By the time you read this I’ll be on my way back from the outer limits of the landlocked country of Mongolia.
My friends ask me why Mongolia, a country sandwiched between Russia and China? I too, wonder what draws me there. A country steeped in history that continues to astound the world in their historical ways of benevolence, education, international trade. Depending on the generation of rule, the enemy, or the need, Genghis Khan was considered a despot or a genius who accepted all within his rule. Yet, Genghis Khan, so famous for his conquests over centuries and influence, remained humble with no monuments or fanfare. He believed that his spirit would travel with the wind, the power of the sun, over bridges on land, and on the waves of the ocean.
I’ve packed my carry-on bags with warm clothes for the Gobi Desert is the coldest in the world, although the sun shines 250 days a year. I’ll visit the nomad villages, sleep in Gers, like what we call yurts. I’ll share meals with five families, ride a camel, a Mongolian horse, make cheeses (goat or yak) and learn about the golden eagles, falconry, and how the sparsely populated country has maintained its culture.
I think of this trip as a step back in time, a way to pause and reflect. And this too is a marvel of technology. For my travels will take close to 24 hours to arrive 15 hours ahead of my home clock. I’ll be in the future and in the past. I’ll return to a day that has already passed for me and be in a world that seems more futuristic. Past and future jumbled, just as the cultures and lives were with Genghis Khan.
I look forward to any of your thoughts. You can find me at https://www.abberolnick.com
