked country in East and Central Asia, covering 1,564,116 square
kilometers, is the 19th largest and the most sparsely populated independent country
in the world, with a population of around 2.9 million people.
Popular sights are the Gandantegchinlen Monastery with the large Janraisig statue,
the monument complex at Zaisan with its great view over the city, the Bogd Khan’s
winter palace, Sukhbaatar square and the nearby Choijin Lama monastery.
Additionally, Ulaanbaatar houses numerous museum calling visitors to discover the
longest history of Mongolia and the richest cultural heritage of Mongolian nomads
such as the Museum for National History and the Museum for Natural History.
kilometers, is the 19th largest and the most sparsely populated independent country
in the world, with a population of around 2.9 million people.
Popular sights are the Gandantegchinlen Monastery with the large Janraisig statue,
the monument complex at Zaisan with its great view over the city, the Bogd Khan’s
winter palace, Sukhbaatar square and the nearby Choijin Lama monastery.
Additionally, Ulaanbaatar houses numerous museum calling visitors to discover the
longest history of Mongolia and the richest cultural heritage of Mongolian nomads
such as the Museum for National History and the Museum for Natural History.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Turkish Airlines 707 / THY707 · "Turkair"
Kabul Int'l (KBL / OAKB) / Istanbul Ataturk Int'l (IST / LTBA)
11:35 AM AFT / 03:45 PM EEST / Duration: 5 hours 40 minutes
Turkish Airlines 707 / THY707 · "Turkair"
Kabul Int'l (KBL / OAKB) / Istanbul Ataturk Int'l (IST / LTBA)
11:35 AM AFT / 03:45 PM EEST / Duration: 5 hours 40 minutes
Monday, August 15, 2016 / Transit Through Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia
Turkish Airlines 342 / THY342
Istanbul Ataturk Int'l (IST / LTBA) / Manas Int'l (FRU / UCFM)
07:15PM EEST / 03:05AM KGT (+1) / Duration: 4 hours 50 minutes
Turkish Airlines 342 / THY342
Istanbul Ataturk Int'l (IST / LTBA) / Manas Int'l (FRU / UCFM)
07:15PM EEST / 03:05AM KGT (+1) / Duration: 4 hours 50 minutes
Arrived Tuesday / August 16, 2016 / 11.30 AM
From Kyrgyzstan to Ulan Bator / Mongolia
From Kyrgyzstan to Ulan Bator / Mongolia
August 18, 2016 / 3:36 PM / Pacific Time
Flight was full last night, so I have to try again.
I'm not going to visit South Korea, only transit the airport.
Flight was full last night, so I have to try again.
I'm not going to visit South Korea, only transit the airport.
On the Way Home / Saturday, August 20, 2016 / Via South Korea
Korean Air Lines Co. 868 / KAL868 · "Koreanair"
Chinggis Khaan Int'l (ULN / ZMUB) Incheon Int'l (ICN / RKSI)
01:31 AM ULAST / 04:05 AM KST / Scheduled:12:55AM ULAST
1 hr 44 min / Duration: 2 hours 34 minutes
Korean Air Lines Co. 868 / KAL868 · "Koreanair"
Chinggis Khaan Int'l (ULN / ZMUB) Incheon Int'l (ICN / RKSI)
01:31 AM ULAST / 04:05 AM KST / Scheduled:12:55AM ULAST
1 hr 44 min / Duration: 2 hours 34 minutes
Just over 30 miles east of the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator
the old Emperor, Genghis Khan, rides again. Sat atop his horse, surveying his dominion (which was after his death to become the largest contiguous empire in history) a huge 131 feet statue of Genghis Khan dominates the steppes of Mongolia.
the old Emperor, Genghis Khan, rides again. Sat atop his horse, surveying his dominion (which was after his death to become the largest contiguous empire in history) a huge 131 feet statue of Genghis Khan dominates the steppes of Mongolia.
Khangai Mountains in the Middle
Mongolian Nomadic tribe lives among the reindeer
When we think of reindeer, most of us jump
to the same imagery: the North Pole, snow and Christmas time.
to the same imagery: the North Pole, snow and Christmas time.
When you think of reindeer, your mind might not immediately go to the Altai Mountains of
Outer Mongolia in Central Asia.
Here, a nomadic tribe lives among the reindeer.
Outer Mongolia in Central Asia.
Here, a nomadic tribe lives among the reindeer.
The lives of the real-life reindeer riders have
fascinated outsiders for generations.
fascinated outsiders for generations.
The idyllic land was described in 518 B.C.E. by Greek poet Pindar
as "Hyperborea" and the tribe as a healing race living peacefully with
"neither disease not bitter old age is mixed.
in their sacred blood; far from labor and battle. "
as "Hyperborea" and the tribe as a healing race living peacefully with
"neither disease not bitter old age is mixed.
in their sacred blood; far from labor and battle. "
The tribe's contemporary name is the Mongolian Taïga Dukha,
for the Taïga region mountain range in Khövsgöl , Mongolia.
for the Taïga region mountain range in Khövsgöl , Mongolia.
It's neighbored by the Russian border and the
remote Darkhad valley.
remote Darkhad valley.
Much of the area is under natural protection,
although it's noted for its inaccessibility and
remoteness, even by local standards.
although it's noted for its inaccessibility and
remoteness, even by local standards.
Although the Dukha call the area home, they
are certainly not a dominating force: they
readily share their space with an incredible
array of their animal neighbors.
are certainly not a dominating force: they
readily share their space with an incredible
array of their animal neighbors.
Wild horses, bears, eagles, and wolves are
all common to Khövsgöl's landscape.
all common to Khövsgöl's landscape.
The Dukha have for generations bred docile
reindeer, although never for meat. Their
unique form of reindeer husbandry is keenly
conscious of the area's conservation and bio-diversity.
reindeer, although never for meat. Their
unique form of reindeer husbandry is keenly
conscious of the area's conservation and bio-diversity.
The reindeer provide a great means of
transportation along the rough terrain for
migrating, hunting and occasionally taking
trips into town. Nearby villages will often
purchase and collect the antlers the reindeer
naturally shed during wintertime.
transportation along the rough terrain for
migrating, hunting and occasionally taking
trips into town. Nearby villages will often
purchase and collect the antlers the reindeer
naturally shed during wintertime.
Beyond the reindeer, Dukha have a tradition of eagle hunting.
The Dukha practice Tengrism, a shamanistic
religion that emphasizes totemism, the spiritual
connection and kinship with animals, plants and spirit beings.
religion that emphasizes totemism, the spiritual
connection and kinship with animals, plants and spirit beings.
There's a seamless blend from totemism in
religious practice and everyday life.
religious practice and everyday life.
For example, one of the most honorable titles
passed down by generations is the eagle hunter
who tames and trains eagles to hunt small prey for food.
passed down by generations is the eagle hunter
who tames and trains eagles to hunt small prey for food.
Photographer and Mongolia/Tibetan language
scholar Hamid Sardar-Afkhami spent some
time with this incredible Himalayan tribe to
bring these incredible images.
scholar Hamid Sardar-Afkhami spent some
time with this incredible Himalayan tribe to
bring these incredible images.