Gallivanting Grandma

Tuesday November 4, 2014     Bright sunny day: 48 – 62 degrees F.
Bishkek is the largest city and capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. It’s a relatively new city, since it was founded in 1825. It is located in the northern part of the country and was on the historic caravan trading routes for centuries. Today it is clogged with traffic and has many cement block buildings left over from Soviet times. Our guide told us that Kyrgyzstan is considered to be the most democratic country in Central Asia.

Flag of Kyrgyzstan

The main symbol on the flag is the golden sun with two sets of three lines which represents the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt. The sun’s 40 rays represent the 40 Kyrgyz tribes which were unified by the epic hero Manas to fight against the invading Mongols.

After breakfast, the group went to visit the State History Museum. The bus parked on a back street so we could see the statue of Lenin which was located behind the museum.

Lenin in a Typical Pose

We stopped at another monument which had been built to honor the fifteen countries of the Soviet Union. Then we continued to walk around the impressive building onto a grand boulevard.

Current President’s Offices

The museums, government buildings, and wide streets were built during soviet times. Since independence in 1991, the president and parliament currently occupy the offices.

History Museum with a Statue of Manas

Manas has a Commanding View of the Mountains

Guards

There were two Soviet-looking guards standing outside the history museum. At first, everyone thought they were mannequins, but Batir informed us that they were real men. I took a photograph.  Later we saw the ‘Changing of the Guard’ when they stepped down.

Interior of the History Museum

Yurt Exhibit at the Top of the Stairs

The yurt on display gave visitors an idea of how the nomads lived. The Kyrgyz people were nomadic throughout pre-historic times until the czar forced the people to settle and Bishkek (first called Pishpeck) was founded in the early 1800s.

The Group Learning About the Yurt

Ceiling Mural

Historic Needlework

The Epic of Manas

The National Art Gallery was next on our list. Here we saw beautiful Kyrgyz works of art from the early 20th century and exhibits of contemporary art.  Unfortunately, photography was not permitted in the gallery.

The National Gallery

Abacus on the Counter

My Favorite Exhibit

About one o’clock, we were driven to a modern upscale restaurant, named Sheep, for a fantastic lunch.

A Restaurant Named ‘Sheep’

Interior of the Restaurant

Another View of the Interior of ‘Sheep’

Delicious Muffin

After lunch we went to a residential neighborhood to see a demonstration of felt making, which is a speciality craft in this region of the world. The woman was a representative of her village cooperative of craftswomen who make fabric arts. She was very entertaining and actively engaged all of us with music and movement in making a lovely piece. Then we had an opportunity to purchase the crafts she had brought from her village.

Silk Scarves

Felt Maker

Making Felt

Helper

The last place we visited today was The Mourning Mother with an eternal flame. This is a memorial to the tens of thousands of Kyrgyz soldiers who died during the Second World War fighting in the Soviet Russian army.

Eternal Flame

Road Scholars with a Bridal Party

I opted not to go to dinner this evening because I had eaten a very big lunch. It was good to have some time to myself and I packed and rested up for tomorrow when we leave for Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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.