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DID YOU KNOW
Did you know that Horses milk is an appreciated
and popular drink amongst locals. It was considered
a treat; families who couldn't afford this added
water to curds made of boiled sheep's milk.
Did you know that Kumtor is the tenth largest
gold exploitation mine in the world.
Did you know that Lake Issyk-kul ("warm lake"),
which lies in a basin at 1,600 metres, is one
of the deepest mountain lakes (720 meters) and
largest (6,280 square kilometres) in the world
after the lake Chichikaka. It derives its fame
from its sky blue colour, high mineral content
and the fact that it never freezes.
Did you know that Kyrgyz national hat - "kalpak"
- reflects the shape of Khan Tengry, the country's
most sacred peak. As all over the world, local
cultures regard mountains as sacred. As in many
other cultures hats of traditional costumes often
mimic the shape of the most powerful mountain.
Did you know that South Inylchek Glacier, one
of the biggest in the world, with stretch of 64
kilometers, is located at Central Tien-Shan.
Did you know that the superbly portable yurt has
been a cornerstone of nomadic life throughout
Central Asia including Kyrgyzstan. Today it has
been replaced by houses or apartment blocks but
it retains a special place in Kyrgyz hearts, as
both a tangible link to their nomadic past and
a symbol of their national identity. In Kyrgyzstan
the yurt is known as the bozuy, or "grey
house", after the black or grey wool used
by ordinary shepherds. Only the clan chiefs could
afford to use costly snow-white yurts called ak-orgo.
Did you know that Manas epic, virtually unknown
in the West, is one of the world's greatest oral
poems and the pinnacle of the Central Asian oral
tradition. It depicts the history of the Kyrgyz
people and all their myths, tales and legends,
and is their greatest cultural treasure, offering
moral and spiritual guidance throughout the ages.
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Did you know that some
remnants of shamanist practice are still alive within
Kyrgyz life today: many will call a shaman as well
as consulting a doctor. The smouldering branches
of the archa, a kind of fir tree, are waved around
the house to rid it of evil spirits or to exorcise
the lingering vibes of a disliked visitor.
Did you know that the only renowned modern Kyrgyz
author is Chinghiz Aitmatov, who was born near
Talas in 1928. Writing initially in Kyrgyz and
later increasingly in Russian, he first achieved
major literary recognition for his collection
of short stories, Tales of the Mountains and Steppes,
published in 1963. His well-known pieces are Farewell
Gulsary! (1967), The white ship (1970), co-author
of play "The Ascent of Mount Fuji" (1973),
The Day Lasts More Than a Thousand Years (1980),
The Place of the Skull (1986). He is currently
Kyrgyz Ambassador to the European Union in Brussels.
Did you know that Kyrgyzstan was closed for foreigners
during the Soviet period largely due to its proximity
to China and its role as Soviet top-secret military
research center. It was, however, one of the foremost
destinations for Soviet workers on their statutory
free holidays, thanks to the long sandy beaches
of Lake Issyk-kul and the best mountaineering,
rock climbing and trekking the Soviet Union had
to offer.
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Did you know that any object over 30 years old,
all tush kiyz and large quantity of other items
(say, five or more shyrdaks) would require an
export certificate.
Did you know that a Marco Polo sheep trophy in
Kyrgyzstan costs US $ 17.000 while in the United
States hunting this animal will cost you US $25.000.
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