The Landmark without Walls

Essay Writing Competition 2026
Category: 12 - 15 years
- Commendation -

Senior category: Commendation

"The Landmark Without Walls" - Essay by Taehee Kim

The Landmark Without Walls

"This is it?" I asked myself as I was instantly hit with a cold breeze when I stepped outside the airport. Where were the tall buildings? Where were the people? It almost felt like there was nothing there at all. Instead, there was an endless plain of grass with occasional hills.

The sky was cloudless with some eagles flying in circles looking for their next prey. It looked like my drawing from kindergarten. Bright blue for the sky and vibrant green for the land. I never thought there would be a place like this. No traffic. No skyscrapers. No crowded streets. I had gotten used to the constant sound of cars honking and busy streets that the silence felt almost strange. Yet, it was peaceful. I hope that when I'm older, places like the Mongolian grassland will still exist exactly as they are today. I think both places play an important role in our world.

I stood there breathing in the crisp air. It cleared my head. "За, явцгаая!" ("Come on, let's go!") our guide called, waving at us. He would be taking us to our ger, a traditional Mongolian home that can be easily packed to move. I always wondered how it would be. Normally in cities, not many houses move. Many people move. It would be an interesting stay. The airport quickly disappeared from behind as we drove into the grasslands. I rested my head against the cool window. Many tiny white dots like clouds appeared. They grew larger until I realized they were a flock of sheep. These sheep were relaxing as they grazed. A group of horses nearby galloped freely. Every now and then, a small white ger appeared alone. I had never seen so much open land before. "There are so few people," I muttered. My mom smiled. "That's what makes this place special."

By late afternoon, we reached our ger where a local family welcomed us with warm smiles. They led us inside. Our ger had four beds and no bathroom. In the middle was a small table where we dumped all of our necessities. I jumped onto my bed, staring at every wooden beam and nail that supported the structure. Right in the center was a small circular window. Outside, the sky slowly began to darken. For dinner, we went to a bigger ger. Instantly the smell of lamb filled the air. My plate was filled mainly with lamb meat and some vegetables. It was delicious. It was a little chewier than the meat I normally eat. We also drank traditional milk served by the same local family who greeted us. Its warm, salty taste was unlike any milk I had tried before. After dinner, I went back to our ger. As the sun began to sink, the stars started to appear. I sat on the chair beside my ger and lifted my head. I waited until the sun had completely disappeared.

It was pitch black. No source of light. In the cities, there is always light. No matter where you go. Above me, stars stretched across the night sky. I admired the sky. There were more stars than I had ever seen before. I tried counting them, but I lost count almost immediately. They seemed endless, just like the land below.

I smiled. I had been wrong. There had been something here all along. At that moment, I finally realized a landmark doesn’t always have to be a special monument or an ancient castle. Paris has the Eiffel tower. China has The Great Wall. Mongolia has a vast field of grass. I learned a landmark is simply a place you'll never forget.

Congratulations on your thoughtful essay, Taehee! Your recent travel experiences in Mongolia and your insightful reflections on what makes a place a true landmark really resonated with us! We completely agree with you that a landmark is a place you will never forget. Thank you for sharing your fabulous essay! Well done!

Taehee, who is 13 years old, attends Gyeonggi Suwon International School in South Korea. English and Korean are home languages.