With the help of our wonderful Mongolian friends we found Enkhe who became our driver with an old Russian/Mongolian Jeep. With the help of Marigold Verity we were lent some tents and camping equipment. The plan was to either camp, stay in Gers and in Hotels if needs must. We had also become interested in places that had connections with stone musiclal instruments after Mongolian musicologist Erdenechimmig saw our singing bowls and said that in the past there were similar instruments made of stone. The route was to go to Ikh Gazarin Chuulu, then to Kharkhorin where the revived remains of Erdene Zuu the 16th Century Buddhist monastery lay and Kharkhorum the earlier 13th Century Capital of the Mongolian empire under Chinggis Khan’s son Ogedie. Then over the Khangai mountain range to Tosontsengel, Altai and then to Khovd to meet up with friends and try and find sound mountain. In the end we found Duut Nuur or sound lake in Duut district of Khovd province. Finaly Michael returned to Chandman’ district of Khovd where his Mongolian Khöömii Overtone Singer teacher Tserendavaa and family lived. Then it was a flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
Peter, Jeff, Nathalie, and Michael in Enkhe’s Jeep ready to travel accross Mongolia
The landscape of Ikh Gazarin Chuulu
Proud father with daughter who won the horse race
Michael with his newly aquired Morin Khuur and a young Malchiin singing Khöömii (he had taught himself from listening to the radio) in his parents Ger in Dundgovi province.
We came across what remained of a 130 year old Mongolian Buddhist Temple complex on the way to Kharakhorin
Peter Marsh pumping the petrol manually!
Michael on his Morin Khuur and Jeff playing his Didgeridoo performing at a tourist camp in Kharkhorin
Michael Khöömii singing at a Tourist camp in Kharkhorin