Do you know that traditionally Kyrgyz people could only count to 7? Their counting system went – one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, lots.
Anyway, we were up for our early breakfast on cushions in the yurt, before heading to the bus. Whilst talking of yurts, you may be interested to know that the centre motif of the Kyrgyz flag is a stylised centre hole in the roof of a yurt, and the forty bumps on the circle represent the forty tribes gathered together in one yurt. Nice flag actually.
Headed off through another 100km of bumpy, unmade roadworks. Passed by a black Mercedes limo with heavily tinted windows, and the number plate ‘AK47’.
By complete contrast, we also came across a large herd of two humped camels crossing the road in single file.
After several pit stops, we arrived at our morning destination which was the Burana tower and historical complex in Tokmok. In the 11th century when the Silk Road was at the height of its trade, the complex was one of hundreds along the way, dotted every 25km which was a camel’s day walk. It served as a rest stop, mosque, safety, and had a 65m tower with a fire on top to guide the traders at night. Think I’d rather put a flame elsewhere up a couple of our group who we are always waiting for.
Consequently, it was a very late lunch stop around 3, on the outskirts of Bishkek at a very fancy reception complex and restaurant. An all-in-one resort with swank motel, resturant, lake, gardens, swans, paddle boats, floating pontoons, zoo, rose gardens, sculptures, and goodness knows what else.
Fiinally made it to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, around 4, and started our walking tour of the city. Lots of statues, and the usual array of soviet built administrative and cultural buildings. At one time a few years back, Kyrgyzstan had two large foreign military bases in the country – one from Russia and one from the USA. Made it tricky when they needed military assistance to put down the occasional coup. Now they only have one, and it ain’t the yanks.
However, they do have a White House, through the president doesn’t live there. It’s the working offices of the president and the government. Seems they elect the president who then rules without a parliament, so its a kind of democracy with occasional coups.
Finished our tour at the historical museum to watch the changing of the guard. Not quite Buckingham Palace or Istanbul, and frankly I’m not sure why two armed, ramrod straight soldiers need to guard the museum, but I’m just nit-picking.
Walked around the corner to a swank restaurant for dinner, and had four local musicians invade the place for our concert of traditional Kyrgyz music between courses.
Garden Hotel and Spa, Bishkek
So once you turned 8, until you died, you were just lots of years old?! 😆😆😆 I think I like that idea. What was the music like at your dinner? Why sort of instruments were they playing? Just loving reading about your travels – so fascinating!
and Bishkek himself is or was, exactly who? very impressive – very soviet feel : which I guess it is really