Mongolia 2019
Interacting with the nomads taught me how humans ought to be. Enter any yurt and you will be accommodated with yak milk and cheese. Life is hard out there; people have to help each other out. Common courtesy is evident. Life is pragmatic. There is a sense of purpose in everything they do. A revelation for a city boy who was raised by a ritualistic city life.
The capitol city of Ulaanbaatar doesn’t have much to offer in my opinion. What do you think of when you hear Ulaanbaatar? Right. Nothing. It’s a city in a third world country just like any other. People have just discovered the convenience of global trade and forgotten who they really are. The common sense is twisted by the new religion called the economy. Youths are imprisoned under parental pressures for education and “the better future.” People look unhealthy and unhappy compared to their nomad cousins. City life is a ruin of human nature, and Ulaanbaatar is a great demonstration of it. There are lots of people, but not a lot of humanity. Being bound by superficial work and inconsequential social media posts have deprived them of precious time to be.
There are a few points of tourism scattered throughout this vast country. Usually temples. Small towns are normally not very welcoming to tourists. I believe this is because they are ashamed to be living like that. Real nomads are proud, and I sensed it every time I met one. The only true way to appreciate Mongolia is to understand the land and the people who live off it.
Visiting Mongolia during Naadam Festival is exhilarating. This is their equivalent of Highland Games. Kids and adults alike train all year for this moment. It’s a competition but also a celebration of their heritage. Normally a peaceful quiet nation, it becomes a display of passion and pride in who they are and where they come from.
Mongolia is a relatively untapped gem in global tourism. There is much to be learned about humanity there.