Kyrgyzstan

I went to Kyrgyzstan in 2001 with Peace Corps. I think the country and the people are absolutely beautiful. Definately worth seeing…take an open mind and be prepared for the not so great water conditions. Knowing some Russian won’t hurt either. Pictures from your home are always a big hit. The people embrace you instantly and will want to talk to you, feed you and do shots of vodka with you. There is a whole etiquette around hosting, but don’t worry, no one will hold it against you if you aren’t sure how things work. This place changed my life for the better. I can’t wait until I can go back.

I was here for a mission trip in 2005, I loved it! We were in Bishkek, Cholpon-Ata and Karakol. The roads outside of Bishkek are really, REALLY bad. I suppose they could be worse, but it was my understanding that they have not been improved since the Soviet Union left, which was about 10 years ago. So there are some big potholes! But Cholpon-Ata was my favorite. We got to work with some orphans there, we took them to Lake Issyk-Kul to play! In Cholpon-Ata and Karakol we stayed with host homes so we got to eat some really good food. My favorite was pilaf, naan bread, and their melons. Oh those melons, mmmm…. Definately want to go back.

The locals are so sweet and loving…very friendly people.

I want to live in a yurt, live with hospitable people, learn about a new culture and maybe a new language, etc.
I go there next week!!! April 19th, 2007 =)

I saw a documentary entitled Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan and, barring the bride kidnapping, it looked like such a beautiful place to wander for a bit. Definitely camping or yurtz type accomodation, tho’.

This is a magic country… Mountains everywhere, friendly people, nature… serenity

In Bishkek I tore my pants on the corner of a table in a large bazaar. It was the perfect place to do that, since there were many shops that had tailors and patches! After getting them repaired I was invited to drink some fermented horse’s milk in a yurt with a local. Wow, that was uh, not very good. I did some hiking and rock climbing with a local guide in the Tien Shan mountains, which were very beautiful. At a weather station some Russians invited us to try out their sauna…the only catch was that you had to take a plunge in the icey creek first! In Bishkek I stayed in an apartment in one of the old Soviet complexes. It was a good trip, I enjoyed it.

I spent two weeks in rural Kyrgyzstan with a team from Habitat for Humanity, and it was, without exageration, the most amazing two weeks of my life. I highly recommend going to the villages. I was in Barskoon on the south side of Issyk Kul. Bishkek is an interesting city, but extremely influenced by both Western and Soviet forces; the villages on the other hand are very traditional. The Kyrgyz are very proud of their culture and heritage and strive to keep it alive, which is wonderful to see.

Don’t leave Kyrgyzstan without trying some Kumis (fermented mare’s milk) from a road-side yurt. I thought it was revolting, but it was quite an experience.

Wow, what a trip. This was my first trip overseas and it was great. Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country with friendly people and a great culture.

What I really enjoyed about the trip:
Everyone’s friendly hospitality
Beautiful countryside
Affordability ($6 for a room, $2 for meals)
Diversity of things to see
Ease of getting around
Issy-Kul Lake

What I didn’t care for:
Too many people hosting us (guesting – I have never eaten so much sheep in my entire life!)
Sanitation
Non-punctuality
Too much vodka
Kyrgyz people “always knowing what is best” for you

All in all though, this was a great trip. I wish all the people of Kyrgyzstan good fortune in the future and thank you for showing me your country. I thorougly enjoyed it.

mysterious country and I love this kind of places