Posted by Susan in Blog, Featured, Postcards | 12 Comments
How To Kiss In Mongolia
We’d been driving around in our converted Soviet van for a few hours now. I’m tired, hot, and a bit cranky when we pull over at a ger (traditional Mongolian dwelling) in the middle of nowhere. I don’t even have the chance to pull off my super-sexy motion sickness bands before I spot it. A baby horse. Knobby knees, matted fur, and all. (Side note: I am quite allergic to horses but love them with all of my heart.) Even better, an adorable Mongolian boy is leading it around on a rope.
And, if there’s anything that I have a weakness for, it is children with animals on ropes.
Love at first sight. Note my awes bright orange motion-sickness bands.
The boy was wearing pants that matched the color of the expansive Mongolian sky and had a round and happy face, like all of the Mongolian children we met.
After an intense convo with him in my advanced Mongolian, I determine that the horse is two. Two what? you might ask. And to you I say, quit being such a stickler for details and look at how cute the thing is! (And it’s either days or weeks, obvi. Not sure which, but the number two was conveyed and noted.)
Almost half of all Mongolians remain nomadic. There aren’t a whole lot of Motel 8s or drive-thrus in the Gobi (or in any part of the country, for that matter), so an awesome and unique part of Mongolian culture is that they will almost always invite you in for food and drink if you stop at one of their gers.
To be the guest of such legendary hospitality is an amazing part of any trip to Mongolia.
I am taller than both things in this picture. This never happens. Go, me!
The rest of my group went inside the ger to sample some airag, which is fermented mare’s milk and not nearly as disgusting as it sounds.
The boy tugged my free hand (the other firmly gripping the baby horse’s rope) and led me towards the other horses. I guess I’m sitting at the kids’ table – again.
Introducing me to his family.
Instead of eating it himself, he fed the treat to his two-daysweekswhatevs-old best friend. The silly crunching, delight, and confusion of the baby horse enthralled both the boy and me, and we burst into another fit of giggles.
The fact that we couldn’t speak to each other didn’t matter at all.
THIS is how to kiss in Mongolia.
His love for the animals was so genuine, and absolutely beautiful. As we started to head back to the ger, he began to kiss all of the horses. When he leaned in to kiss the baby, he saw me turn on my camera, and a huge smile broke out across his face.
The photo above is one of my favorite photos that I’ve ever taken. It captures a moment and a feeling that is so special.
As we drove away, the boy, his older brother, and his grandfather stood outside their ger and waved to us. My grin matched that of the boy’s.
This is why I travel. (And why I love kids, baby animals, and candy.)
Check out the bowlegs on that guy! And the satellite dish, motorcycle, and horse feeding by the solar panel. What a world we live in!
This is the first of Travel Junkette’s Postcard series, a regular feature through which I will share stories and photos from past travels.
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- 11 Things You Didn't Know About Me - Travel Junkette - [...] you don’t have to go to Mongolia or somewhere similarly ends-of-the-earthish for your first trip abroad. Try something closer and [...]
My lofty life goals include raising a gaggle of happy chickens, taking the perfect jumpy pic on every continent, and making YOU realize you don't need to work a job you hate in hopes of traveling "someday." Use seasonal adventure jobs to travel NOW. What are you waiting for? 
, I'll earn a small percentage at NO extra cost to you. Thanks in advance, and remind me to buy you a beer the next time we cross paths!
Thats an unusual weakness to have?
I also seem to remember a pretty sweet shot of you sharing an intimate moment with one of your equine friends.
Haha. I think you’re remembering my camel friend. I do have quite a nice image of us nuzzling!
Great story Susan and love your writing style. Can’t wait for your next post.
Thanks, Rick! Please say hi to the gang at JOURNEYS for me!
What an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go there. Thanks for sharing this story, Susan.
You’re welcome, Wilkine. You are going to love it. More stories to come, so keep checking back!
So Cute!
I know. I declared Mongolian children the cutest in the entire world while I was there.
Awwwww so coooooool! I can’t wait for Mongolia! I’ll be there in June. Perhaps I’ll run into a character as special as this one
I really hope so! I’m sure you will – the kids and animals are abundant, and cute as hell!
I loved Mongolia, and I loved the horses, camels, and yaks. Cute post. Loved it!
Corinne recently posted..World Heritage Site – Quedlinburg
Thanks, Corinne! So glad you enjoyed. Mongolia is a wonderful place.