By Allyson Seaborn
Last summer I was in the remote Western Mongolian town of Khovd where I attended a spectacular, traditional Mongolian song and dance concert at the theatre. Content with what I had seen and heard, I planned on a relaxing sleep back to UB in the airplane. Khovd is a town, but also one of Mongolia’s 21 Provinces and is about 1500 kilometers west of UB – about a three hour flight. So I find myself in Khovd on the way back to UB, sitting on the tarmac in an airplane waiting for takeoff. I’m tired, bored, hungry and cranky. It was the end of a long trip for the kids who joined me on my adventure.
I love Mongolian wrestling and have known about the best wrestlers, who is who, where they are from etc. They wear the “shirtless sleeves” - the colours and traditions surrounding Mongolian wrestling have always fascinated me. ANYWAY I’m waiting, waiting, the kids are screaming and complaining “Hey Mom when are we taking off?” and “Can I order a coke?” “NO” I holler. "Stop fighting this instant or I’ll leave you in Khovd and Coke is bad for your teeth!”
Well anyway, the reason we're delayed is because the pilots are still waiting for someone important. Very important. I feel myself getting agitated, but at least there is a spare seat next to me so I don’t have to be cramped. “C’mon hurry up…” I find myself cursing under my breath at this last minute passenger.
Eventually, in walks none other than Sukhbat - the most famous Mongolian wrestler whom I of course, know all about. People gasp with delight and get out their cameras – me included. Mothers come up to him with babies, “Hold my baby!, ” grown men standing proud next to him, the flight attendants. Basically everyone on the plane wants a photo with this big, handsome wrestler who wants nothing more than to sit back and relax. But he politely obliges.
He had been on a fishing trip in Khovd it turns out. I find myself not in need of a nap anymore. I find myself rather overjoyed at the late arrival of this important passenger. AND OH MY GOD I HAVE A SPARE SEAT NEXT TO ME!! YAY!!
He smiles at me – I smile at him and say something embarrassing and stupid like “Hi I’m your biggest fan!!” I am a little sweaty and giggling like a teenager. He sits next to me and I shyly take my camera out and say “Would you mind if I had a photo with you?” Thank you God, this is the best flight ever! He cracks a HUGE smile and grins for the camera. Click. I then proceed to try and impress him with my limited Mongolian…forgetting all about my screaming kids and the nap. We take off and the kids start fighting. I glance over at them with a deadly stare like “Shhhh…don’t interrupt mummy right now for crying out loud!” and “Have another coke – have 10 of them!”
“I have no idea who those children are” I joke with Sukhbat. So here is my photo with the most famous Mongolian wrestler. It was a great trip to Khovd but more importantly the flight back was awesome.
By Allyson Seaborn
Last summer I was in the remote Western Mongolian town of Khovd where I attended a spectacular, traditional Mongolian song and dance concert at the theatre. Content with what I had seen and heard, I planned on a relaxing sleep back to UB in the airplane. Khovd is a town, but also one of Mongolia’s 21 Provinces and is about 1500 kilometers west of UB – about a three hour flight. So I find myself in Khovd on the way back to UB, sitting on the tarmac in an airplane waiting for takeoff. I’m tired, bored, hungry and cranky. It was the end of a long trip for the kids who joined me on my adventure.
I love Mongolian wrestling and have known about the best wrestlers, who is who, where they are from etc. They wear the “shirtless sleeves” - the colours and traditions surrounding Mongolian wrestling have always fascinated me. ANYWAY I’m waiting, waiting, the kids are screaming and complaining “Hey Mom when are we taking off?” and “Can I order a coke?” “NO” I holler. "Stop fighting this instant or I’ll leave you in Khovd and Coke is bad for your teeth!”
Well anyway, the reason we're delayed is because the pilots are still waiting for someone important. Very important. I feel myself getting agitated, but at least there is a spare seat next to me so I don’t have to be cramped. “C’mon hurry up…” I find myself cursing under my breath at this last minute passenger.
Eventually, in walks none other than Sukhbat - the most famous Mongolian wrestler whom I of course, know all about. People gasp with delight and get out their cameras – me included. Mothers come up to him with babies, “Hold my baby!, ” grown men standing proud next to him, the flight attendants. Basically everyone on the plane wants a photo with this big, handsome wrestler who wants nothing more than to sit back and relax. But he politely obliges.
He had been on a fishing trip in Khovd it turns out. I find myself not in need of a nap anymore. I find myself rather overjoyed at the late arrival of this important passenger. AND OH MY GOD I HAVE A SPARE SEAT NEXT TO ME!! YAY!!
He smiles at me – I smile at him and say something embarrassing and stupid like “Hi I’m your biggest fan!!” I am a little sweaty and giggling like a teenager. He sits next to me and I shyly take my camera out and say “Would you mind if I had a photo with you?” Thank you God, this is the best flight ever! He cracks a HUGE smile and grins for the camera. Click. I then proceed to try and impress him with my limited Mongolian…forgetting all about my screaming kids and the nap. We take off and the kids start fighting. I glance over at them with a deadly stare like “Shhhh…don’t interrupt mummy right now for crying out loud!” and “Have another coke – have 10 of them!”
“I have no idea who those children are” I joke with Sukhbat. So here is my photo with the most famous Mongolian wrestler. It was a great trip to Khovd but more importantly the flight back was awesome.