The second temple dipicted Buddha's middle years. In the temples there were pictures painted by monks that represented daily life in Mongolia. They were painted with horse hair brushes. A single horse hair was used for very fine detail.

Buddhist Dieties



In all we went into almost a dozen of these temples. There were quite a few newer temples built in recent times besides the three old ones. Each had a padlock on the door and in each we had to enter with our right foot and go in the clockwise direction around to the front of the altar. Each had a Buddha or several Buddhas in them. Some Buddhas were on the side of the room and some were in the center.

After all these temples we went to the heart of the monestary to observe the monks preform their prayers and rituals. This is done in a Tibetan style building which is square in shape and not as elaborate as other Oriental buildings that have fancy wings and other fine features. Inside the semi-dark altar room the monks were mere boys, all of them were wearing orange robes. The younger monks sat furthest from the altar. The older and more experienced ones sat closest to the altar. Our presence was a distraction to some of the younger monks because when we arrived they stopped what they were doing and started looking at us. We were led clockwise around to the front of the altar where I believe we were supposed to leave an offering. Then we passed an older gentleman who I took for the presiding monk.

Tibetan Style Building



He was tending a large bowl of milk on a stove. Dipping a vessel into the milk he filled it, and raised it over his head and poured it back into the large bowl. Some of the monks were chanting, and some of them looked bored but had their prayer books open. After a few minutes the presiding monk started to ladle the fermented milk into bowls and then served it to the older monks first and then to the younger monks in the back.

Later I asked Baskar why they were serving alcoholic beverages to the monks while they were supposed to be chanting and praying. He said it was for refreshment and to clear their throats.

Later in the day we arrived at a new ger park a few kilometers away from the monestary high on a ridge. This place was much more modern then the one we stayed in the night before. There was electricity and lanoleum on the floors. Once we got all our stuff settled we had lunch. This consisted of the very same thing we had the night before for dinner; beef, rice, potatoes and salad.