10/10/10

We've been taking it pretty easy this weekend, after two weeks of one or the other of us being sick.  But Sunday was such a nice day that we decided to do an easy hike in the hills just down the road from our house.    Apparently, 10/10/10 is an auspicious day to the Mongolians, as there was a huge shaman gathering at the ovoos just inside Bogd Khan Park.  The shamans were adorned with long hide fringe with bells, animal pelts, and feathers.  We watched them circle the ovoos drumming furiously a few times, and then went on our way. 

 We headed up into the hills, and stopped at one more ovoo to take pictures and enjoy the view.

 
Andy tried to make friends with some horses grazing on the hillside, but they were not interested.  

 

As we were climbing up a ridge I heard a whistle.  Looking up, we saw a horseman wearing a traditional del thundering along the ridge ahead of us, driving his herd home for the evening.  At moments like that, you realize that some things in this country have changed very little in hundreds of years.    It's always a disappointment to leave the hills and head home, but we'll keep trying to get out as much as we can as winter sets in.