Burkashi is the ancient sport of goat polo. It isn't riding the goat, the goat is the 'ball' in the game. We experienced it from the start. That is when the goat arrives draped in the lap of a rider as he sits on his horse. It is polo. The a prayer is said over the goat and the throat is slit, drained and beheaded. Then the lower joint of the legs are cut off and now it is ready to be the 'ball'.
The game is to pick up the goat from the ground and hurl it into a mound with car tires at the edge of the hole that is the goal. The horses are trained to butt each other and stay in he 'scrum'. Gets very rough. Our guide had scars on both legs. Not a popular politically correct sport in the western eye, however, we bought the goat and there was a big BBQ that night for the village.
The flag represents the opening at the top of the yurt. Double crosshairs in a circle.
Mobile bee hives on a flatbed truck. Trained eagles for hunting. We had a demonstration from the national champion. The trainer wore a beautiful black embroidered suit, seems the eagle was not hungry for the bunny the trainer let go for it. I woosed out and did not hold the eagle.
Yogurt is made into dried balls for the trail. They are very tart and not exciting for an untrained palette.
Song Kul Lake. Again, cold. The yurt had so many mice living in holes in the ground. Lovely wild flowers. Ellen, our leader was so happy to get to ride a horse. I watched. Farther East was a real caravanaseri, compete with a Bactrain camel. This is what the :Silk Road was like. Made from stones, many rooms for sleeping and trading.
And, next, the border with China. We crossed at a military one at the Torugart Pass. Mat, our intrepid driver knows how to do it. We got thru with
losing only our fruit. The soliders looked like an assembly line, carrying so many watermelons from us and others. Fruit salad that day. We had just got them.
Here comes China!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment