COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL July 29, 2015
Yurts, or Geers,
are the main form
of housing for
many in Mongolia.
Toemmes on Mongolia:
'Things are different here'
C
ottage Grove’s resident world travel-
er recently returned from Mongolia,
and the trip has given him a new outlook.
When not at home, Steve Toemmes trav-
els to far-fl ung destinations not frequented
by the average tourist. Recently, the Sen-
tinel has reported on Toemmes’ visits to
Norway, Greenland and Antarctica, among
other locales. A recent trip to Mongolia,
however, had a profound impact on To-
emmes, as he himself writes:
Having just spent three weeks in Mongo-
lia I came away with a unique perspective
on life. After traveling the world, I came
away with the belief that after everything
goes to hell in the world, there will always
be Mongolia.
The people of Mongolia can document
their history from the Stone Age to the
present day. They threw off the chains
of domination by the Manchu in 1911,
achieved full independence from China in
1921 and fi nally, from Russian domination
in 1990. They are a proud people, but very
hospitable and warm. They were seriously
amused at my love for animals. Not know-
11A
ing who I was, we were always invited into
their Gers (pronounced geers) or yurts, for
Yak butter tea, various homemade cheeses
and cookies. We exchanged gifts and heart-
felt emotion. The children competed to be
photographed. Every person was treasured,
from the young boy who loved to care for
infants to the aged who had not only the
patina of experience but wisdom that they
happily passed on.
I traveled with a native guide and driv-
er through southern, central and northern
Mongolia. My guide Chimgee was well
versed in English and history. She holds a
Masters in Mongolian studies. Her dream
is to stop the fl ight of youth from their
nomadic family life for service jobs in
the city. She wants to do this by educat-
ing them in local history and become tour
guides for their native provinces.
The varied terrain, dynamic weather,
and wide-open skies entranced me. I am
already booked for a more extensive tour
next year. I would encourage people to for-
go the usual travel destinations and experi-
ence a true life-changing destination.
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The people of Mongolia are warm and
friendly.
Domesticated reindeer herds are common in the
northern part of Mongolia.
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