valerie

October 25, 2022 - a drink called tarkhun, a green soda made of tarragon leaves which was recommended to me. I have yet to try it, not because I don’t want to, but I’ve only seen it in a fairly large bottle and I am one person…perhaps I can get my colleagues to try it with me 🤪

October 24, 2022 - statue of a manaschi (a reteller of the Kyrgyz epic Manas) named Sayakbai in front of Bishkek’s Philarmonia (concert hall)

October 23, 2022 - advertisement. If my language skills are up to par, it talks about work abroad in Europe for men and women ages 18 - 55. The left has a list of countries and the right a list of jobs. It says you don’t need to know the local language within the red box

October 22, 2022 - free classical music performance by a cellist and pianist. There were so many people that there weren’t enough seats and there were people standing at the sides of the aisles to watch. It was kind of distracting. Would have been better as a ticketed event

October 21, 2022 - shashlik restaurant near my apartment. Why are there tires on the ground? Not completely sure, maybe because cars drive down that road and the owner wants to ensure they don’t get too close to the building?

October 20, 2022 - good morning

October 19, 2022 - naan section at a supermarket (in the baskets on the metal display). There’s also a tandoor behind it, but to be honest I don’t know if it is actually used or if it is just for display?

October 18, 2022 - typical keypad on the outside of apartment buildings used to get inside

October 17, 2022 - Back for another day, at Togolok Moldo Park

October 16, 2022 - Did this ramen taste better than most ramen I have had in Bishkek? Yes.
Does that mean it was perfect? No. The tofu and chicken were quite bland.
But would I order it again? Surprisingly, yeah.

October 15, 2022 - birch forest at Ala-Archa National Park in autumn
I actually hiked here last autumn too, but by that time snow had already fallen and there were no leaves on the trees

October 14, 2022 - took lots of pictures today, but wanted to opt for something a little more Kyrgyz for the A Day in the Life Photo Challenge 🙂
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 7:43 PM - Flower shop (гүлдөр is ‘flowers’ in Kyrgyz; гүл (flower) + дөр (plural suffix))

October 13, 2022 - picture of the table spread from the recent wedding I went to. In the back of the picture, you can see the raised table where the groom and bride sat together

October 12, 2022 - red fall trees, also on Tokombayev going towards Asanbai

October 11, 2022 - Harry Potter Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. Even on sale these are still ridiculously expensive, especially for…jelly beans. Who even enjoys jelly beans THAT much? No offense to you if you do, I just personally don’t know anyone who fervently loves them

October 10, 2022 - more fall trees

October 9, 2022 - According to the Pledge wikipedia article, ‘In several countries, it is sold as Pronto’, which I had never heard before. When I first saw this, I assumed it was a knock-off of Pledge

October 8, 2022 - henna at an Afghan wedding

October 7, 2022 - Dubai Fresh Fish. Never been to this restaurant, it just caught my eye. To be honest, never thought about what kind of food Dubai has. I guess seafood isn’t unrealistic but it wouldn’t have been my first guess? And not to say that fish is Dubai’s only food..

October 6, 2022 - large airplane model(?) in front of what I believe is a military institute. I would have gotten a better picture, but I’m always embarrassed about looking touristy and just opted to snap a sub-par photo as I passed by

October 5, 2022 - Hello, fall. Taken on Tokombayev Street going towards Asanbai District

October 4, 2022 - I have sat here before, and I think I have even posted a photo that I took while sitting here. However, I never noticed this detail above the cover. The circle with lines inside is a motif seen and used a lot in Kyrgyzstan which represents the top/roof of a yurt

October 3, 2022 - statue commemorating a war in Batken?? Not exactly sure of the details, I might look into it later and then update this post. Kinda relevant I guess considering the recent flare-up in Batken at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border

October 2, 2022 - Oh darn, can’t smoke hookah on the bus!!! That was exactly what I wanted to try doing next 😜

October 1, 2022 - photo exhibition and cultural event hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan regarding PRC’s development since 2012…why that was relevant to anything I have no idea. I guess it was to celebrate Guoqing Jie (国庆节, PRC’s founding day/week) and push propoganda