Dream Trip 2008: March

Great Travel Moment

While my husband and I were teaching English in Mongolia, some of our friends took us to Naadam, a competition of archery, wrestling, and horse racing held every summer in Ulan Baatar, the capital city. I love this picture because it captures the complexity of the country as it is struggling to catch up with the modernized world. It seems that most cultures lose so much of their identity as they become more international, but in Mongolia alot of the population still wear traditional clothing, such as the del worn here by the archer. Mongolians have such a strong identity and it was so amazing and beautiful to have had the chance to observe what makes them truly unique. This picture also reminds me of all the sunny (but cold) afternoons spent in the countryside while my husband and his friends practiced archery with their own bows.