Trots Around | Travels: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Alone in Mongolia – Part 2.2

Choijin Lama Temple built in 1904, hidden away in unsightly surroundings. There are 5 temples within…

The Main Temple

In 1906, Manchurian King Badruult called this temple the Temple of Mercy. The name of this temple can be seen outside the door written in Manchu, old Mongolian, Chinese and Tibetan. The inscription means: ‘The temple developing the mercy’. On the top of inscription, there is a carving of seal of Manchurian King Badruult.

The Zanhan Temple

Paintings of kidneys, livers and hearts of humans (its kind of the punishments in the next life) on the ceiling

Tsam Religious dancing masks

Coral mask with full set costume. The mask is created by Ikh-Hure’s famous sculptor Puntsag-Osor. Sculpted out of 6000 pieces of pure sea corals, the biggest one was used to defined human muscle features. Eyebrows and beard are gilded. The coral mask weighed about 30kg and the whole costume with ornaments is about 70kg. You need to be well trained to wear this for tsam dance ceremony.

The temple of Peacefulness

The Yadam Temple

This temple is the sacred shrine of Choijin Lama Luvsankhaidav and no one could enter this temple except Luvsankhaidav and few selected others.

In the center of the temple is this gilt bronze sculpture of one of the 84 indian wizards Mahasidhas. It holds a pulley in the right hand and skull with blood in the other.

Zuu Temple, built in honor of the founder of Buddhism Shakayamuni.

Sculpture of Zuu Buddha with his two disciples in the past, present and future.

Paper mache statue of the only female protector deity.

At its souvenir shop

He is having a sun tan at the temple…

This temple is a perfect resting ground, barely any tourists and no pickpockets to worry about. With all the peace I get, its time to do some writing… Love my postcards – showing 2 kids picking manure into a basket from a big pile of poops.

Sidetrack from my writing…. the free traditional performance is about to start.

Traditional throat song

Ended the tiring day at an outdoor pub with live band…

Alone in Mongolia – Part 2.1

Took a walk towards the south of the city from the hostel. A long walk it is towards the hill, hoping to get a panoramic view of the city and also capture more of the local streets…

Ugly exposed pipes around the city

A bus stop

More exposed pipes with guys working on the repairs

Lots if construction around the city. Not quite sure what the developers / investors are thinking.

A road sweeper

Never-ending road?

Water quality resembles the one at Terelj. Same?

Approaching Buddha Park. Disappointing sight due to the surrounding constructions

The 16m tall Sakyamuni

This tank is part of Mongolia People’s Tank Brigade that saw action against Nazi during WWII.

Steps up to the Zaisan Memorial to commemorate the unknown soldiers and heroes in wars. All the way to the top right hand corner where you see a pointy thingy.