So far our trip to Mongolia has been amazing! We’ve spent 6 days on a Gobi Desert tour, watched the Nadaam festivities in the countryside, witnessed a captivating Monk ceremony at a lovely monastery as well as wandered around the funding city of Ulan Bator.
We saw this Tarbosaurus Dinosaur skeleton in Ulan Bator, a special types of T-Rex…found in Mongolia!
While traveling Mongolia, we’ve discovered a great deal about the Mongolian people, their method of life as well as their culture. It’s one of the most interesting as well as different locations we’ve been. There’s so much to discover when travelling in Mongolia, there’s even a whole different set of rules when staying in a household ger, which we’ll tell you about later!
For now, here’s a run down of a few of the primary cultural quirks you’ll discover while travelling in Mongolia:
Mongolians are a nomadic people. They move about the steppe with their livestock in browse of grassy areas 2-4 times a year. They pack up their house (ger) as well as all of their gear as well as set everything back up once again when they discover their new house for the next 3(+/-) months.
Building a traditional ger home. Doing this 2-4 times would be exhausting
Mongolian women run the show! Unlike many other parts of Asia where guy “wear the pants” in a connection as well as are of a higher importance when it comes to household as well as business, things are different here. The women of Mongolia make most of the important home decisions, run businesses as well as do the normally male tasks also – like being tour guides, drivers, running hostels as well as gutting goats. They likewise hold 70% of the skilled tasks in the cities.
Stepping on someone’s foot means war. If you step on, or kick someone’s foot accidentally, you have to promptly shake their hand. If not, it means that you want to wage war with them!
Mongolians have a strong connection with their horses. Not only is it the primary type of transportation out in the countryside, however it is likewise thought about a part of the family. They discover exactly how to trip one at the age of two! There are definitely a great deal of bow-legged guy around here. There’s an old Mongolian proverb: “A guy without a equine is like a bird without wings.”
Mongolians have a strong bond with their horses…they begin riding as early as the age of 2
While eating a meal, never sit with your legs crossed or pointing directly out. always sit with your knees together as well as if you’re sitting on the floor, just fold your legs under you.
Flicking Alcohol around is customary. When drinking vodka, you have to dip the sound finger of your right hand into the drink as well as flick the booze into the air 2 times – as an offering to the sky as well as the earth, then you rub a bit of vodka on your forehead before drinking.
When passing around a glass of vodka, only one person can do the pouring, as well as that is a man’s job. When it comes to his turn to drink, somebody else has to pour the booze for him.
If you don’t want to take your turn in doing a shot of vodka, all you have to do to show respect is put your lips to the glass…and then pass it on. The exact same goes for the famous fermented mare’s milk, called arak.
You shouldn’t touch one more person’s hat. It’s extremely disrespectful.
Always accept food, drink as well as a snuff bottle (tobacco) with your right hand while bracing your elbow with your left hand. never accept anything with your left hand.
Always accept food as well as drink with your right hand
Don’t hold a glass by the rim, always hold it by its sides or the bottom (no matter exactly how hot it is).
When offered tea, always sip it before putting it down. This tells the guest that you appreciate as well as enjoy the generous offering.
Don’t state sunbanu (hello) more than when to the exact same person. The Mongolians will believe you have a mental problem.
We believe it’s truly important to be conscious of the dos as well as don’ts of a country before travelling there. By understanding these quirks before heading to Mongolia, not only will you be more respectful, however you’ll thrill the regional people as well!
Have you been to Mongolia? If not, do you believe you’d like to travel there? Leave a comment below!
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