Osh Bazaar

In an era of shopping malls and e-commerce, city-markets often stand as the last beacon of intensive urban scenery, as they attract people from all over the city, occasionally even beyond.
Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar is truly remarkable, remaining almost purely authentic while also being appealing for international visitors, opting to purchase a traditional garment, indulge on local crunchy walnuts or simply behold at all the unusual sights this market provides.

Chak-Chak is the Kyrgyzstan’s national dessert, made of deep fried dough soaked with honey or syrup.

Chak-Chak comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors.

Beside endless variety of Chak Chak, the market also has the standard stuff like fresh vegetables from the countryside.

Kashk, or Kurut as it’s locally known, is a popular treat in Central Asia, made of dried milk curds or yoghurt, typically having strong odors and flavors.

Anachronistic besoms are still pretty popular in Osh Bazaar.

Booth after booth offering those witch-style brooms.

Kyrgyzstan is famous for its high-quality nuts, blesses with deep flavors and extremely crunchy texture, Yummy! On the right are all sorts of honey products, some of which are informally stored in used soft drink plastic bottles.

The Lepyoshka, aka Tandyr nan, is a type of flat bread common throughout Central Asia, the Kyrgyz version is embellished with various imprints and baked in a clay oven.

The average bread costs 15-20 Kyrgyz Som, equivalent to roughly 25 US cents.

A pickle stall, selling a plethora of home-made pickles, mostly cabbage and carrot based.

Meat products are a staple ingredient in Kyrgyz cuisine, reflecting the original nomadic lifestyle, as wandering tribal groups didn’t rely on agriculture for their diet, but mostly on grazing livestock.

Osh Bazaar has a distinct meat department, offering mostly beef and lamb products aligned with Muslim Halal certification, while a separated section allocated for ethnically Russian shoppers sells pork cuts and sausages.

The rising tourism in recent years prompted local vendors to open souvenir stalls, selling traditional kalpak hats alongside modern T-shirts, figurines, magnets and of course the Russian most popular souvenir, Matryoshkas, one of which depicting the two rival US presidents, Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

Bishkek Vibes

The capital city of Bishkek is overwhelmingly dominated by soviet style planning and architecture, leaving limited visual expression of local culture. While it’s true that its dull appearance might deter some people, the city still has much to offer for whoever decides to look beyond it.

Ala-Too Square was originally built to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan soviet socialist republic, placing a large statue of Lenin at its middle, paying tribute to communist legacy. Following the independence, the square was renamed and the statue of Lenin was replaced with the national hero, Manas.

Cats are popular pets in Bishkek, partly due the large percentage of ethnically Russians citywide and their influence on local culture.
A pair of cats decided to rest on a windowsill, observing the passers-by.

In recent years Bishkek’s café scene is booming as fashionable cafés are popping out like mushrooms after the rain all over the city.

The Countryside

Kyrgyzstan is bestowed with numerous mountains and lakes, providing breathtaking views even when supposedly just commuting from Bishkek to one of its many national parks.
The Kyrgyz people like all Central Asian ethnic groups were once a cluster of nomadic tribes, therefore, much of its rural culture is still rooted in old customs and traditions which often complement the hiking and other outdoor activities in the countryside.

Toilets throughout the countryside, particularly in gas stations, don’t provide much comfort and privacy so no room for being much fussy about that.

The Burana Tower near the town of Tokmok is one of the country’s most iconic landmarks and the sole extant building of the ancient city of Balasagun, built by the Karakhanids, who are also credited for the Balbal grave markers scattered around the site.

Another shot encompassing the Balbals on the backdrop of Burana Tower.

The Kyrgyz countryside is typically dominated by mountainous ridges sandwiching fertile agricultural plains.

Kyrgyz sunsets are absolutely spectacular.

One of the most popular activities among foreigners visiting the Kyrgyz countryside is horse riding in the wilderness. Our young guide (on the right) led us upwards through snowy paths around Chon-Kemin Valley, ultimately reaching a breath-taking lookout at the top.