From the dawn of time we know of the existence of mal d'Africa, but few know the nostalgia of the Mongolian steppe. What emerged from that feeling so far away that sail our eyes to this melancholy to his own prayer? Where did you get? Perhaps the knights who accompanied Europe devastated by the infernal noise of their hooves have left in our veins, their genes?
It is physical, so strong is this feeling resentful from the depths of our being in front of the immensity, the face of this endless sea of green, so similar but so different to every wave that is dying on land. Here, no violent movement only when Salik * enjoys playing with blades of grass, the source of life for horses and flocks of the nomads, a slow and graceful movement sway ago that green carpet where you mix the harmonies of morin Khur, the violin at the turn of the head of Mongolian people.
For the third time our footsteps trample the earth magic ... steppe that he knows so well dressed in endless emotions.
Iurta a check as a mushroom in the middle of nothing. Another, very distant, barely visible. No tree. Gray tufts of grass, slender, in a lunar landscape. Below hills color ocher oscillate around the snow-covered mountains rising above dell'Altai three countries:
Mongolia, Russia and China. We are at the west of the territory of Genghis Khan, in the province of Bayan Olgiate. This morning, under the wind that the sun fails to warm, the men leave their tents round on horseback, by bike or on foot. Wrapped in hot rollover, socks their boots, wear the traditional head covers everything kazakh silk lined leather fox, have an appointment with the eagles, their eagles. Today the honor and ancestral know-how of their masters may, by a coup d'ala, fly away or get the most respect from the clan of falconers.
Eyes are ready to face the scorching heat of the sun and capable of finding the minimum Khazakh moving onto the ride for several generations through the steppe. You dell'Altai in the region where you can meet those who knew how to preserve the art of falconry. The Kazakh eagles catching their youth, only one individual per nest, and always a female. The eagle remains with them about seven years to regain the freedom for it to reproduce. Years during which the man and the bird depend on each other: the eagle receives food from the hands of Kazakh, in the Kazak counterpart recovers dell'aquila prey, especially foxes and marmots which obtains from the fur leading or selling.
A step charge, their troneggiante eagle on the arm, all falconers gallons to spin several times around the improvised stage in that remote corner of the steppe and the pace of the ride begins to follow the music. The tournament is open!
Despite their fatigue, do not forget to sparkle in the rays of the sun their trappings of silver, the horses one by one approach, know very well that they will win. For the competition are the traditional clothes of rigor and sull'avambraccio right of his master the eagle is left to admire impassive trembling to be safe on the jury, it was so much training for that. For him so proud and true, during the next forty-eight hours there will be no rest, and if it is to feel the echo of his victory in the steppe on who ever goes there should be not to miss the hour of glory. The concentration is maximum among the eagles, the hill from which they embark anxiously await the call of their Lord to open their wings and show the flight faster and elegant in their lives before landing on his arm. Some will head for their only going to wander to the great despair of their owners in the mountains nearby. Tifiamo for our favorite, the youngest falconer, 12 years, present with his father who taught him all the art of falconry, as his father in turn had done with him so long ago now. Instinctively responding to the cry, with a quick shot of the majestic and wing, will rest on the gauntlet of his young master assuring an excellent score. After a night spent in confabulare the scope for everyone, eagles watching the various games of skill Kazakh riding on top of the mountain waiting to fall on false fox dragged behind his owner to his horse so demonstrating its ability to hunt for prey .
Yells rauch and echoes in the wild steppe smashed the surrounding mountains. The Kazakh encourage their eagles rely on their abilities. For students is not very attentive body the time of chance. Some will call in vain with accents in desperate voice their birds, others disdaining rascal at first the fake fox before deciding to capture but others, like our pet, be more fortunate and poseranno proudly waving above their wings do not forget to claim with some sharp cries' of meat of rabbits, which are so fond, before agreeing to give up their prey.
The distribution of premiums will be in a joyful mess up while playing a laggard of the air currents rising and falling in a pure sky. He takes his time, expands its wings. Do you know who is admired and feared at the same time, this ten times his sense of pride and when we are least expecting it down quick as a flash on its prey which is not already more than a single breath of life when you feel removed from it land.
But it is out of competition ... because he is totally free in the steppe, which also makes travel to our emotions, true happiness to our senses.
* Salik wind in Mongolian language
Graziella (angy8@bluewin.ch)
PS: www.mongoliatours.org or mejet69@yahoo.com to discover
Mongolia as free as the eagles!
Practical information: my pages: http://xoomer.alice.it/gengiskhan
THE EAGLES AND THE KHAZAKS
FESTIVAL OF THE EAGLES: currently there are 2 festivals of eagles in the region of Bayan Olgiate on the border with Russia. A very traditional and is held over 2 days to about 10km from Olgiate Bayan. You are prompted to every tourist $ 10 a day including a concert of folk music in the city. After the Registration and submission of each falconer each must demonstrate his ability bird during the various tests. You can also see various games of skill equestrian typical of Central Asia and to see a small Nadam with horse and archieri. The atmosphere is authentic.
At about 60km from Olgiate held another festival on the same date. I 2 tournaments are competitive and it is clear that one will disappear within a few years. was in 2000 that Khazakh have decided to resume the tradition of the tournament and 2 years after the second festival was born. It was designed to attract tourists and tour operators to reach many falconers damage awards more beautiful and pay their participation. It performs well over 2 days and see the same evidence as in all competitions in neighboring countries where they face up to 200 falconers. Tourists will be asked $ 20 per person per day including the same concert Olgiate of folk music. You can rent a tent camping for $ 50 or sleep under a iurta to pay double and even $ 20 to place your own tent
The festival of Olgiate should always take place the weekend of 1 October of each year
ANDARE in Olgiate takes about 4 to 5 days by jeep from UB. Public transport by making them go the route with no stops in 5 days. The best solution is to hire a jeep from UB for not having travel problems then when you get on site and can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the route. On the spot if you are without means, you will find a taxi for a few tugrug, much more difficult to travel to the festival, 60 km from Olgiate.
It is recommended Mejet: mejet69@yahoo.com (English)
HUNTING WITH AQUILE: During the festival the possibility of having contacts with the various falconers who arrange to go hunting in the mountains with their surroundings