Crossing the River to Tovkhon Monastery

I woke up this morning to watch the sunrise. And while it was clear it was also very cold, but how could anyone complain about being here, seeing these views, forgetting about the past and not worrying about the future. Yeah, I was right where I needed to be at this point in time.





Because there is no running water they offer warm moist towels as a method to clean yourself.

However, without running water I wondered how they clean these after each use. After I unrolled one of them I found out that the answer was not very well. Mine had a suspicious brown spot which I choose to believe was the result of wiping up a burrito that some poor bloke dropped at dinner.

We were heading to the Tovkhon Monstery which we would be hiking up to. This was the home of Zanabazar, the first religious leader of Mongolia and the creator of the Soyombo alphabet. The first letter of this alphabet still appears on Mongolia's flag today.

It was only a short drive from camp and for the most part it looked the same as all other drives.

That was until we came to this river crossing. My driver wanted to watch some of the locals first as they would probably know the river better. Somehow this guy made it across on a motorcycle.

Unfortunately his friend would not be as lucky as he stalled out.

And this guy was towing another vehicle across.

It was then our turn.





We took on a little water and my feet got wet but otherwise we made it across. We then came across this and made a blessing that the river would remain the same by the time we returned.

We also stumbled across another deer stone. This is normally how they appear across the countryside as that other site was actually quite rare in it's numbers.

After arriving we started our hike up to the top.





Tovkhon has become a pilgrimage site for many Buddhist. Just a few more steps.







The views were pretty amazing.



Looks like there could be a ski resort in the distance.



We came across some stupas which also contained the first letter of the alphabet.



They still have one of Zanabazar's original paintings here. That sign on the right is saying not to leave any offerings, although I'm not sure why. My guide was not allowed up here because she was female and only males are allowed here. I meant to ask her why you are not allowed to leave offerings but I forgot all about it until I just saw this picture now.



They have a type of cleansing or rebirth here among the caves. A way for one to leave all the garbage and crap they have been holding on to all these years that is no longer serving them. First you start in the womb.

You then make a break for the birth canal and squeeze yourself through.

Once on the other side you first take in the view and then cut the umbilical cord. The mountains on each side represent the woman's legs.

You then stand in this nook on the left as it symbolizes the new born being swaddled. After a few moments you are ready to begin a new chapter in your life free of your past.

Having completed my rebirth we headed back. Apparently, my driver's morning towels also had some mysterious spots on them so he suggested we swim in the river to get clean. I said it looks like the current was pretty strong just as I heard a splash.

I watched my driver get carried away and then went back to make sure he left the keys in the truck.



I drove us a few hundred yards down the river to the shallow part to pick up my driver.



With everyone now accounted for we headed back to camp which was off in the distance.

Having completed another successful day I grabbed a beer and relaxed. While not as nice as the HS Khann Ger the spirit was the same and I could not imagine being anyplace else right now.