Hovsgol: Stories & Sounds











SUMMER IN HOVSGOL (northern Mongolia)

Introductions

Nyam-Ochir introduces his family and his home, about two hours from Hankh village in northeast Hovsgol. He's built fences, planted vegetables and he describes his plans for making a living off the land and not cattle. Lots of opinions, has Nyam-Ochir – and he shares them all - from his thoughts on overgrazing, climate change, to globalization and the future of Mongolia.

Sheepherding with Ulaanaa

Thirteen-year old Ulaanaa takes sheep and goats over the hills and valleys everyday and shares his thoughts on herding and his future – as a driver, he says.

Everyday

The whole summer "tsagaan idei" or dairy production operation from start to finish – including milking cows and yaks, using the milk machine, making 'aaruul' etc.

Casino on the steppe
Happening on a group of men playing day-long card games in Turag.

On a mission
A surprising scene: a Korean pastor and his students visiting the small hamlet of Turag with its sole Christian inhabitant.

Neighbors
Brief assorted interviews with families around Turag about their life.

Horse Matters
Sounds and descriptions of Nyam-Ochir and the boys as they make stirrups and reins from cattle hides.

Clean Cows
A cattle Doctor visits, sprays/injects sheep and cows and describes the general health of cattle in the area.

A Happy Day: Ovoonii Bayar
It's Naadam time in the community of Turag! Naadam is an ancient annual celebration of sports held in early July. The whole family sets out --- to meet up with friends and neighbors, to watch horse-racing and wrestling and to cheer on twelve-year old Jeejee who's competing in a horse race for the first time.

On High
Ambience and stories about ovoos, sacred piles of rocks and branches to celebrate sprits of nature.

And then the spirit entered…
A shaman describes how she became one.