Mongols… Head for the Hills!
Argh — The Yellow Horde!Mongolia
I’d always been fascinated with the thought of Mongolia and the idea of staying in a ger. And so, last year, I took the Trans-Siberian train, crossing the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian plains. The mountainside could not have been more pristine, but it was the pride of the people, in their horsemanship, singing and culture that won me over. Ulaan Bataar is also the true Wild West, where you know you’re facing an un-tethered frontier.
When traveling in Ulaan Bataar in August 08, I went with a couple of friends to see a re-enactment of a Genghis Khan battle. At first, I thought it might be a little too much like a Civil War re-enactment (read: creepy), but it was truly spectacular!We counted at least 400 men on horseback, cresting over the ridge a mile away and storming toward the battleground. Then a mock battle ensued with warriors being dragged by horses, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and demonstrations of loyalty to the Emperor Khan.
You could totally imagine the fear of the invaded country on seeing the magnitude and ferocity of the Mongol warlords swooping down on you and your wooden shields.
WOW! is all I really have to say, it’s something you need to see to believe. It’s funny too, because the rest of our gang in Mongolia didn’t go to the re-enactment because they kept saying “We saw the movie, Mongol” – um, yeah, but it’s not quite the same now, is it?
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 13th, 2009 and is filed under Asia Pacific.