Thursday, May 8th.
Today after breakfast we retraced most of our route back to Bishkek from Lake Issyk-Kul.. Along the way, we made a stop at the Burana Tower, a historic monument located at the mouth of the Shamsy Valley. Dating back to the 11th century, Burana Tower stands as a testament to the region's rich history. Restored by the Soviets in the 1950s, this iconic structure offers visitors the opportunity to climb its minaret for panoramic views of the ancient city walls of Balasagun, a fortification built by the Sogdians. Then we drove up into the foothills of the mountains where we witnessed a demonstration of nomadic games, performed by skilled horsemen from the nearby village. These traditional games showcase the equestrian skills and athletic prowess of the local people. We saw three events: "snatching up bags," where riders gallop at full speed, attempting to grab bags from the ground, and if successful throw them up into the air; "horse wrestling," where two riders compete to unseat each other from their horses; and finally, we witnessed the unique form of horse polo "Kok-Boru," where two teams of riders use a headless, limbless goat as the object of competition, aiming to score it into the opposing team's goal. The physical strength, coordination and skills of the riders are impressive. The winners of these traditional games are rewarded with the goat, which will be used for the evening meal in their village and we’re told is tenderized by the sport. This practice reflects the cultural significance of these games and their role in the community's traditions and celebrations. The rest of the drive to Bishkek was very picturesque as we drove through the foothills, stopping at a couple of scenic views. When we got back to the same hotel we were at two days ago John and I had a quick swim in the pool before we went for dinner with the group at a local restaurant. Jordan and Sasha arranged for a local musical group playing traditional instruments to perform for us before dessert. They were excellent and very entertaining... to be continued...
These last few days of photos really show the diversity of the region with the ever present gorgeous mountains in the background. Looks like the local riders could teach the English royals a thing of two about horsemanship. Was John impressed?
ReplyDeleteEverything is interesting but I took a second and third gaze at the house with the as you put it lawn ornaments.. is that a real cow? It looked at first like a metal sculpture. Who knew an old car could make such an artistic statement? lol!
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