NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: Jacques Pochoy on July 05, 2015, 17:43:38
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Some time ago, I herded the usual flock of students in Architecture for a dozen days in Mongolia. The main purpose was to build up an academic exchange between their school and ours through a sort of "summer" workshop !
After a few days in Ulaan Baator discovering that urban sprawl is a common disease, we went north to a small village with Mongolian students and French ones to map the village to allow it's community to build new houses and public spaces with a scheme and projects in time.
The small village was not very far of the Russian border, the train was the only mean of transportation for us, and like in the old Far-West movies, the train stations are the meeting places for most !
First thing we saw at our arrival at night was the "Gers", those felted dome shaped tents, as our guest house for student had several on the roof of their building. Sort of getting acquainted with the traditional way of living in the middle of a modern city (or almost)...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2646/3997013321_1dfa4757bd_z.jpg)
Ger at night... (https://flic.kr/p/76cJNM) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
The view we had from our Gers...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5547/11879500303_cfbc01647b_c.jpg)
UlaanBaatar, la nuit... (https://flic.kr/p/j6KxyK) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm F/2D and D700.
At daytime we could feel the haze, mostly created by stoves used for heating and food preparations...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4120/4814640391_9c6f943aa8_z.jpg)
U.B.... (https://flic.kr/p/8kshRe) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
Time for a walk in U.B. (short for Ulaan Baator), the street at night felt bumpy, looking at our hotel we understand that in this district, the streets are just earth with no special preparations...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2813/11887446373_4bfaea9f78_c.jpg)
Les gers sur le toit... (https://flic.kr/p/j7sgDX) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
But Mongolia is a horse country and culture, so urban children have bronze sculpture to ride...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4042/4181380710_04b4c52e24_z.jpg)
Free ride... (https://flic.kr/p/7nuENS) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
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You're wetting my appetite for more.
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Dear Jacques, I can hardly wait to see and read more :)
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The second image is gorgeous. Thanks for posting.
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Walking through "main street" in a more modern district, full of shops (even french ones...Gee!), but old habits die hard, and the Gers (also called yurts elsewhere) are used as quick and cheap shops or show-rooms and use most of the pavement !
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4095/4817789327_50b563183e_z.jpg)
Occupons l'espace... (https://flic.kr/p/8kJqVe) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
There are three era type of buildings. The old Tzarist era buildings, sort of Sanct-Petersburg imitation for Siberia with is the core of the oldest parts of U.B.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2478/4030859161_2b81ffc907_z.jpg)
Urban building... (https://flic.kr/p/79ccZK) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
Then the more Soviet style social housing...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5521/11887201925_7bc4380123_c.jpg)
Le Quartier... (https://flic.kr/p/j7r1Zk) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
And the new "Asian brothers" buildings...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4022/4459699030_2696d54018_z.jpg)
Treshold... (https://flic.kr/p/7N689A) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
With the classical touch of public buildings, as city hall, museum, opera, etc. and the offices buildings...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5516/11887596844_a4e096a28f_c.jpg)
La pub... (https://flic.kr/p/j7t3oh) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4005/4459698738_9586c6da09_z.jpg)
The "monolith"... (https://flic.kr/p/7N684y) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2486/4459697636_43496998ec_z.jpg)
Theater with skaters... (https://flic.kr/p/7N67Jy) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2467/3997014487_f3afe9ebf4_z.jpg)
Work in progress... (https://flic.kr/p/76cK9T) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
But the poorest parts are still built in wood, behind fences with small courtyards in which they build the Ger for the winter as the family sleeping room when it gets really cold. One central district is around the Bhouddist temple, the original part of U.B., the rest is urban sprawl in the surrounding valleys...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5489/11888033286_797096428d_c.jpg)
La ger dans la cour... (https://flic.kr/p/j7vh89) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm f/2D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2648/3994552679_18be40e881_z.jpg)
North valley sprawl... (https://flic.kr/p/75Z8kV) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
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I see a lack of planning. Glad you are there. You have a big task ahead of you. ;)
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People are kind and welcome the strangers we were, even if beforehand we heard the worst ! As a new country, you can find some technology leap...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4046/4442363735_2446b97fa5_z.jpg)
Hi-tech police force... (https://flic.kr/p/7LygYc) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
But, as everywhere else, you'll find romance or the bunch of elderly people on a bench...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3480/4031612784_0e0b6b5f08_z.jpg)
Romance... (https://flic.kr/p/79g52f) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2436/4007094785_4d5d02ed7f_z.jpg)
Three men... (https://flic.kr/p/776pF8) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr -50MM f/1.8D and D700.
In some districts we were a surprising sight...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2553/4007860244_0e665a53aa_z.jpg)
Surprise... (https://flic.kr/p/77akdG) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
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Very interesting travel series, with some really good images! Clean, bright and crisp colors.
Your framing is very deliberate and firm... you could loosen up and 'get closer' if you feel like it :)
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Very interesting travel series, with some really good images! Clean, bright and crisp colors.
Your framing is very deliberate and firm... you could loosen up and 'get closer' if you feel like it :)
Thanks, I agree ! But you must put in the equation the thirtiyish students had to keep an eye on and to entertain them with architectural comparisons... Always hard to take decent pictures when in such conditions :-\
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The nearby mountain top is sort of special (while Bhuddist, the belief is rooted in old shamanism ) so the Russians built a monument up there that's the best place for marriage photography !
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2668/4016407966_38a03a9b0b_z.jpg)
The monumental monument... (https://flic.kr/p/77V9ad) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2856/11887620074_3b5253f808_c.jpg)
Cosmonaute... (https://flic.kr/p/j7tahN) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
With a view on U.B.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4008/4459698200_0a68accee3_z.jpg)
High rise UB... (https://flic.kr/p/7N67Uh) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
It's time to take the bus to the train station for the lower branch of the Transsiberian, the Transmongolian !
At the bus stop some elderly favor the traditional tunic.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2706/4038860311_69a81d8548_z.jpg)
Generations... (https://flic.kr/p/79UdsB) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
And women sell coal on the street (not many trees left) for the daily heating and food.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2475/4000728012_8575628632_z.jpg)
Coal seller... (https://flic.kr/p/76wM4b) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
And to the station at last...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2467/3997015923_3183761333_z.jpg)
The train, so important...! (https://flic.kr/p/76cKzD) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm f/2D and D700.
Kids can have great suits... :-)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2473/4000727120_edb1114d37_z.jpg)
Business suit ? (https://flic.kr/p/76wLMN) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
While the train wagon is an Austrian refurb, very comfortable and efficient for long trips...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3220/4031613532_265b0d7cae_z.jpg)
Train... (https://flic.kr/p/79g5f9) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
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I see a lack of planning. Glad you are there. You have a big task ahead of you. ;)
Alas, my motto is not to intervene if not asked ! Keeping me out of the usual neo-colonization most NGO do ! A reminder of the old' 68 era maybe :-)
Still, the oldest Mongolian architect came from the Gobi desert, by car, up to our northern village, just to have a chat with us, all night, in a kindergarten school (sitting on small chairs), about minus 6 ° Celsius inside, but with packs of two liters Mongolian vodka (don't ask !). Nice memories :-)
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The train is a great way to discover the countryside with "hard" houses (vs the Ger) isolated in the middle of nowhere...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3518/4007093013_3d2f8ed9b2_z.jpg)
House in infinity... (https://flic.kr/p/776p9z) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
And the charming station chief... Sad to say, but most of the public jobs are held by women as the men are usually drunk in these times of crisis for Mongolia.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2849/11918333465_076c3af211_c.jpg)
Chef de gare... (https://flic.kr/p/jabzj2) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7363/11918798354_785db696aa_c.jpg)
L'autre chef de gare... (https://flic.kr/p/jadXvm) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
Of course there are other means of transportation, slower surely...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2613/3992003363_1890841a60_z.jpg)
Local transportation... (https://flic.kr/p/75L4wc) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
All along the scenery is fantastic...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2814/11918800374_4818582f93_c.jpg)
Centre aéré... (https://flic.kr/p/jadY7b) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2439/4007093335_de068165fb_z.jpg)
The lone Ger... (https://flic.kr/p/776pf8) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2481/4039610832_3566a557a1_z.jpg)
Wind powered ger... (https://flic.kr/p/79Y4yC) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
At our destination, the wagon lady is ready to blow her horn for a quick departure...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2748/4043123200_28a20e2bff_z.jpg)
The Wagon Lady... (https://flic.kr/p/7ah4EG) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
And we discover the village of cow herders and lumberjacks and sawmills (with special permits from the government).
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3743/11918622753_9a01cc696b_c.jpg)
La place du village... (https://flic.kr/p/jad4iK) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
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First thing was to find a family for each student (Mongolian as French) and that was a task for the village council, sort of villagers choosing students on sight...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3688/11918344145_cb816bcc3c_c.jpg)
Conseil municipal... (https://flic.kr/p/jabCua) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
The next step was to climb a nearby hill to have a full view of the village while listening to a brief history (in english).
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2530/3989875615_c1021a0052_z.jpg)
Le village... (https://flic.kr/p/75za1T) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
With the night setting in...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2570/4030859477_399d742565_z.jpg)
Dusk in the valley... (https://flic.kr/p/79cd6c) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2668/3990630564_a5bbc93a27_z.jpg)
La vallée... (https://flic.kr/p/75D2rf) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2774/4039611388_8d7cce40fe_z.jpg)
Village at night... (https://flic.kr/p/79Y4Jd) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
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Breathtaking images, Jacques.
I kept scrolling up and down, enjoying them all, trying to pick out my favorite, but there are so many good ones!
My bucket list of countries/cities to visit is growing more and more thanks to the images that are shared on NikonGear Revival :)
Utah, Cape town, Japan, Mongolia... who knows what will add up in the future...
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I continue to enjoy the pastel like colors!
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Breathtaking images, Jacques.
I kept scrolling up and down, enjoying them all, trying to pick out my favorite, but there are so many good ones!
My bucket list of countries/cities to visit is growing more and more thanks to the images that are shared on NikonGear Revival :)
Utah, Cape town, Japan, Mongolia... who knows what will add up in the future...
Gee... Thanks a lot :-) Mongolia is really a country to visit... In good shape as there is no medical assistance ! While this is a bit of the Northern part, the classical sceneries are more onto the West part of the country (horses, flocks of sheep, etc.). My great regret is not having being able to visit the Taklamakan desert (Gobi), half Chinese, half Mongolian, the stuff of legends and lost civilizations !
I'm getting a bit old now, but my daughter managed to go there via the Chinese route... (Sigh)!
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I continue to enjoy the pastel like colors!
Thanks a lot... :-) I'm not sure the "pastel" part is voluntary, I was juggling between Aperture and Lightroom at the time and must try a new development of those NEF files !
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This village has simple wooden houses, more of the Russian "Datcha" style then the US frame house. These are nearer of the log cabin, joints being filled with wool. Then a wooden lattice and earth, and great colors as paint .
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2443/3990632318_40171fc4fb_z.jpg)
Couleurs... (https://flic.kr/p/75D2Xu) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2588/4012724846_4dafc7de43_z.jpg)
Log house... (https://flic.kr/p/77Agi9) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
No real security rules or construction codes...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2703/4038862839_275ed53c45_z.jpg)
House building... (https://flic.kr/p/79Uedc) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
But who cares when you have a red bicycle (and yes, it's a pool table, out in the open, national sport in Mongolia, beats wrestling !)...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2425/4043124512_6e6497cd15_z.jpg)
The red bicycle... (https://flic.kr/p/7ah54j) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
Or when you need to go to the toilets... As those are out of the house, at the other end of the courtyard, some planks around a big hole (1meter x 0,6 meter). No electricity at night ! So the game is to try to keep your passport, wallet, money in your pants while holding a torch and a roll of paper in a minus 15° Celsius temperature.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2555/4138096844_cd42c627bc_z.jpg)
Vent... Home made! (https://flic.kr/p/7iEQ2j) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
This old veteran was almost crying as we visited him on "veteran's day" (we didn't know about it) and took a bowl of sweets to celebrate our visit...
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3491/3992763584_c391d9a827_z.jpg)
Visiting... (https://flic.kr/p/75PXvs) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
Kids rushes out of school with cleans uniforms !
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3474/3992003945_e9a31b2c48_z.jpg)
Late for school... (https://flic.kr/p/75L4Ge) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
And through small hills of saw-dust, being blown in the wind and not recycled (a project we suggested).
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2436/4043127578_163185dbf7_z.jpg)
Hurrying back home... (https://flic.kr/p/7ah5Yb) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
While some parents were speeding home too...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2631/3989877299_50659e4510_z.jpg)
Cavalier... (https://flic.kr/p/75zavV) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
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Jacques, I am really enjoying this series. A great depiction of the life and people. Must have been some trip. I also really appreciate your showing the lenses used.
When I was a Kid, I made a list of the 100 places I wanted to go and Mongolia was high on the list. I read a book, The Long Walk , which really made an impact on me. Really wanted to go to the Gobi :) . Unfortunately, it is probably one of the 20 or so places on my list that I will not make it to :(. Funny, Havana is on that list and I lived in Guantanamo for 18 months and could almost smell Havana. Chances are good that I'll cross that one off next year :) .
Cheers,
Tom
Edit: I just found the book on Amazon Uk so just ordered it for my son.... I'll be interested to see what a Smartphone generation 14 year old makes of it (and I'll read it 60 years on ;) )
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Jacques, I am really enjoying this series. A great depiction of the life and people. Must have been some trip. I also really appreciate your showing the lenses used.
When I was a Kid, I made a list of the 100 places I wanted to go and Mongolia was high on the list. I read a book, The Long Walk , which really made an impact on me. Really wanted to go to the Gobi :) . Unfortunately, it is probably one of the 20 or so places on my list that I will not make it to :(. Funny, Havana is on that list and I lived in Guantanamo for 18 months and could almost smell Havana. Chances are good that I'll cross that one off next year :) .
Cheers,
Tom
Edit: I just found the book on Amazon Uk so just ordered it for my son.... I'll be interested to see what a Smartphone generation 14 year old makes of it (and I'll read it 60 years on ;) )
I read it too (in French) when I was at one end of that trek (Darjeeling), but also older stories from Italian archeologists or again the true character of Dr Jones (Indiana :-) ) searching for the giant electrical worm... :-)
The sad truth is that most parts are covered by new cities with Chinese as Mongolians in search of the petrol fields...
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The outdoor pool table is often used as a show room for selling clothes or boots some brought from the capital !
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4057/4442364447_0996fe8a16_z.jpg)
The Fashion corner... (https://flic.kr/p/7Lyhbt) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
While others leave to the kids the grocery shop ordeal...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2772/4133518486_44b519520f_z.jpg)
The cart... (https://flic.kr/p/7ign37) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
While some Kazakhs repairs the old military truck...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2569/4018731571_32856d7f92_z.jpg)
Repairing the old truck... (https://flic.kr/p/7883Tn) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
As others start building up the winter room, a family heirloom...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2462/4018732183_ff3c39c381_z.jpg)
Building the Ger... (https://flic.kr/p/78844V) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm f/2D and D700.
Of with they all learned the ecological advantages...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2794/4138097440_9fd99a3fc3_z.jpg)
City vs Countryside... (https://flic.kr/p/7iEQcA) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm f/2D and D700.
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This is the drinking water source, the river...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2566/4007860666_4fd854d374_z.jpg)
Riverside... (https://flic.kr/p/77akkY) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
Some last views before getting back to U.B...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2542/4007861132_41358a9126_z.jpg)
Village's trees... (https://flic.kr/p/77aku1) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2490/4137333073_bc96c70e04_z.jpg)
The three components... (https://flic.kr/p/7iAUYR) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2547/4016407198_6349a33e9b_z.jpg)
Little door... (https://flic.kr/p/77V8VY) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2548/4016408168_0cc2510ecf_z.jpg)
Dinner time... (https://flic.kr/p/77V9dG) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 35mm f/2D and D700.
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Encore, Jacques Pochoy, une fois, merci pour le partage. Dans l'Ouest nous dependons tellement tous nos gadgets, nos telephones intelligents, nos ordinateurs, nos televiseurs ... l'enfer, sources de pouvoir et de l'eau partout. Pensez-vous que vous pourriez facilement et heureusement s'adapter a un style de vie mongole rural?
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Encore, Jacques Pochoy, une fois, merci pour le partage. Dans l'Ouest nous dependons tellement tous nos gadgets, nos telephones intelligents, nos ordinateurs, nos televiseurs ... l'enfer, sources de pouvoir et de l'eau partout. Pensez-vous que vous pourriez facilement et heureusement s'adapter a un style de vie mongole rural?
Wow ! Gary, you are really multi-tasked... :-) The great bear from the North stated that English should be the "Lingua Franca", so I'll stick with it, but your french is excellent (the "Patrice" part I guess :-), or through your year in Indochina ? ).
Could we live as those Mongols in the village ? Well, for one they are just as "hooked" as we are on technology ! They have computers and cell phones even in the Gers in the middle of nowhere ! Satellite access I believe, with solar cells or windmills for electricity !
What was striking in a west viewpoint was all those people with broken limbs, not properly tended that goes around with crooked legs or arms and old style crutches (wooden). Life is dangerous, we were warned not to walk alone to the end of the valley as they were bears (they kill two or three bears a year).
With the usual western students not really paying attention, we were in the anguish of an accident, the nearest doctor was in U.B. and there was at least two days to wait for a train ! So it's the land of the fittest. We could see young men playing pool, outside with just a T-shirt by minus 10° C...
Even there, it's still the old story of humanity, as the students from U.B., Mongols, often having grandparents in such villages, were the ones who didn't want to mix with those "rurals" who smelled of cow ! The hard work those villagers had, was too much for the urban generation who dream of buying Hummers (the top fashionable car in U.B.).
Apart from the medical facilities ( there might have been a shaman somewhere, but he was well hidden) the "simple" way of life, only works if you like mutton (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and Chinese fried chips as they don't have vegetables (it starts in some patches U.B.). We were in a Northern part with rivers that flows all year, but there are terrible droughts that kills most of the flocks in the main part of Mongolia who sees global warming much quicker and harsher then we do !
The old way of living as nomads is giving way to gigantic mines for rare earth that our technology needs. It's Zola revisited, as each family is allowed (free) 5 liters of Vodka per week and the "in between" generation is lost between rurality and urban dwellings.
It's quite sad, as their Buddhist roots and social practice from Russian communism creates an ideal environment for being helpful to each other, but with sheep dying in droughts, the discovery of South Korean and Japanese culture (and financial investments of the latters), the big neighbors searching for cheap mining rights, this young and independent country has a struggle for life to win...
How can we help them when we don't even know how to help ourselves ?
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Back to the train with those immensity views (for an European)...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4009/4434186027_ca4a8420cc_z.jpg?zz=1)
Neighbors are at a distance... (https://flic.kr/p/7KQn2e) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3487/4018732701_4ed06aa661_z.jpg)
Water... (https://flic.kr/p/7884dR) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2445/3990634134_651a774d20_z.jpg?zz=1)
Steppe... (https://flic.kr/p/75D3uN) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
Finally back to U.B. at dusk...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2682/4019497754_8ed82c5b18_z.jpg?zz=1)
Crows leaving at dusk... (https://flic.kr/p/78bYDq) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2630/4135626506_796b221793_z.jpg)
U.B. under the moon... (https://flic.kr/p/7isaFh) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 85mm f/1.8D and D700.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2524/4043126664_37fd22bcb0_z.jpg)
Duh... No street lights! (https://flic.kr/p/7ah5Gq) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
And the last images, as a token of hope, the old stoves with the new solar heated water system...
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2769/4135626636_ffcc5ce559_z.jpg?zz=1)
Two heating systems... (https://flic.kr/p/7isaHw) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
And the Ger on the roof, mixing old and new traditions... (it's the school of architecture of U.B.)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2740/4042384717_847f62e82a_z.jpg)
The Ger on the roof... (https://flic.kr/p/7adh9e) by ArchiVue (https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivue/), sur Flickr - 50mm f/1.8D and D700.
That's all folks... :-)