Life in Bishkek

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So it's Christmas Day, I'm at work but there is nothing in particular I'm meant to be doing and the boss is out. What should one do except of course, prat about on the net!

Firstly I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas from me to you whereever you may be in the world. Also blog wise this is quite exciting as I am moving from Blogspot to Travelblog, mainly because the old one is a rubbish layout and it is doesn't work in about 80% of computers outside of Europe and the US.

It is a beautiful sunny day here, with a good 10-15cm of new snow having fell last night. There are practically no christmas decorations except those I put up in my house this morning and it is quite serene.

I imagine you are wondering why i am hanging around in Central Asia, and the answer is that Kyrgyzstan as much as it is beautiful in Winter it is quite a bit of a pain to get around the country and so I am waiting for spring when it will be even more beautiful and easy to get around.

Kok Buro is a sport here also played in spring and autumn where a goat is used as the ball in what has been described as mounted football. But it's more of a playground style of football where everyone runs after the ball(or goat). I really want to give it a try, it originates from the same place as Polo. But is considered extremely dangerous. But the goat meat after is said to be extremely delicious and tender.

I am sharing my house with two other Commonwealth guys - Candanian and Australian. I feel it proper in their education to give them news of their motherland! The house itself is a little decrepid but it's quite fun. No hot water but there is coal fired central heating. My housemate singed his eyebrows starting it with petrol the other day.

Well that's a snippet of life here, Have a wonderful christmas and new year everyone.

Tim

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Photos

A Sea Monster
Having fun in Cholpan Ata on the banks of Issyk kol, you can stare are the 360 degrees of stunning scenary or go to the kids park and play with the giant turquoise sea monster slide - I think we all know what we'd do.

Marx and Engels
Ah, to have a good idea go tits up.

Manas
The longest epic ever read or written is Manas - This dude - he's a bit of national hero (but like Robin Hood is a bit dubiously real)

Grenade!
This is the biggest religious event I have ever attended.

Jenga
The fish saleswoman felt like the day was going very slowly.

Balloons and Bread
A boy plays near my new house infront of a bakery of which there are hundreds in a tiny radius. Most of them cooked in traditional ovens too.

Emrys and I
My housemate and I as we explored the lesser seen sights of Cholpan-Ata such as the disused runway amongst the glacial erratics.

Comments

[His Dudeness]

Hididilido Tim!
And where is the Kazakh entry? You had such a good time there. I am sure you told me about this extremely cool Dutch guy you met there!

[TouristTim]

Chill Winston
It's coming, I have to transfer all my old blogs to my new one, but I can't do it on my work computer!

[TouristTim]

It is done!
There you are, eager reader, I have now updated my blog to include that part of my journey which had the "extremely cool Dutch guy" you spoke of.