Jenisbek Tserik, whose name means "steel warrior," is a semi-nomadic Kazakh.
Credit:Mark Daffey
"Look over there. See that man coming this way?" asks Timur. "He's so good looking."
G alloping towards us on a stout Mongolian steed is the nomad's version of Brad Pitt returning home in "Legends of the Fall." Bundled inside a pinto jacket above richly embroidered trousers, he certainly catches the eye. A fox fur hat warms his head, and perched calmly on his right forearm is a golden eagle that's not merely a prop for a cheesy cologne advertisement.
"Look at his eyebrows and his cheekbones," continues our local guide. "And look at how big and strong he is. The girls go crazy over him."
"It's true," says Timur's wife, Bata, blushing slightly. "If I was to compare him with Timur just on looks, of course I would choose him."
Upon closer inspection, the intruder's weathered face betrays a life lived outdoors. But his jaw is certainly chiseled and his natural squint reminds me of a youthful Clint Eastwood as he gazes off into the distance.
Arguably more impressive though is his stature, which I only begin to appreciate once he stands beside four other berkutchi, or eagle hunters, who have assembled in front of us for a scheduled photo shoot and interview session. He's close to a head taller, with broad, square shoulders and muscular limbs that are further exaggerated by his bulky attire.
His name is Jenisbek Tserik, an appellation that means "steel warrior" -- an apt description given his achievements. A master horseman, he's also a serial winner of tug-of-war competitions pitting two combatants wrestling a goat carcass.
So adept is Jenisbek that he has been flown to Dubai to compete in exhibition events. For a semi-nomadic Kazakh living in Mongolia's remote, westernmost province of Bayan-Ölgii, any trip abroad would be like visiting another planet. Glitzy Dubai would be a whole different universe.
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