Du Lịch


Monday, April 23, 2012

The unique and the rich of Mongolian culture



Our enjoyable journey started when the Mongolian Airlines MIAT plane landed on Chinggis Khan airport at 1h00 am. Tired after more than 10 hours traveling from Hanoi, but me and my companion, Mr. Hoang, still had a good spirit because of the warmness we received when meeting two collegues from Mongolia news agency (Montsame), whose would go with us during the whole trip.

July is said to be the perfect time to go to Mongolia. It’s also a wonderful time to experience the culture and people of this amazing land. The weather is cool and very favourable, air only a bit hot when the sun shining, not as burning as in Hanoi. This time there are also many big celebrations to commemorate the fouding of Great Mongol Empire, the Revolution (Independence) day, and the Naadam festival - biggest and most joyful celebration for Mongolians. Thank to that, we had enjoyed a festival atmosphere for the whole 4 days. 

Firstly, it was the National Flag Raising Ceremony on the main square of Sukh Baatar to commemorate the Independence day, with the presentation of soldiers in medieval armor costumes, remind us of the poweful army under the command of Chinggis Khan that already conquered both Europe and Asia. Following day was the traditional Naadam festival that last for 3 days to honour three sporting passions of Mongolian, horse racing, wrestling and archery with the opening ceremony took place at central stadium in Ulaan Bataar capital. 

Naadam festival has its roots in the nomad wedding assemblies and hunting extravaganza of the Mongol Army. At that day, most of the Ulaan Bataar residents poured to the stadium. All the roads leading there were jammed while the other parts of the capital remained quiet. One collegue from Montsame, Mrs. Nomin said that wrestling is the most popular sport in Mongolia. It originated about 2.000 years ago, and considered by Chinggis Khan as important way to keep his army in good physical shape and combat ready.  

Wrestling is the main part in Naadam festival and has some similarities to the Sumo in Japan. The legend says that in old times a woman dressed like man won wrestling competition once. That is why wrestling costumes, called "zodog" has open chest and long sleeve, meant to show that every participant is male. Wrestlers also wear short trunks, "shuudag", and Mongolian boots, "gutal". The yellow stripes on tales of wrestlers' hats indicate the number of times the wrestler became a champion in Naadam. 

Next, we went to see the Mongolia national costume festival that also carried on at Sukh Baatar square, at which people showed many different national costumes and folk performances, underlining marvel tradition and diversity of Mongolian culture. Surounding me was a colourful and extraodinary world of costumes. I was exhausted with my camera but could not take all type of costumes I’d seen. Due to very small population (only 2.7 mil), Mongolians seem to be care very much about their child. At the festival, those little boys and girls in traditional costumes always reveived admiring applause from the adults. 

My collegue from Montsame, Mr. Marc also paid much of his time to shoot “those little citizents” with his camera. Bettween these events, we visited the Winter Palace of Bogd Khan – the last Emperor of Mongolia that respected as the spiritual leader of Mongolia's Tibetan Buddhism. There, we also have enjoyed the traditional powerful throat siging or “khoomii” and my inspiration has been booted with this culturally rich. 

Mongolia not only unique in culture but their nature is also pure, majestic, and beautiful. Located in the landlocked plateau of Central Asia between China and Russia, Mongolia covers the whole area of more than 1.5 mil square km. Depart with noisy life in the city, we go about 100km south west of Ulaan Baatar to Hustai national park that served as a successful natural breeding ground for the world last truly wild horse “Takhi”. To reintroduction those Przewalski horses into the nature, it’s said that all the horses had been tested AND to determine they are truly wild. After that the horses had been transported from the Netherland to Hustai and gradually integrate to nature. 

At Hustai, we had a memorable night in the traditional nomad round tent “Yurt” with fireplace and at the first gleam of daylight traveling to see some groups of wild horses scattered in the steppe. The vast nature with clean air at sunrise make us feel as disolved into the air and land. Two collegues from Itar-Tass go with us can not help but speak out lound “so fresh”. For me, faced with that gigantic nature, I can feel the generous, knightly characters from Mongolian nomad that always have to cope with harsh environment in the huge steppe. Perhars right from this life has created the hospitality and enthusiasm of Mongolians. Everywhere, we have been received warmly and in high esteem, just like Mongolian proverb that say: “Happy is he whom guests frequent. Joyful is he at whose door guest’s horses are always tethered”. 

We aslo had chances to go to many other intersting places, as Gandan Monastery with 26.5 meter high Buddish statue of Migjid Janraisig, Chinggis Khan statue complex located 54 km from Ulaan Bataar, on the bank of the Tuul river, with 40 meter high statue on horseback erected on a 10 meter high base; see the performance of Mongolian national Song and Dance Ensemble “Tumen Ekh”; or visit Museum of Natural history to see the two complete dinosaur skeletons, which found in the Gobi. 

Everywhere, we can feel the attraction of the unique and the rich of Mongolian culture. For that, we would like to express our gratitude to Montsame and Mongolian collegues for providing us those joyful feelings.