“Why do you do this?” Why start a business in a foreign land, spend weeks and months at a time in a tent, away from home? Why commit to a country and a people half a world away from what you grew up knowing? When I’m back in the United States, guiding trips there or telling my story I am constantly berated with these questions. My name is Ryan Kertanis, I’m the co-founder and head guide for SEEK Travels and this is an introduction as well as an explanation as to why we do what we do.
9 years ago I found myself here in Mongolia and it didn’t take long to become entranced, enthralled, captivated by the landscape and the people around me. I was fortunate to take time from my teaching job and travel, typically alone or with a companion, with little language skill and really no idea where I was headed or what was in store. First the Eagle Festival, then the Taiga, then Khar Khorin for Tsagaan Sar, the Gobi with my family, riding across the steppes for charity the list of trips in those early days is long! Throughout this time I was struck time and again how things just managed to work out, how communication, open mindedness and genuine care just permeated the spaces around me. I was welcomed by people who were not just interested in me for their own sake, but genuinely interested in my wellbeing, my backstory, my history. I realized on those early trips to the countryside that this country and more importantly these people deserved more out of me, more dedication, more time, and a commitment.
Those first years I improved my Mongolian language, my knowledge of Mongolian culture and of course my knowledge of Mongolia the country, both the one in our fantasies and the reality. I worked and learned from experienced Mongolian horsemen and guides and philanthropists who taught me that work and play can be one in the same and that there are so many ways to give back and contribute and participate to society in a constructive way. Most importantly though I learned how much I had been missing on those early trips. The little things, the intricacies of people’s lives the hardships and joys, relationships that I had not been privy too. Those early trips opened my eyes to the possibility in Mongolia, the uniqueness and the kindness of the people here, but I was missing the connection, the familiarity, quite literally the familial connections between people I knew. Around that time my wife and I decided to start this endeavor, to create SEEK Travels for many reasons, but above all for the people. The relationships we are able to create, and the lessons learned from those relationships are worth their weight in gold, and the ability to help, support, work alongside our partners and their families are priceless.
I sit here writing this looking at a baby swing, made from a log from the Taiga, gifted to us for our newborn son. Our fridge is full of frozen Yak milk and cheese, and the carpet under my feet was woven by hand in Bayan Ulgii as a wedding gift. My Mongolian saddle sits on a stand across the room from me with all the scrapes and scratches to tell 1 million miles worth of trail stories. All of these things remind me why we do what we do, for the community, for the friendship and as an act of service for those who have so generously opened their doors, minds and hearts.
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