Kyrgyzstan, the road less travelled

Last month, me and my beshie went to Kyrgyzstan, the unknown land of the Silk Roads in Central Asia.   Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country bordering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and China.  It is one of the countries along the silk roads.  It is also home to UNESCO Heritage Burana tower and Issyk Kul lake, the second largest salt water lake in the world.  Here are my top 10 things to do in Kyrgyzstan.

10.  Visit Bazaars. 

Bazaars are widespread all over Kyrgyzstan especially in the capital city of Bishkek.    Every bazaar has its own different products from food to, electronics to souveniers.  Everything can be bought in bazaars.

Osh Bazaar in BIshkek

9. Eat at Chicken Star Restaurant

Looking for the best Korean restaurant in Bishkek?  Chicken Star is the place to be.  It is located in Erkindik 36 between Toktugula and Kievskaya, Bishkerk.

8.Eat at Arzu Restaurant

Posh and reasonable restaurant that offers traditional and Kyrgyz food at very cheap prize.  Ambiance is very nice with three areas to choose from.  Staff are English speaking.   Menu has English translation.

7. Fairytale canyon

Skazka or Fairytale canyons from the name itself are castle-shaped canyons formed from erosions.  

6. Eagle hunting and horse back riding

One of the most amazing experiences we had in Kyrgyzstan.  UP close and personal with the eagle and riding a horse just completed our nature immersion.  

5. Experience yurt camping

Yurt is a portable tent.  Yurt means home.  It is one way of immersing in the culture of Kyrgyzstan.

4.  Ala Archa National Park

Ala Archa National park is 40 km away from Bishkek.  This is the nearest nature park from the city.  This is sooo beautiful.   We found a squirrel and a humming bird during the hike.

3. Send post card to self

Visit the post office in Biskek and send a postcard to yourself.

 2. Visit the UNESCO world heritage, Burana tower

Burana tower is located 80 km east of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan in the Tokmok region in the Chuy province.  Burana tower opens at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Burana tower is a large minaret in the city of Balasagun.  The height of the tower is 82 feet.  Few feet away from the tower are the balbals or ancient tombstones.

Burana tower

1. Play with the waves of Issyk-Kul Lake

This second laregest salt water lake in the world is so huge that it looks like an ocean.  Waves are so big like the sea.  It is the seventh deepest lake in the world.  Issyk Kul means warm lake but it was cold when we touched the water :)

10 Travel Photo Challenge - Armenia

Before I traveled to Armenia, I have listed down 10 + 1 travel photo challenges.  The 10 + 1 (for anything goes) are as below:

1. Sunrise and sunset

Zvartnots airport sunrise

Took this atop the Cascades in Yerevan

2. Airport

Zvartnots Airport Armenia

3. View from balcony 

St. Gregory the Illuminator Church as seen from our balcony

4. Architecture

Garni pagan  temple

5. Local currency

Armenian dram

6. Local Food

Assorted Armenian food

7, Local People

Deacons, real karabala, vendors and our hosts

8. Coffee

Armenian coffee, one of the bests

9. Transportation

Old soviet car, bus, metro and matrhuska

10. Backpack shot

+1 Anything goes.

And all good things will be stored into memories.  Thank you Armenia!

Finding myself in Armenia

I have not been putting entries on my blog these past few days.  I am in Armenia.  Why did I go to Armenia?  I felt burnt out from work, from people around me and felt myself being a "monster".  Hurting people's, especially friends, feelings is the least thing I want to happen.  So, I packed my bag and decided to take a break away from Dubai.

Armenia is a rich country stripped off of their own original identity.  The Armenians are very passionate about their country.  Most, if not all, have not forgotten how the Soviet Union has occupied them.  The oldies would prefer being under Russia but the young ones don't.  The saddest part of their history is the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide^[11] (Armenian: Հայոց ցեղասպանություն,^{[note 3]} Hayots tseghaspanutyun; Turkish: Ermeni Soykırımı), also known as the Armenian Holocaust,^[12] was the Ottoman government's systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, mostly Ottoman citizens within the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, the Republic of Turkey.^[13][14]The starting date is conventionally held to be 24 April 1915, the day that Ottoman authorities rounded up, arrested, and deported 235 to 270 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders from Constantinople to Ankara, the majority of whom were eventually murdered. The genocide was carried out during and after World War I and implemented in two phases: the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population through massacre and subjection of army conscripts to forced labour, followed by the deportation of women, children, the elderly, and the infirm on death marches leading to the Syrian desert. Driven forward by military escorts, the deportees were deprived of food and water and subjected to periodic robbery, rape, and massacre.^[15][16][17] Other indigenous and Christian ethnic groups such as the Assyrians and the Ottoman Greeks were similarly targeted for extermination by the Ottoman government in the Assyrian genocide and the Greek genocide, and their treatment is considered by some historians to be part of the same genocidal policy.^[18][19] Most Armenian diaspora communities around the world came into being as a direct result of the genocide.^[20]

(SOURCE:  Wikipedia)

The Genocide museum in Tsitsernakaberd, Armenia

Yerevan  (Երեւան) is the capital city of Armenia.  It is also the largest city in Armenia.  We can find the Republic Square, The Cascades, Yerevan Opera House, Kafesjian museum, St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, St. Sargis church and a lot of pink-looking buildings.  Yerevan is called the Pink City because most of the buildings are colored pink.  The pink impression is given by the stone used which is typical in the mountains of Armenia.  Most buildings and houses are of typical Soviet type structures.

Republic Square in Yerevan

Armenia is the first Christian country in the whole world adapting Christianity since 301.  The Armenians are passionate about their religion.  This is obvious with a lot of churches and monasteries in Armenia.  According to our driver, Armenia consists of 90% Christians who are passionately in love with Jesus Christ evidenced by their love of the cross - the Khachkar.  The Khachkar or the Armenian cross is all over Armenia.  Khachkar means the cross rock.  The Khachkar is an object of worship for the Armenians.

Khachkar

This country is also known for wine, cognac and brandy.  Armenia has the best tasting wine.  The beer is just right to taste.  Most Armenians drink and smoke maybe because of the cold weather.  It is normal for Armenians to smoke even in family restaurants.

Karas wine along the airport

May Hayrenik (Մեր Հայրենիք) or Our fatherland is national anthem of Armenia.  The Armenian flag is composed of three colors - red, blue and orange.  Orange symbolizes the apricot which is the national fruit of Armenia.  

The Armenian flag in front of a museum

The people of Armenia are very loving, sweet and one of the nicest people I have ever met.  The Homestay where we spent our vacation and soul searching made us feel like family.  Homestay Yerevan can be booked through Homestay Yeravan in booking.com.  This Armenian family made excellent homemade breakfast and introduced us to the best driver in Yerevan, Narek.

Narek, the best  Armenian driver with Lerma, my friend

Our homestay family

Armenia, oh Armenia, a place I fell in love with.