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 Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is the single hub for trips to any destinations within Mongolia. The city hosts the only international airport of the country and the single international rail line - the Trans Siberian railway goes across the city from the north to the south. Ulaanbaatar, where 1 million people out of Mongolia's total population of 2.8 million live, is the country's economic, cultural and political center and has a number of tourist attractions and hosts the most varied types of entertainment. The capital Ulaanbaatar is administrated separately as a district.
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 Aimags are the top-level administrative divisions (provinces) of Mongolia. Each of the 21 Aimags are subdivided into several soums. Each aimag provides social services for people living within its territory, such as education, medicine, shopping, gas and other necessary goods. 30-40 thousand people, both sedentary and nomadic, inhabit each aimag.
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 Soums: Provinces are subdivided into soums (or sooms or sums), translated as sub-provinces, districts, or counties. The municipalities are divided into districts. At the lowest level of administration, Mongolia is subdivided into bags (rural) and horoos (urban). There are currently 342 soums and 1681 bags and horoos. By having all these small settlements the Mongolian government is able to reach all the people living out in the remote grasslands as herders.
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 Ger (the original Mongolian term), or the yurt (in Russian), is the traditional dwelling of the Mongols and, in general, that of nomadic people in Central Asia. It is constructed of a framework made of poles (uni) radiating from a center smoke hole ring (tono), which is lashed on top of a circular latticework wall and covered in white felt. Many Siberian tribes like the Tsataan, the Altai-Uryankhai and the Tungus (Evenks) are reindeer nomads who live in tshum, which is similar to the tipis or hooghan of the Navaho people in Southwestern North America. Anyway, the orientation and symbolism of the ger are common to all Mongolian groups. Gers and tipis (yurts) are designed to be easily assembled or taken down as the nomadic owner resumes his travel; the imagery and meaning of the ger, however, stays the same, no matter where it is being erected.
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 Ovoo, While traveling in Mongolia you will frequently come across piles of rocks, usually located on the peak of a hill or on a small rise. This is a site of worship for Mongolian people known as an ‘ovoo’. Mongolians use these places of worship when traveling as a way to offer thanks to the surrounding nature and the gods and to seek safety when continuing their journey. Offerings are made by throwing three small rocks onto the `ovoo' and then walking around the pile three times, in a clockwise direction. Some ovoos are huge mounds consisting of rocks, animal skulls, vodka bottles and blue silk. These larger ovoos are usually found in very sacred sites such as on the very top of a mountain or on a special pass leading to lakes or rivers.
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 Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle) is the instrument most associated with Mongolian traditions and culture. Mor(in) means “horse” and khuur means “sound”. When Mongolians were entirely a nomadic nation, the horse was almost their only means of transport, as well as man's best friend. Many songs and poems were written extolling the horse. There are a number of legends about how the Morin Khuur was first created, all based on a man's love for a dead horse. So central was (and still is) the horse to Mongolian culture, that the head of the horse was placed on top of the nation's principal musical instrument, and its tail hair is used for the two strings and for the bow.
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 Uurga is a long, flexible pole with a rope loop on one end. The loop is dropped over the head of the horse that the herdsman wants to separate from the rest of the herd - a technique requiring great dexterity and horsemanship.
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 Deel or a long textile forms the basis of almost all Mongolian clothes. Besides being one’s principal clothing, it can serve as a blanket, tent and cover against unwanted glances. Depending on weather or work needs, other pieces such as jacket or coat can supplement the deel. In the countryside, the deel is the most practical clothing and worn by everybody daily, but in the city it's mostly worn during traditional holidays and big celebration events.
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