Kyrgyzstan - Кыргызстан

[mendeleyev]

Kyrgyzstan (Кыргызстан):




Capital: Bishkek (Бишкек), population approximately 915,000.

Airport: Manas International, FRU is the IATA code in case you speak to a travel agent about flights. For many visitors the process of obtaining a visa can be done upon arrival at the airport for around $70 but one really should check with the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry website to make certain before flying.


Bishkek is a relatively new city and the airport is surprisingly modern as seen in this video:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/iSzPlRPzqME" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/iSzPlRPzqME</a>

You perhaps know that NATO has an Air Force base at Manas airport.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/u0ZnChOuF78" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/u0ZnChOuF78</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/sy9hcLzEwCo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/sy9hcLzEwCo</a>


Outside the capital things aren't so modern. You read the sign on the building correctly: гостиница (Hotel)




(photo: Alexander Belenkiy, http://macos.livejournal.com/873690.html)

[mendeleyev]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/8hyIjm_Jw5g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/8hyIjm_Jw5g</a>







Unless noted otherwise, all photographs by Alexander Belenkiy; http://macos.livejournal.com/873690.html)


So how do people from Kyrgyzstan adapt to life in the West?

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/iFxcJxOb6m4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/iFxcJxOb6m4</a>

[mendeleyev]

Unless noted otherwise, all photographs by Alexander Belenkiy; http://macos.livejournal.com/873690.html)


Motorcycling across Kyrgyzstan? Fascinating--just watch.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/tKgxo4I33kE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/tKgxo4I33kE</a>

[mendeleyev]

An interesting guide to visiting the "Stans" is: http://www.theredquest.com or Amazon





(photo: http://ibigdan.livejournal.com/14506521.html)

Above: Kyrgyzstan Registry office, the ZAGS wedding palace.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/-zOia7Cv-8M" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/-zOia7Cv-8M</a>


Some may say that this is one of the less Muslim dominated of the Central Asian republics and as you can see in these next two wedding videos, Western music and dance styles are openly integrated into this aspect of culture. However a new strain of radical Islam is gaining ground so men need to be aware of their surroundings at all times and use extra caution in areas away from the capital city.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/chJ5dNgyQe4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/chJ5dNgyQe4</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/N_CJkZtl92o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/N_CJkZtl92o</a>

[mendeleyev]

The most common way to marry a girl in Kyrgyzstan is to kidnap her. A Western guy attempting such a stunt would land in prison but for local boys stealing a girl is considered the traditional way to obtain a bride. It is certainly cheaper than paying normal bride prices negotiated between local families.


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/TDnO_yV_8mo" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/TDnO_yV_8mo</a>





Girls are shamed into remaining in these marriages.




Men and women don't eat together in most Islamic countries, including here. Men are served first and ladies and young children eat later.

(All photos here unless noted are from http://ibigdan.livejournal.com/14506521.html)


Are there more civilized styles of weddings in Kyrgyzstan? Sometimes, but such "fall in love and get married" relationships are definitely a minority in this country.

In the capital some of the younger generation are more open to Western ideas, you will find that for most the same time however some traditions will be very difficult to surmount and finding and convincing a lady to leave her family will often be far more difficult than in places like Ukraine and Russia, for example. The difficulties could make bride hunting in this land to be fraught with failure, extraordinarily expensive, and far more time consuming that most could imagine or tolerate.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/MNAJM-izW1E" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/MNAJM-izW1E</a>

[mendeleyev]

Music and culture of Kyrgyzstan:


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/8BmrdBgfSR8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/8BmrdBgfSR8</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/ka2GN5lb-_Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/ka2GN5lb-_Y</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/2gbNwo_b8g8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/2gbNwo_b8g8</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/zUFc22iooMk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/zUFc22iooMk</a>


<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/AMcNd7E5GW0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/AMcNd7E5GW0</a>

[Isthmus]

Spent a few days last week in Bishkek and found it and KG to be an interesting and quirky place, slightly odd but still endearing.

Definitely significantly  poorer, less developed and less linked to the rest of the world than neighbouring Kazakhstan. In Astana or Almaty you know you are in 2014, in Bishkek it often feels like its actually 1987.

Still glad I visited and enjoyed my stay there.

[Manny]

The "exguse me" clip above is quite fun.

Here is something from there that is getting some play in our house recently, that is quite nice.