East Asia
Mongolia
Central Mongolia
Basic guestroom for MNT 16,000.- or US$ 11.80 per night.
Sizing up the awesome sand dunes of Mongolia’s smallest desert, Elsen Tasarkhai, and spotting numerous hawks, kites and eagles as well as kestrels and falcons, e.g. (i) the agile golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), (ii) the large cinereous aka black vulture (Aegypius monachus) and (iii) the delicate lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni).
"I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other time it's only me
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand."
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other time it's only me
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand."
Discovering the ruins of Chinggis Khaan's capital city, the heart of the Mongol Empire, at Karakorum and visiting the large 1585 CE built Erdene Zuu Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, with its Tibetan-style temple and its distinctive wall with 100 stupas.
Learning from our friend Davaasuren, a resident of Karakorum, about the Mongol Empire (1206 - 1368 CE), the largest contiguous land empire in human history (at its greatest extent it spanned 9,700 km, covered an area of 24,000,000 sqkm, 16 % of the Earth's total land area, and held sway over a population of 100 million), and its simple but effective military organisation based on the decimal system (the number which is the count of fingers and thumbs on both hands).
“If you're afraid - don't do it.
If you're doing it - don't be afraid!”
Click below for more blog posts about interesting Buddhist monasteries
08 Feb 2014 Fo Guang Shan (Taiwan): Fo Guang Shan
20 Aug - 23 Aug 2012 Datong (China): Fahua Monastery
28 Jan - 05 Feb 2012 Inle Lake (Burma): Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung
08 Jun - 18 Jun 2011 Leh (India): Phyang Gompa
09 Feb - 22 Feb 2010 Chiang Mai (Thailand): Wat Suan Dok
08 Feb 2014 Fo Guang Shan (Taiwan): Fo Guang Shan
20 Aug - 23 Aug 2012 Datong (China): Fahua Monastery
28 Jan - 05 Feb 2012 Inle Lake (Burma): Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung
08 Jun - 18 Jun 2011 Leh (India): Phyang Gompa
09 Feb - 22 Feb 2010 Chiang Mai (Thailand): Wat Suan Dok
Click below for a summary of this year's travels
2012 Map Konni & Matt
2012 Map Konni & Matt
Recommended books – click below for your Amazon order from the United States: