6th Annual Ikh Khurd Horse Race

Last Sunday, the Dunjingaravyn Khurd 2011 Winter Derby was held  approximately 60km from Ulaanbaatar.  It was a very cold day with temperatures below -20 but this didn't seem to deter spectators or contestants. Hundreds of people enjoyed the event, many of them dressed in their finest garb with silk and fur lined deels, quirky hats, fur jackets and silver encrusted belts. 

Over 600 horses competed in races which covered a 16-20km distance (in full gallop!!!).  Many of them with child jockeys who rode bareback and with no helmet. It's hard to tell the age of the young riders but I believe by law they must be at least seven years of age.  Hope you enjoy the pictures. (just click on any image to enlarge).

 

Young riders who just finished their race.

The finest fox fur hats!

The horses are quite small. You can't imagine they are capable of running a half marathon!

Age-old transport meets modern technology. 

Setting up camp: hot coffee or COGNAC!

You have to walk a long way to find suitable "amenities!"  Either travel too far to be seen or hope for a dip in the terrain!

Unlike the Melbourne Cup there is plenty of room for EVERYONE!

The group

Ole and some locals (who had their own "bar-b-q" happening on the side)

Another well dressed local (Sim) AND a guy in fur !!  :D

Stylish youngster

The horses arrive! (middle distance) escorted by a horde of vehicles on the left!! It was exhilarating seeing both cars and horses approach.

The pint size winner coming in, riding bare back!

Spectator stand at the finish line

Middle of the field riders coming in.

Big screen technology.  One horse has lost its rider but doesn't stop.

More finery

A jockey!!!!

Horse and rider. Beautifully colour coordinated.

After the race  grilled whole mutton was waiting at Chinggis camp

There's no mistaking what's for dinner tonight! Those are actually pelts of snow leopards encircling the ger. We were reassured that they were confiscated from smugglers :(

Sim learning how to carve mutton (just in case we ever entertain a large crowd)

Still carving!

A throne of dead animals !!

Sunset over the ger

Some archery practice to top off an entertaining and fun day

Ghengis the Great! (and a day in the countryside)

Genghis Khan Statue

54km from Ulaanbaatar, in the spot where Genghis was purported to have found the golden whip,  stands a stainless steel statue of Genghis on horseback.  He cuts quite an imposing figure, perched atop a building in the Mongolian wilderness, measuring some 40 meters high! You can ride an elevator up through the back of the horse to access the horse's mane.  From there you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

In the horse's mane

Dad and Ash

View from the top

Within the complex there is a small museum, recreation area, restaurant, souvenir shop and conference hall.  And if you want, you can play "dress-ups"! 

They look so totally harmless?!

The Royal Family

In the Terelj district there are some great places to stay the night or just to relax during the day.  This restaurant/accommodation house had a great hill for sledding.   Ashley and I "double-dinked" which wasn't a great success.  The sled immediately did a 180 degree turn and we were hurtling down the hill backwards bellowing with laughter. It was a lot of fun.

Ash going full speed ahead

Sledders

Turtle Rock was one of the many sights in the area

Dad and Ash

Ash's friends-our first visitors to Mongolia

Crossing a frozen river

A character filled bridge.  It's seen its fair share of contractions and expansions!

Surrounding scenery

Eagles by the roadside

Majestic bird!

BIG BOYS' TOYS!

This tank can go for miles if you're prepared to pay for the fuel!

Ashley and Luke decided it would an "opportunity of a lifetime" to drive a tank, shoot rifles, machine guns, AK47's and RPG'S (Rocket Propelled Grenades).  Only in Mongolia!  Just head along to the not so secret Military training school, lay your  $$$ (Tugs or US currency) on the table and shoot away!  I went along as the official photographer (and partly because my maternal instincts were saying "you should go!").  For my efforts I was rewarded with temporary deafness and the inconvenience of being stranded in the Mongolian boondocks for 3 hours after our Land Cruiser broke down!

Take your pick!

 This lovely assortment of deadly weapons arrived in the boot of a very old Toyota, wrapped in a blanket!  It seemed rather surreal watching them unload.

Ash taking aim AK47? They all look like "a gun" to me!

RPG in hand!

 Not sure why we didnt think of taking a video of this awesomely powerful weapon being fired??  I was assigned the job of catching it all on camera but once the grenade was launched, the boom was so loud I was completely startled and disorientated.  (Still shots are always good :) )

Luke about to fire. See the coordinators in the back, they know whats coming!

A SATISFIED CUSTOMER