Buir Nuur and Khalkhiin Gol (War Memorials)
Following 6 hours of driving through rising grasslands we arrive at the far eastern edge of Mongolia and the area of Khalkiin Gol. After lunch of fried meat dumplings at a local town ger, we spend a little time exploring some abandoned buildings where horses frolic. We visit the war museum which provides a good insight into the site as a significant pre-World War II battle between Mongolia and Japan which changed the course of Mongolian and world history. We drive along the hills overlooking the Khalkiin River and visit numerous Soviet- style military monuments and memorials built to honour the Soviet and Mongolian dead. Some of these are very impressive and their setting amongst the swaying grass and purple flowers leave quite an impression. We head towards Buir Nuur and visit a small temple. At 7pm after some skilled road negotiation we arrive at Lake Nuur. This is a holiday destination for Mongolians an we hire a ger to spend the night.
by Ourania Bolis
