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Kyrgyzstan Travel Blogs

Kyrgyzstan is an impoverished ex Soviet country, since August 31, 1991. It is located on the east side of central Asia, bordering China. Mile upon mile of unspoilt Alpine esque mountains interspersed with icy lakes, yurt studded green summer pastures and towns and cities far apart make Kyrgyzstan a trekkers and campers paradise. Although the season is short because of heavy snowfall blocking many roads and passes for much of the year, Kyrgyzstan can be a tourists choice for its value for money, relative ease of obtaining a tourist visa and most importantly for some, a cutting edge travel experience.

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By trabella
August 3rd 2008

Kyrgyz Customs and Traditions Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Karakol

the eating yurt

There is so much to digest about the Kyrgyz way of life and the culture so I thought I should shed some light on some of the customs and traditions that are still upheld here. Kyrgyzstan is made up of about 80 different ethnic groups and two thirds of the population live in rural areas as nomads. Apparently there is double the amount of livestock here than there are people! Not a bad thing considering the word vegetarian does not exist in Kyrgyz vocab. Everyone eats meat here and it is normally mutton, with A LOT of fat. As they have [View Full Entry]

By michaelpaddo
August 1st 2008

Going Nomad on the Kyrgyz Jailoo Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Kochkor

Horse & car weathering a storm on the jailoo; taken from inside a warm yurt

Kymys. Fermented mare's milk. I'd been looking forward to trying it ever since I decided to come to Central Asia, but I guess I'd always had in mind just a small sip, rather than the overflowing bowl Aitbek had just thrust into my hands. I gazed into it uncertainly for a moment, fairly dubious about the tiny pieces of straw and strands of hair bobbing at the surface. But Aitbek just nodded encouragingly, before tipping his own bowl back and slurping it all down in several throaty gulps. Smacking his lips appreciatively, he motioned for me to do the same. And [View Full Entry]

Everyone pitching in to get the new yurt up as soon as possible

Islan's little brother at the table, inside the yurt

Hobbling the horses, before climbing up to see the petroglyphs

By trabella
August 1st 2008

From Kashgar to Kyrgyzstan Asia » Kyrgyzstan

relaxing @ Tash Rabat

With one remote border crossing down, we approached the Torugart Pass (from China into Kyrgyzstan) with confidence even though it's known to be one of the most unpredictable border crossings at the best of times. When you're in the middle of nowhere I guess you have the liberty to open and close the border as you please, take breaks every hour ad treat foreigners how you want! The pass is actually classified as a "class 2" border crossing which means that it is meant to be for local traffic only. But obviously when you show them the money this rule is [View Full Entry]

By driftwood
July 27th 2008

Kyrgyzstan Culture Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Bishkek

Yurts

Kyrgyzstan , located in Central Asia, is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Founded in 1878 as the Russian fortress of Pishpek, between 1926 and 1991 it was known as Frunze after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze, who was born in Bishkek, which brings the story around to me. One summer day, roughly two weeks ago, I arrived in Bishkek. In my quest for culture, one gentle-natured man felt my yearning. Donned in a culpak, traditional hat, he picked up his oz-komuz (mouth harp) and played. His [View Full Entry]

By michaelpaddo
July 15th 2008

Plastic Bags + Sandals = Alpine Hiking Boots Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Karakol

Looking back the way I'd come, from the top of the pass

The previous night's queasy cocktail of menace & vodka turned uneasily in my stomach when I woke, but I felt myself very quickly invigorated by the thought of what lay ahead... Three days up in the Tian Shan, (Mandarin for 'Celestial Mountains'), a mountain range which LP claims "comprises perhaps the finest trekking territory in Central Asia". I'd decided to explore it for myself rather than hiring a guide; both for financial reasons and also because I knew it would be more of an adventure on my own. Which it certainly was - probably the highlight of the trip so far! [View Full Entry]

Packed up & ready to leave my room at the Jeti-Oghuz sanatorium

South of Svetov Dolina, (the Valley of Flowers)

By Grannysmith
July 9th 2008

Paris-Pekin in Kyrgyzstan Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Karakol

Man with bike 060608

Friday 6 June - Bishkek to Kemin (1123m), 108 km A flat road today, gently rising 500m in al. I managed to keep up with the Reds for 80 km but then got tired and slowed down. There was a following wind in the morning, but later it turned round into a srong headwind. It was a cloudy day, very grey over the mountains, and we feared we would have rain, but didn’t. Arrived at our school early afternoon, I got a shower in the lorry and washed out my cycling clothes. Sleeping in a classroom with 9 other people. Couldn’t [View Full Entry]

By Grannysmith
July 9th 2008

Paris-Pekin back thru Kazakhstan 11-15 June Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Yssyk Kol

Four boys on a horse 120608

Wednesday 11 June - Karakol to campsite, 78 km (610m climb) Breakfast in the courtyard, rather disorganized; bread and their very runny jam, then some cheese and butter arrived, then last the hot water for tea and coffee. There was meat soup that hardly anyone wanted. Today was not a nice ride - the road surface was bad in many places, and the last 30 km mostly very bad. There was a head wind some of the time, too. The road was quite hilly. I got very tired and hungry and stopped and ate my supplies, but then a few km [View Full Entry]

By BossManBing
July 9th 2008

Kyrgyzstan Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Karakol

Seven sisters

Kyrgyzstan is the most beautiful country I've ever seen. It's known as the mountain kindgdom and for good reason. I have no stories to tell, I spent two weeks bush-camping the most glorious countryside, taking hikes through the mountains up to waterfalls and glaciers, watching herds of wild horses run through the camp-sites, and then a couple of days in the capital, Bishkek, before heading into the world's most populous country. China. [View Full Entry]

By Ergens onderweg
July 5th 2008

Bishkek - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Song Kul Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Bishkek

Bishkek

Een korte rit in een Mercedes-busje brengt ons vanuit Almaty de grens over naar Kirgiziл. Verstrengeld tussen de Centraal Aziatische Stans, komt dit land er torenhoog bovenuit! Bergtoppen hoger dan 7000 meter, diepe ingesneden groene valleien, gletsjers en ijsblauwe Alpine meren bedekken 90 percent van ’s lands oppervlakte. De barkoude winter houdt het vee op stal in laag gelegen dorpen. In de zomermaanden trekken de nomaden uit hun huis naar de hoger gelegen weilanden (jailoos) en verblijven er in joerts. Kirgiziл is een prachtige bestemming en bovendien een [View Full Entry]

By Grannysmith
July 5th 2008

Into Kyrgyzstan Asia » Kyrgyzstan » Bishkek

Fruit stall 300508

Friday 30 May - Shimkent to Risqulov, 83 km Breakfast a bit disorganized as the hotel staff, as usual, were quite overwhelmed by 100 cyclists arriving all at once. I managed to get an egg plus one to pack for lunch, plus the usual other bits, eventually. A very good day’s cycling, beautiful countryside, hilly and green, lots of people and animals and agriculture, and all the time the mountains in the background - some with snow on. There were flowers all over the verges - lots of pink, lots of hollyhocks white and pink, and some purple flowers. We went [View Full Entry]

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