GOING TO THE RACES

 We drove for a long time and came to a vast flat plain where the horse races are held as a part of Nadam festivities.  There's a carnival feel and an energy that reminds me of going to the Utah State Fair.  As you can see, the weather was overcast and a cold wind blew but I could feel the excitement of participants and visitors and this man was sure to make some money with his balloon game.

 Here are the racers.  You may be saying to yourself they look mighty young and you are right.  There have been terrible accidents in the past because the age of racers included under 7 year olds.  Now they all wear helmets and must be 7 and over.

These little kids have photos of themselves on a horse being held by their fathers as babies.  I have seen photos of 2-3 years olds on horses by themselves.  This is a horse loving country.

 This is the way the men who have been riding horses all their lives look astride their horses and this is the traditional clothing worn.  Their saddles are wooden and I am told very uncomfortable, but these men don't seem to be bothered.

 The horses are beautiful and people riding them guide them right past people who are walking.  It was kind of scary.

I didn't think I would ever see a real reindeer (I'm pretty sure this one is being trained as one of Santa's relief team).  This is a baby and his antlers are covered in velvet.  He was a gentle creature.  The reindeer are found way up north almost to the Russian border so you don't see them down south near UB.

 People were selling kites while people strolled by on foot and on horse.

 I got this great shot of the Mongolian flag waving in the wind.  We were in the bleachers waiting for the first racers to ride by.

The kids look so small on those big horses and they are going full gallop.

 After the kid race is over riders dressed in their colorful dills and high boots (Your father has some.  Does that mean he needs to become a horseman?  Maybe Trudy will let him walk her gentlest horse.) walk their horses around.

 They look so magnificent on their horses, much cooler than the Marlboro man.

 This was my favorite shot.  Chingiis Khaan warriors in the foreground and the food truck behind. (Just to give you a proper time reference into why this is so funny, CK lived in the late 1100's to early 1200's)

 There was even this guy selling watches.  David wanted to buy all of them.

 I thought these shishkabobs looked so good.  They smelled heavenly but we have been cautioned against buying street food.  We all have had GI distress often enough to guide us carefully away from temptation.

 In the ger behind this tent people are making "booz", not booze, although they make vodka, but not here.  Booz (pronounced boats) are like noodle pockets, filled with meat and potatoes and then deep fried or steamed.  I can eat 2 if I'm really trying.

On the way home we had a flat tire.  Can you see me looking out the window?
It was a great day at the Nadam horse races in Mongolia.