Journal entry: My Thoughts After Mongolia
This past June 2022, I journeyed north by plane, by car & by horse to the Last Reindeer herders of Mongolia to the mystical valley of the Tsaatan people.
Mongolia is wild landscape tucked between the two massive nations of Russia and China. It is known for many things such as wild horses, the softest cashmere, mighty wrestlers & unique homes called Gers. What people don’t know of is a remote people group nestled in a northernmost valley far from any civilization called the Tsaatan Tribe. Originally from the Russian region of Tuva, the semi nomadic Tsaatan people survive off the land & their reindeer.
After 2 days of driving, we arrived at the home of Gatamore, & Gansuhk, herder boys who provided our horses and joined us to assist on our adventure north. We camped at there home for the night and rode out from there the following morning. At dawn, the boys herded in our horses and began the not so easy task of getting them ready to go for the 2 days of riding ahead, roping each of them one by one and “bronc-ing” them out before handing them to us.
We traveled for 2 more days by horse, covering over 30 miles of wilderness. As we climbed the final ridge higher and higher the anticipation build, the air got thinner, and it felt like even our horses knew it was the last climb before our descent into reindeer valley. Upon reaching the top the herders lead us around a tall mound of rocks found all throughout Mongolia most often at the top of dangerous ridges like this one. It is said that circling clockwise 3 times and placing a rock each time will grant you safe passage on your journey.
The whole landscape changed as we began our descent into the valley of the Tsaatan people. Teepees dotted the valley and the herds of reindeer began to come in to sight. We had made it. Over the next 5 days we made reindeer valley our home, staying with one of the Tsaatan families, living, eating, and working like the tsaatan people the best we could.
After 5 days in this valley, we geared up to leave. It truly felt like I was leaving a peace of me behind, I tapped into a new part of my being, a part of me that could rest, listen, feel, in a different way than before. As my adventure to Mongolia came to a close, I felt pure gratitude for everything I had just experienced. This trip was like no other, it was a journey into a different world, exploring untouched land, connecting with people without sharing the same language and learning lessons that no teacher could teach.
I cant help but think about all the things in our daily life that we take for granted without allowing ourselves the perspective of the wider world around us. Never to invalidate our personal human experience but to expand our mind to better understand the treasures we have.
It's a special thing to travel, to explore, to stay curious. We all have so much to learn.
If you are looking for more of my trip to Mongolia check out my Instagram @itsdanijonas or my Youtube Video from the trip!
I can't wait to keep sharing this magical world with you. Always remember to stay passionately curious my friends!!
** If you’re looking to have your own wild Mongolian adventure @erikcooperadventurist (on IG) is your guy!
