Recreation
Naadam in Hatgal, Hovsgol Aimag
Wrestling, horse racing and archery are Mongolia's three manly sports. Each summer in the middle of July the entire country celebrates its National Holiday by holding competitions in these sports called a Naadam, in virtually every town. The Naadam in Ulaanbaatar is by far the biggest and the most famous of all, but the ones in smaller towns can be interesting as well. In Mongolian wrestling the competitor who throws his opponent onto the ground wins the bout. Often two competitors are locked in a tight grip for what seems to be ages, until a sudden movement by one of them results in his competitor being thrown onto the ground.
Why were they born so beautiful, why were they born at all...
Left to right, back row: Jonathan, Mark, Endang, Jorn, Keith, Tim, Tara, Cammy, Ellen, Barbara, Rogier. Front Row: Jerry, Olaf, Ed, Svetan. More interested in the view than the picture: Lexus.
The Ulaanbaatar Hash House Harriers on the yearly Hash Weekend in Terelj. The UB Hash doesn't only cater to runners, but also to walkers. It is a relaxed and fun-filled affair, and brings you to some great scenery just outside the city. Meet every Tuesday from April until September at 18:30 in front of the Bayangol Hotel.
(For the uninitiated, Hash House Harriers can be found pretty much anywhere where there are ex-pats. One runs, jogs, or walks along a route set out by the 'hare'. False trails slow down the fast runners, allowing the slower ones to catch up.)
This picture is dedicated to the memory of Tim Jarman, neighbour, friend, and dedicated hasher.
Saturday Afternoon hike arond UB
If you like the outdoors, and enjoy seeing a bit of the countryside around UB then there is enough opportunity for good hikes just outside the city. Pick up a copy of the Guide to Ulaanbaatar, which describes several hikes around the city in places reachable by public transport.
Mongolian cross country racers training at Khandgait
The forests to the north of Ulaanbaatar had excellent snow cover last winter, and were a popular weekend destination. There are many ski trails, and one can even rent skis and sleds. Mongolia's famous blue skies and mild winter weather (-10- -15°C) complete the picture.
Chris Finch and Emmanuel Betz making emergency repairs on the trail
Mongolia is back country ski heaven, but bringing your own back country
skis can cause problems - when a binding breaks. We managed to fix this
one, but getting parts from the US can be tricky, especially if one
doesn't wanna lose a day of great
skiing! Parts and tools are a must in this part of the world.
HBAT in Mongolia! Endang and Rogier sledding at Khandgait
Sledding is very popular with the locals, although numerous Snow Snakes make it a tricky sport.
(For the uninitiated, HBAT is Hobson Byers Adventure Tours,
a Canadian group of adventure seekers trying to steer away from Snow
Snakes, which are the little animals hiding in the snow that make one
fall.)
"There's no snakes like Snow Snakes"
Skating
at Ulaanbaatar's main stadium
The skating ain't as good as the skiing, but at least it's possible - in the national stadium, which they flood for the purpose in the winter. Yes, they even rent skates.
Playing basketball in Ulaangom, Uvs Aimag
Basketball is one of the most popular sports throughout
Mongolia. There is even a professional basketball league.
Warming up for aerobics
To get in shape for the weekend there is a good gym with aerobics classes. Sadly enough it ain't cheap to come here, so it is inaccessible for most Mongolians.
Playing games in a ger, Uvs Aimag
In the countryside, there is little entertainment in the evening, so people tend to play a lot of games. Chess is very popular. Jeff (centre) was beaten solidly by the host to the great pleasure of the locals. In Ulaangom we met a herder who had come into town by horse to take his ten-year old daughter to the airport. She was going to UB for the national youth Chess championships. He was a chess expert himself too, and from his del he pulled a old thumbed Russian chess strategy book, which he studied while herding his sheep.
Card games are also popular. Many people are trying to buy TVs, however, even out in the countryside. A couple of companies sell solar systems with 12V TVs. These are quickly replacing other forms of entertainment.
Grandfather and grandchild playing the horse head fiddle, Arkhangai Aimag
Mongolians are very musical. They love singing, and at parties it is considered an honour to be asked to sing a solo. Traditional instruments like the horsehead fiddle are still played often, especially in the countryside.
According to legend a man who lost his horse missed it so much that he created a fiddle of which he used its hair for the strings and box, carved a likeness of its head on the neck, and made the violin sound like his horse as well. Thus was born the horsehead fiddle.