"Live the Cover!" Contest: Thailand

Great Travel Moment

During the annual Naadam Festival throughout Mongolia in July, children as young as seven compete in 30-kilometer bareback horse races, risking life and limb. In the villages, there is no formal track-the children race across fields where yaks and goats graze. During one race outside the village of Ikh Tamir, one poor little fellow, who was well behind the leader, but obviously giving it his all, took a nasty tumble practically at our feet after trying to dodge a large rock in his path. Luckily, the injury seemed to be more to his pride than his body. A Polaroid picture of himself and other little gifts from members of our group sent him off bruised, but smiling.