Mongolia Travel Hostel

Guide to Backpackers in Mongolia

How Mongolians Decorate Their Homes

Every country has its own unique tradition or way of decorating its homes. Even though most people are influenced by the Western-type of interior designs including the classic and modern themes. That is also true when it comes to Mongolians. Most Mongolian people design and decorate their homes in a simple minimalist theme or modern classic themes. Plus, of course, there are people who have their own unique taste.

Mongolia is evolving and developing just like other parts of the world. But they still respect and keep their traditions which is also reflected in the interior designs of the homes. Those are usually related to religion and folk-custom.

Traditional Chest

One of the very common pieces of furniture that you will see in Mongolians’ homes is a traditional chest. Chests have been part of Mongolians’ lifestyles for centuries. They store their clothes, antique items, and other valuable things in them. Plus, they are usually beautifully designed with unique patterns and artworks on them.

Chest is a very common furniture today as it was in the past. Now there are even more elegant chests are made in terms of color, shape, design, and with beautiful artworks on them. Some people put their religious ritual or generally religion-related items on the chest. It might seem a bit similar to furniture here: https://ottomans-shop.com/bed/fold-out/

Specially prepared guest table

Mongolians always welcome guests with a warm heart. Even though guest rooms are not common in Mongolia, they always make sure to welcome the guest to their table for tea, candies, other snacks, or sometimes meal.

Therefore, they put candies in elegant bowls that are usually made of glass. There are also Mongolian traditional cookies or simple cookies on another plate. If you know Mongolians, you probably know that they drink milk tea on a daily basis. But it is common in more traditional houses. Serving tea for their guests is crucial. So whether it is milk tea or black tea, the guest should drink a tea while eating from the cookies and candies.

Every person has their special way of decorating the table, but it is usually themed in a simple, bohemian, Western, or classic black-and-white way. They decorate it more elegantly when it comes to celebrations like New Year or Tsagaan Sar.

Wall decorations and plants

Artworks and plants are very common methods of decorating the home around the world. Apart from the traditional decorations above, a lot of Mongolians decorate with modern styles. They put various types of wall decorations and plants around the home. The most common types of wall decorations include big family pictures, collections of meaningful words, and photography or drawings of nature and animals. But every wall decoration means something which makes it more valuable. It is also common to put up rugs on the wall. This tradition actually comes from their neighbor Russia, and it’s been popular for a long time. Rugs are usually elegant and beautiful due to their unique patterns and colors. Sometimes there are rugs featuring animals like wolves etc.

Plants seem like cliche decorations. But there never really get out of the trend. Not only they are beautiful natural decorations, but plants also can be your hobby and your friend while contributing to your health. The options are a lot, every plant has its own unique structure, color, smell, and health benefits.

Average work day for a Mongolian

The average Mongolian makes about $400 or so every month. Compared with other countries, it is on the smaller side, so sometimes people can have more than 1 job. However, here is what the average work day is like a for a middle-class white collar worker in Mongolia.

Waking up early in the morning

Usually people wake up around 6:30 in the morning to prepare for the day. The traffic in Ulaanbaatar is bad, hence people wake up earlier compared with cities that don’t have much traffic. Especially for families that have children, it is important to wake up early and have a set schedule, because not only do they have to drive their kids to their schools or kindergarden, but they have to also get to work by 9:00 o clock in the morning.

People end up losing 2 or so hours stuck in traffic just to go a few kilometers sadly. In the winter there are no alternatives and options besides sitting in traffic sadly because it’s almost -30 celcius outside!

After 2 or so hours of traffic jam and finally getting to the office, the first hour is mostly spent catching up with work and is rather usually quite, but this depends on the job and where they work. However, the real grind begins starting from 10 and 11.

The Work

Depending on the job, you meet clients, perform your duties and tasks. However, Mongolian culture has a tight-knit office environment. Your co-workers usually become your good friends whom you spend a lot of your time with in social setting, etc. So there is bound to be some goofing around the office and chit chatting during the first few hours.

Most offices are pretty standard and have the usual layout for an office. Some look like cubicles, whereas some look more old soviet buildings, whereas newer and up starting companies look modern with better interior design and equipment.

Some co-working offices and spaces that opened up recently in fact have some cool chairs, furniture, and design layout like in office home.

Lunch

Depending on the job, some companies start lunch at 12 in the afternoon, whereas some others begin 13 in the afternoon, which lasts about an hour. Co-workers usually eat together at a nearby cafe or they bring their own food from home. Some companies have kitchens which people cook for their co-workers in switch.

Back to work

Around 14 o clock, people begin to settle down and focus on their work. Usually after lunch is when people go for meetings or time to get documents sorted and handled. This lasts for about 2-3 hours, before people start to shift towards the mood of ending the day and going home.

Back on the road and traffic

Beginning from 17 o clock, people start to pack things up heading back home. The work hours ends at 18 o clock, but some companies close a bit earlier and people get back in the car to go through another 2-3 hours of traffic. When it is 20 or 21 in the evening, people finally get home and make some dinner before relaxing for 1 or 2 hours and start their work day again.

So on average, the average Mongolian who lives in the city ends up spending at least 3 – 6 hours stuck in traffic. In the summer it is not as bad because you can walk to work, but during the winter, there is always traffic and it is a cause for a lot of stress for many people and wasted time.

Now Is The Perfect Time to Explore the Outdoors

If you know what this website is all about it’s about hiking trickling and exploring wildlife.

Although we all wish 2020 was a year full of joy and excitement unfortunately the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic,So we have to make do with what we have and what we got even if you might go on lockdown or if you can travel anywhere else it does not mean that you can’t enjoy the outdoors.

You don’t necessarily have to go outside your country to enjoy the world and meet new people and learn new things.

If you actually look around you can find plenty of things that you can take part in and enjoy your life.

2020 is actually the first time for you to explore the wilderness and the outdoors and perhaps find new hobbies that you might actually enjoy. One of being hiking and trekking the wilderness and the outdoors.

For starters, you don’t need expensive equipment saw hiking gear but as long as you have a good pair of boots and have the spirit then you can just enjoy the fresh air.

If you want to learn more about hiking preparation: https://insighthiking.com

There are many reasons why you should go out for a walk and jog or just relax yourself out in nature studies have shown that the more you connected with yourself and the more you connect back to mother nature reduces stress levels that produce cortisol and overall you live a longer and happier life.

Maybe you can invite your friends to go out for a picnic hike a jogging track whatever you feel like.

Even if you wanted to travel to different countries unfortunately you can’t because most countries are locked down and they are many risks associated with international travel at the moment. So take this time to explore your own country where you come from and learn to be with yourself.

From time to time we all need to reflect on who we are what kind of person we want to be and where we are going in life so take 2020 as a year for you to understand more about yourself and who your eyes a person.

If however you are in lockdown and can’t even go outside the city then a good idea is to prepare your next trip online and study where you want to go when all this craziness is done.

Maybe next year in 2021 you want to visit Mongolia and witness the Majestic nature and the view of the steppe.

The local travel market has developed significantly in 2020 because All international visitors and tourists have been denied entry to Mongolia so in order to make money and find new ways to sustain the business have been focusing on the local infrastructure and the tourism industry locally.

When you do finally visit next to you you might receive better service driving better roads and have modern accessories without sacrificing your comforts.

So hang in there you know things might seem bleak and not as good there’s so many things they should look up to.

Guide to Hiking and Trekking Around Mongolia

If you will be visiting Mongolia, you have to make sure you have the right gear, otherwise you will find it very hard to navigate through Mongolia’s countryside. Depending on where you go, your gear should be different, and you will need different things.

Riding Horses

If you will be riding horses, you want shoes that are light, so that heavy boots won’t be dragging you down or something. Sometimes you can even ride horses without any shoes but it’s best to keep them on 😉

Northern Mongolia

If you will be trekking through northern Mongolia, you need waterproof boots or leather boots that are water resistant. The northern climate of Mongolia is definitely a lot more moist and wetter than other parts of Mongolia. Sometimes during the summer it can rain for days and some of the rivers overflow, so be sure to schedule your travel during weather that is more appropriate.

Southern and Eastern Mongolia

Towards the south and the east, you will mostly find flat grasslands. So you should wear shoes that are good for keeping dirt away. Hiking boots or shoes are not recommended, because your feet will get really hot and smelly.

Rather just a pair of sneakers, or sandals will actually do just fine!

Western Mongolia

If you will be traveling towards the western part of Mongolia, you definitely need shoes and boots that have sturdy and thick soles. The soil is more jagged, rocky and there are more cliffs, and higher altitudes.

The climate is a mix between hot and dry heat, but it can rain a lot on certain days, so it’s bit of a mix of different climates. The western part of Mongolia is where you go to see Golden Eagle Festival, Kazakhs and people with a more Turkic / Central Asian ancestry.

What if I can only bring one pair of boots?

You should at least bring 2-3 pair of shoes, however, if you have limited space in your luggage and can’t bring any extra pair of boots or shoes, then you should get one of the Palladium boots for hiking. While traveling in France, I got one of these, and they have lasted well over 3 years even with daily use.

But, if you can bring more than one pair, I would suggest a pair of sneakers, sandals, and hiking boots that are waterproof!

What Clothes Should I Bring?

Mongolia’s weather is very unstable, so you should actually bring clothes for all seasons even when you are visiting during the summer. It’s really fickle. It can be sunny all day, rain for 30 minutes, become sunny again, and even snow on certain occasions.

During the night it becomes really cold as well, so it’s a bit of an annoying unstable weather.

If you are going down south, definitely bring some sunscreen and a hat.

Mongolian Language For Beginners

If you are travelling to Mongolia, then you must know the basics of the language otherwise, you will find it difficult to get around because most people do not speak English, especially out in the countryside.

For a detailed resource, try this website: http://learnmongolianlanguage.com/

Greetings

Greetings are pretty simple. There aren’t many variations, and most people use the Sain baina uu version which is pretty easy to remember.

Sain baina uu – It means hi in a more formal way

Yu baina – It is similar to saying what is up? Or how is it going?

Sain uu – This is the shortest and most simplest version. It just means hi

 

Introductions

Namaig Zaya gedeg – My name is Zaya. Use this if you need to introduce yourself to other people.

Chamaig hen gedeg ve? – If you want to ask someone else’s name, you just ask this.

Asking for help

Uuchlaarai – People don’t really use this much, but it is a way to be polite and ask for a request.

Nadad tuslaach? – This means can you please help me with something.

How do Mongolians communicate?

If you don’t know the person well, or if it someone visibly older than you then, you have to refer to someone as “ta”. It is similar to other languages where it is a formal version of you.

For someone who is a peer or on the same age group, you can refer to them as “chi”.

When Mongolians speak with each other, usually they talk in an informal way. You have to understand that most Mongolians are pretty blunt and there is not much of a political correctness to how people speak.

It does not necessarily mean that people are rude and disrespectful, but the culture of nomadic peoples are more blunt and direct with their words. Usually people are not afraid to say remarks that might be considered as insensitive.

Is Mongolian Language Similar to Other Languages?

A lot of people assume that Mongolian has to be somewhat related or similar to either Russian or Chinese, but it in fact is neither. The origins are very different and don’t necessarily have any resemblance to both languages.

It is a unique language of its own with its own grammar and distinctness. However, you will find a lot of loan words and borrowed words in Russian mostly technology related words are directly taken from the Russians and Western people.

Age Of People When Communicating

When you are talking to someone older, usually there is a sense of age hierarchy. However, if you are a foreigner, most people will understand what you are trying to mean without being offended. Older people are usually treated with respect and in a different tone and manner compared with someone who is younger or of the same age.

How do nomads make Mongolian fur?

If you are not familiar with Mongolian culture, then you are in for a treat because it’s one of the most unique cultures around the world that is almost forgotten and unheard of. Specifically we’ll be learning more about how Mongolian fur pillows are made.

Who are Mongolian nomads

 

The Mongolian nomads are people who still live by the traditions of living with the land and the animals. For thousands of years, nomadic tribes have lived throughout the steppes of Eurasia which spanned from Hungary to Manchuria. Most often these tribes warred, intermarried, and had constant contact with one another. It wasn’t until 1206 when Chinggis Khaan or Temujin, united all these tribes and founded the Mongolian empire. He further went on to become one of the greatest leaders in history.

However since the fall of the Mongolian empire, descendents of Mongolians and Chinggis Khaan have been living the traditional nomadic lifestyle throughout Eurasia, and these nomads can be found in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Inner Mongolia, and Mongolia.

How do Mongolian nomads live

Their lifestyle is pretty simple without much worries of the modern day world. They live in harmony with nature and tend to their animals. Did you know that livestock outnumber the population of Mongolia by 20:1? Meat and animald produce are fairly cheap in Mongolia due to that fact.

Studies have shown that Mongolian nomads who live out in the countryside are healthier, have better immune systems and overall happier despite living away from the luxuries from modern day technology and the convenience.

Researchers are showing that stronger family ties and communities are one of the big reasons for why some people live longer, are more healthier and happier.

Usually the nomad lifestyle involves performing manual work such as tending to the flock of sheep, animals, making sure they are well fed and maintained. Division of labour is pretty apparent, where women mostly take care of household chores and other tasks that don’t require much strength, whereas men are in charge of erecting, building things, breakind down horses, etc.

What do the nomads do for a living

While money is not an essential part of being a nomad, they still contribute greatly to the economy and produce quality materials and goods. From milk, to biscuits, to wool and fur, the Mongolian nomads are an integral part of the economy and supply the general population with food, clothing material, cashmere etc.

If you ever go to live with nomads, you will realize that they mix play and work together. It’s as if their lifestyle is not necessarily considered “work” but just part of their life.

For example, women wake up early to tend to their livestock, milk them, feed them, and the men shearing the sheep for fur etc.

Shearing Sheep

Some people might have wondered whether it is ethical to produce Mongolian fur. Good news, because the sheep are not necessarily harmed during the process of making Mongolian fur.

They sheep are sheared first, which require them to subdued for a few minutes while the nomads shear their wool and fur. The wool and fur are then transported/ collected and sent off to processing plants that clean them.

The material then is sent to other factories that create products and the wool ends up being used for products and goods that are sold in stores.

You will find Mongolian fur throws, pillows, deels, coats, jackets, and various other goods that are made specifically for keeping warmth and insulation.

Worldwide Distribution

Mongolia is still a developing economy so it still has a lot to catch up with when it comes to competing in the world markets, but it’s a growing industry and as the world learns more about Mongolia, more and more people are opting to buy Mongolian produce and goods.

Cashmere is one of those big trends and Mongolian fur and sheep wool seems to be next, because Mongolia’s quality is almost unmatched.

5 Reasons to Stay a Few Days in Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia is know for it’s beautiful landscapes and nature Although we strongly suggest to visit the countryside out in the steppes, there are still plenty of things to do besides trekking around the country in endless plains.

While Ulaanbaatar is not as advanced as Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and such, Ulaanbaatar is still a good city to take a look around for a few days. You can go to the Shangri La mall, watch a movie, go to the square and many more.

The City Center

Renamed to the Chinggis square, the Sukhbaatar square is the center of the city where you will be able to see the “white house” of Mongolia. Much like the Red square in Moscow, Mongolia has a similar to layout to the square, although a bit smaller.

The city center is where most people gather during the night for bike rides, a stroll, etc. However, if you are looking for a night life, it is strongly suggested to visit the “Huuhdiin 100” district. Since June 2017, Mongolia has started celebrating the weekends out on the Huuhdiin 100 district.

You will find many beer taverns, night clubs, and other fun things to do around there. It is buzzing with young energetic people as well as tourists alike. You won’t feel bored there since there are plenty of things to do around the street, from food to socializing with strangers, dancing, etc you will have a great time.

Visiting monasteries

If you like philosophy and religious studies, you must visit the monasteries around the city. There are a few around the western parts of the city. You will find statues, old manuscripts, monks chanting, artwork, and souvenirs.

Around those areas, there are many pigeons looking for food, so if you have rice or bread crumbs, you can feed them (although it is discouraged by the monks around the area). If you are feeling generous there are kids who are selling food to feed the pigeon.

 

 

Beautiful Zaisan

Zaisan is the more of the modern/richer parts of Ulaanbaatar. You will find the giant Buddha statue and a lot of other development going on around that area.

During the summer you can find people grilling food, riding bikes, enjoying the beach near the river, and such. If you go further south, that’s where you will find the Bogd Khan mountain ranges. If you enjoy trekking, you can go camping or picnicking.

National Park

Somewhat similar to a carnival at the national park you can try your luck playing games with prizes, or ride around the park on bicycles, see a water fountain, and enjoy the atmosphere. You will most likely find children, teenagers, and parents taking their kids out for a stroll.

Around 8-10 PM is the most active time of the day, so unless you don’t want to get caught in traffic, you can try going there a bit earlier and leaving a bit later.

City Outskirts

The outskirts of the capital has a lot of beautifully scenic places. The recommended places to visit are Terelj, which is 40km from the city, Handgait, 15 km north from the city, or maybe Zuun Mod, which a smaller town nearby the capital. Although it’s not as big or developed, life is more slower paced.

Terelj: You can go horse riding, camping, enjoying the air, and walk around. It’s mostly for tourists and people who are looking to get away for the weekend from the stress. You have to go see the Melkhiin Had if you happen go around Terelj.

Handgait is an area for mostly richer people. It’s a place where people go during the summer called “Zuslan”, so if you happen to be visiting during the summer, you can enjoy the quieter suburbs of the city.

Chinggis Khaan statue: ~40 km from the city center towards the east, you can find the giant Chinggis Khaan statue. You will find a museum with yurt (ger) houses. Not as scenic as Handgait or Terelj, but if you enjoy the open fields, it’s your place.

So, now that you know there are quite a few things to do around the city, maybe you will spend a few days around he capital before heading out to the countryside. However, the reason to visit Mongolia is mainly for the pristine country side and the nomads you get to meet along the way.

Best Destinations to Visit in Mongolia

Trying to decide where to go and what places to visit in Mongolia? Here are some of the best spots and sights to see.

Khongoriin Els

If you like to ride camels and see the Gobi dunes, this is THE place for you. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a lot of water, and pair of good shades, because it can get extremely hot and dry.

Trekking up the dunes can even take hours, so if you want to climb the dunes and take awesome pictures, you better start working out and getting in shape. While the peak isn’t that high, the sand dunes are very slippery and it takes a lot of effort to trek through the sand.

 

Khuvsgul Lake

This is where you will get to see one of the clearest waters in the world. Although it is very beautiful and pretty to look at, be careful of dipping your toes and cooling your feet, because the Khuvsgul Lake might look shallow, but it can be very deep and sometimes people do drown because of their carelessness.

Altai Mountains

Are you more of a hiker? Then the Altai Mountains towards Western Mongolia is the place for you. This is where most Kazakhs, Muslim Mongolians, live. So culturally it might be very different from the rest of Mongolia. If you come during the Eagle Festival season, you could partake in the event.

 

 

Auro Toson

This is more of a resort where you can relax for a few days and suntan. It’s in the Khentii province of Mongolia far away from any major cities, but there are plenty of foreigners and lodging specifically suited for travelers.

If you suffer from acne or any forms of skin problem, the pond is especially good for treating them. The salt, the oil, and the clay in the pond has minerals and nutrients that greatly benefit your skin.

Karakorum

Karakorum is the old capital of the Mongolian empire. For history nerds and enthusiasts this is the perfect place to learn more about Mongolian history, religion, and the culture.

Lake Baikal

Although this is not exactly in Mongolia, it’s still pretty close and if you happen to traveling through the country, then might as well drop by Lake Baikal.

Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar itself has its own unique culture compared to rest of the country. It’s interesting to compare how the progress it has had for the last few years. Try staying a few nights close the Night Street, and the main square if you like to party and are interested in more metropolitan areas.