“There are 200 wolves in the town square,” our friend Edith reported in a rather urgent voice over the phone. We hurriedly donned our winter outerwear and 10 minutes later were standing on the square block of pavers surrounding a metal communist hero. Wolves were indeed everywhere. But to our disappointment and disgust, they were all frozen stiff. The winner had displayed 50 corpses, proving he was the best wolf hunter.
We didn’t expect to see wolves at a camel festival. Just
shows our ignorance of the herding world. The colorful parade and races were
less of a surprise. We felt privileged to take it all in and seemed very
welcome as 2 of just a handful of foreigners in Gobi Altai for the weekend.
The exhibit hall was teeming with excited shoppers eager to see
and buy treasures. Rope, milk, alcohol, yogurt, butter, boots, saddles,
nose-piercers, harnesses; all made from or used with camels.
“That was one of the best days of my life,” I said at the end
of the parade day! 500 camels, riders and animals dressed to a tee, strolled
through town. An occasional ger (yurt), or kid-filled basket was strapped around
humps showing how practical camels can be. Before and after the parade, we
visited with herders, admired their medals, and even got to sit between a few
of the warm furry Bactrian humps. The people were eager to be photographed,
patient with our Mongolian and just as eager to show their animals as we were
to see them.
“That was one of the best days of my life,” I said at the end
of the parade day! 500 camels, riders and animals dressed to a tee, strolled
through town. An occasional ger (yurt), or kid-filled basket was strapped around
humps showing how practical camels can be. Before and after the parade, we
visited with herders, admired their medals, and even got to sit between a few
of the warm furry Bactrian humps. The people were eager to be photographed,
patient with our Mongolian and just as eager to show their animals as we were
to see them.
