Monday November 3, 2014 Partly cloudy 42 – 59 degrees F.
I slept soundly at the peaceful Golden Dragon Hotel. Interesting variety at breakfast – sorry no photos.
Marble Entrance to the Hotel
Golden Dragon Hotel with Our Coach
We rallied in the lobby for a nine o’clock departure to Tomak village to visit the International University of Central Asia. We had an interview with the American president of the college, John Clark, and had a tour of the main building.
Entrance to the International University of Central Asia
Students and Teacher in a French Class
Librarian
Next we visited Burana Tower which is one of the few existing watch towers remaining from the ancient Silk Road across Kyrgyzstan.
Never Far From the Tien Shen Mountains
Gift Shop in a Yurt
Field of Bal-bals
The tower complex include a small museum building and a gift shop located inside a yurt. Outside was a field with a collection of carved stone figures called bal-bals. The statues, some dating to the 6th Century, are believed to be memorials to honor dead warriors. They are considered ‘protectors, preservers, and watchers of the land’.
Our Local Guide with Bal-bals
Archeological Site on Top of a Mound
Small Museum With Gift Shop
Burana Tower
On the Tower
Close to Burana Tower there was a small village where a family had constructed a dining room for tourists because there were no restaurants for many miles. Our coach drove down the unpaved road to the house.
Village Road
Family Property
They built an L-shaped building with lovely, ornate dining room along the sun-lit front and a small kitchen to prepare and serve food to visitors.
Family House
The extended family lived in the blue and white house. Our host lived with his son and daughter-in-law and their young children. As was the custom, four older daughters lived with their husband’s families.
Neighbor’s House
Children Playing Cards
Formal Luncheon
Hostess and Daughter
Homemade Salad, Preserves, Yoghurt, and Bread
Baked and Fried Bread
Our Host
After lunch we went to a nearby field to watch a demonstration of Kyrgyz horse games. The people are excellent horsemen and enjoy displaying their talents.
Local Boys and Donkey
Introducing the Horsemen
Picking Up the Flag
Melee
Intense Competition
The Victors
Take a Bow
We returned to the hotel to freshen up. Then we went out in the evening to a local Georgian restaurant in Bishkek where we enjoyed a Kyrgyz cultural performance of music and a recitation of part of the epic poem about Manas.
Entrance to the Restaurant
Chicken, Mushrooms, Cabbage & Spices
Lamb Stew
Folk Music
Reciting the Epic Poem, Manas
Musician
Reed Instrument
We returned to the hotel about nine PM to rest up for another busy day tomorrow.