This image was taken in Mongolia on August 13, 2016, by Mid-Pen grandparent and avid photographer Audrey Stein at the Festival of Eurasia, celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Mongolian nation.

Artist's Statement

In the year 1206, Genghis Khan (Chinggis Khaan) united the Mongol people and declared himself ruler of the Mongolian Empire. Eight hundred years later, I had the great good fortune of visiting Mongolia and witnessing the Festival of Eurasia, a celebration of this historica anniversay. Mongolian soldiers, dresed in period clothing, re-enacted battles of the beloved founder of their nation.

Travel is in my genes. My parents were great travelers and shared with me their joy of exploring new places. My childhood mantra was Timbuktu and Kathmandu. I had read about these wondrous places - loved the sound of these rhyming words and the images they evoked. My actual arrival in Kathmandu in 1989 and several years later in Timbuktu were the realization of long-held dreams. The remote corners of the globe continue to beckon me and I have explored Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, Nepal, India, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South America. Each of my journeys is preceded by studying the destination: its history, culture, and customs. I want to capture the spirit of cultures that are threatened by extinction through the lense of my camera.

For more information, go to www.passionate-traveler.com.