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www.melitour.com 2008 Mongolia
After a great lunch at an Indian Restaurant we visited the Winter Palace of Bogdan Khan and returned to the hotel to meet the paper Cutting Artists who gave us an hour hands on experience with paper cutting. We know that under many people's Christmas tree this year, there will be several of this wonderful art work as presents. There was no limit to what you could cut out of the simple black paper. The face of Cengizz Khan, Camel, Butterflies ...
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We
started the day with a visit to Gandan Monastery. this is the biggest temple
left in Mongolia after the communist wrecked 90% of the sanctuaries in the
country. The plan for our visit is to be there when the chanting starts. then
every one will be on their own for individual spiritual experience or shopping.
we will meet back on the bus before lunch.Visit
to temple monks chanting, burning incense quite friendly allowed to
walk around. The public approach a monk with a problem the monk refers to a
text, which is one long sentence in a collection of metal prayer pages he
writes down the prayer the rest of the day other monks chant that prayer for
the person. Buddhism kindness, no anger, no stealing, acceptance, monogamy.
I asked a monk to give me an advice response was each individual should find
his/her own path in life. 
In 1938 the communists supressed religious
communities in Mongolia. they destroyed around 900 monasteries, though a handful
were converted into museums/ the monks
were killed jailed or forced to join the army. 5 temples of Gandan Monastary
were totally destroyed. In 1944 the Gandan Monastary was reopened.
Gandantegchenling Temple houses a 27 meter statue of Budda. According to Hulen,
all the specific information about Mongolia history is saved in this great
statue.
The dinner was at a huge
gher. The show was
stunning. Among the musicians Hulen thought there were a couple that she could
add to her dating list. The contortionists and the fashion show were the
highlights of the show after the dance of the Shamans.