Strength, Power and Beauty that suprises you!

by Dasha Kruchkoff
(www.travelblog.org/bloggers/krunch)

A Mongolian boy dressed in traditional Naadam wrestler clothes

The very strongest of men testing each other out in a wrestling match. Men and women shooting bow and arrows. Children, brave children, literally risking their lives to ride 80 kilometers and be proved the champion of all champions and gain glory that is to be the winner of the manly games of Naadaam.

Throw in amazing contortionists, throat singers and musicians playing amazing instruments and you might just scratch the surface of what it is like to experience Naadaam.

Ulaanbaatar comes alive between 11 to 13 of July. No that would be a lie. The whole of Mongolia comes alive to see this once a year amazing spectacle take place. From the opening ceremony to the closing spectacle your left hanging on the edge of your seat.

The hot summer sun, men grunting, women walk by in traditional dresses and cast coy looks about themselves. Young contortionists in positions I would never imagine possible, run to Thieu brothers and sisters.

Children riding horses, you can smell the sweat and fear of both child and animal as both struggle, the child barely hanging on. I meet some really amazing people during this time. Eating fried meat in a pastry. Walking along sewage pipes home.

The ground underneath you is broken cement, yet girls who come to watch don't care, they'll throw their Dior, fake on not, on with the highest heals to come watch.
Haggle at the markets for a chess set that looks like an antique and if your lucky you'll walk away with it for 60USD (or go to the Black Market and get it for 28USD).

Watch a race from atop a noble steed. Find a goat to eat. Stay in a hostel from 5 USD.
Meet some amazing people to enjoy the day with and drink Mongolian vodka until 5am in Metro Palace (Ulanbaatar) whilst dancing with a random foreigner.

Watch yourself its easy to never want to leave.
Want to know more? Have a read of my blog: http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Mongolia/Ulaanbaatar/blog-317061.html