Kyrgyzstan
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Kyrgyzstan
A combination of the Turkic words -kyrg (forty) and -yz (tribes) with the suffix -stan (country) creates the meaning "Land of the Forty Tribes." The name refers to the forty clans united by the legendary Kyrgyz hero, Manas. Formerly a member state of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyzstan won its independence in August, 1991
Alleya Molodezhi, park across from City Hall
Bishkek
Morning exercise, Alleya Molodezhi
The ethnic makeup of Kyrgyzstan: 73.5% Kyrgyz, 14.7% Uzbek, 5.5 % Russian, 1.1% Dungan (Chinese Muslims), 5.2% Other. Median age is 26.8. 90% are Muslim, 7% Christian, and 3% Other.
Morning exercise, Alleya Molodezhi
Bishkek
Lenin
Removed from its former prominent location on Chuy Avenue, the statue now stands behind the State Museum in Bishkek
State History Museum, Ala-Too Square
Bishkek
24/7 guards at Ala-Too Square
Tien Shan, ''Mountains of Heaven," range
Bishkek
School boy
central Bishkek
School girls
central Bishkek
Aging Soviet architecture
central Bishkek
Taxi driver
central Bishkek
Outside a shopping mall
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
Street vendor
central Bishkek
central Bishkek
Friends
central Bishkek
Students
Burana Tower
The 25-meter minaret is all that remains of the 9th century city of Balasagun, which was pillaged by Ghengis Khan. The tower was later reduced to half its original height by Russians, who used the materials for other building projects.
Class trip
Art students sketching and painting at Burana Tower
Burana tower with balbals
Balbals are 6th-centuryTurkish grave markers carved to resemble the deceased.
Balbal
Balbals are 6th-centuryTurkish grave markers carved to resemble the deceased. These were moved here from other locations
Village of Kalmak-Ashuu
Guest house
Kalmak-Ashuu
Kalmak-Ashuu farmer
Organic fence
Kalmak-Ashuu
Kalmak-Ashuu
Morning milk pick-up
Kalmak-Ashuu
Our group
Photo courtesy of Marion Pealow
On the road to Kochkor
Issyk-Kul Lake
Second largest alpine lake in the world
Meat-filled dumpling
Cutting raw wool
Felt maker extraordinaire
Kochkor
Felt pattern