Day 138 – Nadaam Festival Ulaanbaatar –Thur 11 Jul

Day 138 – Nadaam Festival Ulaanbaatar –Thur 11 Jul

Taxi to stadium, walked past food stalls, amusement tents eg darts at balloons and robotic soccer. Opening ceremony tickets were available outside from scalpers- and they certainly got us! 8,000TG normally, paid 50,000TG ea. BoyRob and Miles found one guy and just started negotiation when police came up, confiscated his tickets and they led him away! Minutes later they had already bought from another guy just as GirlRob had got another seller to agree to 35,000TG ea - oh well. 
We had been warned many times that UB was alive with pickpockets, especially in crowds like markets and festivals, so we left our handbags and wallets behind. Our security measures backfired somewhat when BoyRob had to get his cash out of his sock, and Miles had to put his backpack on the ground and fumble with a plastic bag... 

Tickets were worth every tugrik - the day was filled with colour, music (drumming, throat singing), large helium balloon releases, drone camera, marching band, running soldiers, minority groups, traditional dancing, parades, horse acrobatics, wrestlers, archers....

 

Wrestling unlike western styles, a line of red judges, line of blue, one per pair of wrestlers. Wrestlers weave in front of judge who removes their spire hats. Once stronger player gets other to touch ground, winner does traditional “fairy” dance in front of crowd emulating falcons or phoenix - fascinating display!

 

Ate khuushuurs large steamed meat patties deep fried in batter, dripping with oil and handed out in paper bags. Went to another arena to watch male then female archers, in brilliant coloured greatcoats in wools, felt, brocades, panels and bright sashes. Bone bows and decorative scabbards for arrows. Up to 10 sets at time, stand in groups of four - number ones fire first, then twos etc. Women have “handicaps” of maybe 5 metres lining up in front of men. Pretty hairy with all arrows from front and back lines firing, and assistants going in front of firing line to show how far arrow fell short, walking up aisles returning arrows etc. T'would never get past workplace health and safety in Oz!

Walked 4kms home in heat (sure it must be good for us). Nice storm in arvo - heavy enough for a reasonable Ozzie wash!! Finished up great day with dinner at Korean restaurant (hot n spicy!) with Guy and Cheryl in nearby hotel – real refectory décor and service.