NAADAM, A TIME TO CELEBRATE

Dang!  Our costumes are not as pretty as the ones they have on, but what the heck, we are just observers here.

 

 Because Naadam lasts 5 days (which are sanctioned by the government...they added 3

more days to the celebration just this year) and everything closes down for the holiday, we have had time to visit some of the preliminary events that take place before the big day.

 

 

 Look at these specimens.  They hit targets about 50 yds. away.  There were people standing by the targets ready to pick up arrows and restack the  cans (stacked tin cans painted red were the targets).  I think they had great faith in the accuracy of the archers.  To me they were sitting ducks.

 The opening ceremonies were held in a big stadium and of course we must have a parade from the participants.  There were lots of military men in different uniforms and then there were the performers.  I love the rainbow umbrellas.

 Just a heads up.  Soccer is really big in Mongolia.  Who'd a thought.

The Mongol steeds are quite the lookers.

I love taking photos of people in their costumes.  So colorful and exotic looking.

 

 These are the ballroom dancers.  They look like flowers when they twirl.

Love the costumes.  There are costume stores where people can rent the look they want.  This is just like Halloween, only prettier.  However, the guy on the right does look scary to me.  And I bet no one ever asks for the haircut on the left.  (I think it would be fun Meg and Laura for you to have this  pigtail photo on the wall of your salon and offer it as one of your "special do's").

 

See the wrestlers.  They are pretty meaty, but look at the one in the middle.  I think he was over 7 ft. tall.  I will call him Goliath.  These guys are taking over the Sumo wrestling in Japan.  And it looks like they start the training young.

 See how Goliath towers over regular folk.  I've seen some tall Mongolians but he takes the cake.

Naadam reminded me of the Utah State Fair.  Lots of people, lots of games of chance, lots of places to buy food (big difference here...mare's milk for sale instead of diet coke and hoshiers (their version of meat pies) instead of hotdogs and hamburgers).  But where is the big yellow slide?