Ger, an Easy-to-Build and Transportable House
The ger is a suited to the nomadic way of life. When several gers get together they form the ail, a village made up of relatives. The nomads move about the plains in search of a suitable grazing area called notak. This tent is cool in summer with the wind blowing in. It is usually built near a river where there is plenty of grass for grazing.
In winter, the ger is built in the mountains where there is a lot of snow. The snow can be melted and be used for daily chores.
These tents are relatively easy to build. First, a framework is built from willow trees, then a felt cloth made from the fur of a sheep is covered over the framework, finally the felt cloth is tied to the framework by leather straps. It takes only 3 or 4 persons working for an hour or two to complete a tent. Disassembling takes less time. |
The nomads eat "white food", in other words dairy products, in summer and eat "red food" , in other words mutton, in winter. Sheep is a Mongols necessity and make up for more than half of the livestocks in Mongolia. Not only is it used for meat but also for making felt and bags, and other items. Almost every part of the animal is used.
A typical Mongol meal consists of a thick milk tea for breakfast and lunch and a meat noodle soup for supper. A popular drink is the airag, an alcoholic drink made from milk with a high sugar content.
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