Return to Photo Index                     Return to Clickable Map                       Return to Home Page

Travel Pictures - MONGOLIA - 2001

All images © Ron Miller

Mongolia has many different landforms - forested mountains, treeless mountains, flat grasslands, and desert -
central Mongolia
Looking through the paperwork for our accommodations with our excellent host. I found Mongolia to be an enigma -
despite being sandwiched for decades between two communist powers (Russia and China), many Mongolians
revealed a deep appreciation for the free market as well as a strong affinity for America -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Window view of Ulaan Baatar below mural at Zaisan Memorial, which honors Soviet soldiers killed in WWII -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
View from the Zaisan Memorial of Mongolia's capital and the Tuul River -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Outdoor billiards is surprisingly common in this part of the world despite the cool to freezing temperatures experienced throughout the year -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A billiard hall with a view -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A busy street in Ulaan Baatar's city center -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The past meets the present with this "intersection" of wardrobes -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A run-down, Soviet-era apartment complex in the capital city -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
East meets West as the free market invades this former communist country
(note the flashy advertisement plastered onto this decrepit apartment building) -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
One of several vibrant street markets in the capital city -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Delicious fresh fruit can be purchased from these vendors -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Although much of the capital city is disheveled and unkempt, the marvelous city center seems to borrow the best from both ends of the Siberian
railroad. This enormous public square is nearly as large as China's Tiananmen and surrounded by buildings with the colorful decor of St. Petersburg -
Sukhbaatar Square; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
 Statue honoring Sukhbaatar, the leader of Mongolia's 1921 revolution -
Sukhbaatar Square; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Close-up of the statue and some local citizens "straddling the fence" -
Sukhbaatar Square; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A mongrel group of revolutionaries preparing to set off and re-establish the Mongol empire;
the Mongolian empire (during the 1200's) was  the largest contiguous empire in the history of the world -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The cost in togrogs was very reasonable for this photo of Genghis Ron -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
This stylish wooden entrance gate frames the main temple of Mongolia's own Tibetan-style monastery -
Gandantegchinlen (Gandan) Khiid Monastery; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The Buddhist monastery is located within the city -
Gandantegchinlen (Gandan) Khiid Monastery; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The temple's name translates into "Great Place of Complete Joy" or possibly "Great Way to the Cosmos" -
Gandantegchinlen (Gandan) Khiid Monastery; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The monastery was established in 1835 and suffered through communist atheism as well as Soviet oppression -
Gandantegchinlen (Gandan) Khiid Monastery; Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Vista of the capital from the north suburbs (the Zaisan Memorial can be seen beyond the city at the base of the hill) -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A mixture of yurts and other dwellings is typical of the poor suburbs -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Close-up of the mix of simple dwellings interspersed with traditional yurts -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Hidden away just over a ridge from the capital is an expansive cemetery -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
This corner grocery is a popular meeting point and transit hub -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
These two distinguished gentlemen welcomed us into their community as well as their country -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The children are responsible for gathering water -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The water must be hauled from the community well to the individual homes -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
There are many small kiosks scattered about the neighborhood that provide the essentials -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
I stepped onto this court for an international basketball contest (I blame my defeat on home-court advantage) -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Initially, we felt insecure walking into this impoverished area, but the locals were overtly friendly and welcoming -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The children were curious and eager to meet their foreign visitors -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
These handsome and well-dressed siblings were returning home from school -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
More warm greetings and curious smiles from the local youth -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
A picture of contentment as this youngster grasps his prized little truck -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Who needs a school bus with a friend like this? -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
In all of my travels, I never encountered more warmth and curiosity than that exhibited by Ulaan Baatar's children -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
This photo is sure to brighten-up your day and even put a smile on your face -
Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Photo of our go-anywhere, Russian-made jeep to travel into the countryside -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Even in Mongolia one encounters urban sprawl! -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The stunning countryside of rural Mongolia -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
This pastoral landscape is reminiscent of Montana -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The home of the family (typical of rural Mongolia) that we visited on a day-tour -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The family living in this yurt maintain a herd of cattle (it was a breezy day!) -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Father, mother, and daughter (their son was away at school) -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Despite a complete lack of windows, yurts are surprisingly bright inside -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
We brought gifts of food to supplement the traditional meal we were offered. The typical diet of
rural Mongolians (in part) includes tea, yak milk, curds (coagulated sour milk) and bread -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Family portrait at the dinner table (note the fly in my brother's bowl of soured milk that he was unable to drink!)-
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Mother and daughter seated in the bedroom area; the yurt is a single-room dwelling -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
Close-up of mother and daughter -
near Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia
The trans-Siberian train rolling across the Mongolian steppe en route to China -
southern Mongolia
Dining car on the trans-Siberian railroad; non-smokers could find relief only with their head out the window -
southern Mongolia
Artisans displaying their works at a train station near the Chinese border -
southern Mongolia
Chinese businessman returning to China along with his daughter -
southern Mongolia
Click Here to Continue onto China

Return to Photo Index                     Return to Clickable Map                       Return to Home Page

All images © Ron Miller
For authorized use of these photos, please contact Ron Miller at TheHappyCannibal@gmail.com