Mongolian Ger (Yurt with portable felt dwelling) with clear blue skies above and a vast expanse of land in Gobi desert. One can drive long distances without coming across any people or mammals. Occasionally one comes across a ger and a few family members. Rural Central Mongolia. 

Mongolian Ger (Yurt) in Gobi desert. Central Mongolia. 

Traditional gers consist of a circular wooden frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of the flocks of sheep that accompany the pastoralists. The timber to make the external structure is not to be found on the treeless steppes, and must be traded.

The frame consists of one or more lattice wall-sections, a door-frame, roof poles and a crown. Some styles have one or more columns to support the crown. The (self-supporting) wood frame is covered with pieces of felt. Depending on availability, the felt is additionally covered with canvas and/or sun-covers. The frame is held together with one or more ropes or ribbons. The structure is kept under compression by the weight of the covers, sometimes supplemented by a heavy weight hung from the center of the roof. They vary regionally, with straight or bent roof-poles, different sizes, and relative weight.

It is designed to be dismantled and the parts carried on camels or yaks to be rebuilt on another site.
Setting Sun on the flight from Delhi to Mumbai on the way back from Agra, UP, India.
Setting Sun on the flight from Delhi to Mumbai on the way back from Agra, UP, India.
Masked dance at the Paro Tsechu Festival of Dance held in Paro, Bhutan. This is the biggest and most spectacular Buddhist festival celebration.

The Paro Tshechu festival honors Guru Padmasambhava, "one who was born from a lotus flower." This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. The biography of Guru is highlighted by 12 episodes of the model of the Buddha Shakyamuni's life. Each episode is commemorated around the year on the 10th day of the month by "the Tshechu."

During Tshechu, the dances are performed by monks as well as by laymen. The Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believed one gains merits. It is also a yearly social gathering where the people, dressed in all their finery, come together to rejoice.
Paro Tsechu Festival of Dance held in Paro, Bhutan. This is the biggest and most spectacular Buddhist festival celebration.
Ariel in-flight view of Chennai, India as we return from our Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia trip enroute to Mumbai (Bombay). Chennai (Madras), TN (Tamil Nadu), India.
Ariel in-flight view of Chennai, India as we return from our Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia trip enroute to Mumbai (Bombay). Chennai (Madras), TN (Tamil Nadu), India.
Ariel in-flight view of Chennai, India as we return from our Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia trip enroute to Mumbai (Bombay). Chennai (Madras), TN (Tamil Nadu), India.
Ariel in-flight view of Chennai, India as we return from our Bali, Indonesia and Malaysia trip enroute to Mumbai (Bombay). Chennai (Madras), TN (Tamil Nadu), India.
Setting Sun on the flight from Delhi to Mumbai on the way back from Agra, UP, India.
Setting Sun on the flight from Delhi to Mumbai on the way back from Agra, UP, India.
Setting Sun on the flight from Delhi to Mumbai on the way back from Agra, UP, India.
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