Below are some of Karakol, which is the most beautiful place that I've ever seen, not just in Kyrgyzstan but period. When Meerim and I arrived in Karakol, we were pretty beat. We'd been in Balakchy for 4 days and had been on the road in a marshootka for 4+ hours. So we took our bags to the Karakol guest house (which we'd been told was not that great but was in actuality very clean and a good size for the two of us; we were very pleased with it) and then went to get something to eat. Karakol is known for delicious ahsh-lyahm-foo, which is a cold spicy noodle dish with veggies. It has become one of my favorite foods. So Meerim and I went to a restaurant and got leepairshka and ahsh-lyahm-foo and peeva (beer). Then we'd planned to go back to the guest house and rest b/c we were so tired. But while we were at the restaurant, the branch manager of Karakol called and said he would come pick us up and take us somewhere very beautiful. I was so tired and wasn't sure that I wanted to see something beautiful, but how can you say no? So we agreed, and he came and picked us up and drove up, up into the mountains. It was sooooooo beautiful; I forgot all about being tired. Then he parked the car up on the side of a mountain and took us up, up on a 40+ minute hike further into the mountains to see a waterfall. It was like nothing I'd seen outside of a movie or pictures. Truly breathtaking.
Once we hiked back, we got into the car, and Kunuzhbek (the branch manager) said that we would go see the yurts. (Yurts are traditional homes, which are round, one-room structures with a framework covered by animal skins. They can be taken down and reassembled like teepees b/c the Kyrgyz were traditionally nomadic people.) So we drove a little ways up in the mountains and stopped not far from a small group of yurts. Kunuzhbek's brother-in-law and his family lives in the yurts and rents yurts to hikers and tourists. The sister-in-law welcomed us into her yurt. We took off our shoes upon entering and went to sit at her table. The inside walls of the yurt were covered by colorful, beautiful handmade quilts (for insulation and decoration, I am guessing), and the table was very low to the ground and surrounded by flat, colorful embroidered cushions. We sat crossed-legged on the floor at the table. She served us delicious meat, which she said was wild goat that they had caught. It was cooked with cabbage and carrots and potatoes in a rich brown sauce. She also had made her own leepairshka in a clay oven, as well as vareenia, which is a thin, sweet jam with chunks of jellied fruit. She served both red currant and apricot vareenia. She had small dishes of sticky fresh cream as well. Everything was delicious. She also served kumas, the traditional Kyrgyz drink of fermented mare's milk and insisted that we drink a full glass of it for good health. It looked like fat free milk to me: milky but faintly bluish. It had a thin consistency and tasted very sour with a strong overtone of woodsmoke. I was so honored by her hospitality. It was cool that she would take us in and feed all three of us when we just showed up at her door.
Driving Near Balakchy: Okay, so these next 3 photos are not of Karakol, but there are so pretty that I'm posting them here w/ my favorite photos of Karakol. :)
Karakol: Here are all the Karakol photos from hiking. So beautiful!
Once we hiked back, we got into the car, and Kunuzhbek (the branch manager) said that we would go see the yurts. (Yurts are traditional homes, which are round, one-room structures with a framework covered by animal skins. They can be taken down and reassembled like teepees b/c the Kyrgyz were traditionally nomadic people.) So we drove a little ways up in the mountains and stopped not far from a small group of yurts. Kunuzhbek's brother-in-law and his family lives in the yurts and rents yurts to hikers and tourists. The sister-in-law welcomed us into her yurt. We took off our shoes upon entering and went to sit at her table. The inside walls of the yurt were covered by colorful, beautiful handmade quilts (for insulation and decoration, I am guessing), and the table was very low to the ground and surrounded by flat, colorful embroidered cushions. We sat crossed-legged on the floor at the table. She served us delicious meat, which she said was wild goat that they had caught. It was cooked with cabbage and carrots and potatoes in a rich brown sauce. She also had made her own leepairshka in a clay oven, as well as vareenia, which is a thin, sweet jam with chunks of jellied fruit. She served both red currant and apricot vareenia. She had small dishes of sticky fresh cream as well. Everything was delicious. She also served kumas, the traditional Kyrgyz drink of fermented mare's milk and insisted that we drink a full glass of it for good health. It looked like fat free milk to me: milky but faintly bluish. It had a thin consistency and tasted very sour with a strong overtone of woodsmoke. I was so honored by her hospitality. It was cool that she would take us in and feed all three of us when we just showed up at her door.
Driving Near Balakchy: Okay, so these next 3 photos are not of Karakol, but there are so pretty that I'm posting them here w/ my favorite photos of Karakol. :)
Movie Poster: Valodia took this photo before we were ready. I was trying to get my hair out of my face, and Meerim was looking where she was stepping. But it turned out very romantic and movie-like. Yay!
Karakol: Here are all the Karakol photos from hiking. So beautiful!
Yurts: The white dots below among the juniper trees are yurts.
Me with Yurt: Um, see title.
Ditto: ditto.
Beautiful View: Here's a mountain we could see from where we were hiking. It was cloudy, so we have some brights spots and some shade on the mountain's face.
Me with Rocks: Mom, these are the rocks I got for you from the bottom of the waterfall. Also got one for Risa's mom!
Me with Yurt: Um, see title.
Ditto: ditto.
Beautiful View: Here's a mountain we could see from where we were hiking. It was cloudy, so we have some brights spots and some shade on the mountain's face.
Waterfall: The next several shots are of the amazing waterfall where we hiked.
Me with Rocks: Mom, these are the rocks I got for you from the bottom of the waterfall. Also got one for Risa's mom!
Red Hills: Some beautiful red, craggy hills are on the drive up to the mountains.
River: A rushing white river snaked down from the mountain. It was very pretty.
Broken Heart: This is a famous natural landmark called the broken heart. Awww....
For you, Walton: For you, sweetie! Here's a little guy who tried to keep us company in the yurt at the table.
River: A rushing white river snaked down from the mountain. It was very pretty.
Broken Heart: This is a famous natural landmark called the broken heart. Awww....
For you, Walton: For you, sweetie! Here's a little guy who tried to keep us company in the yurt at the table.
New Glasses: This is random, I know, but here I am in my new specs. I picked them up the night I returned to Bishkek.
I'm leaving tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. to go to Osh (southern Kyrgyzstan). I'll be back on Thursday with more pics and stories. Love you guys!
2 comments:
Hey babe! SO GORGEOUS! Not to sure about the whole 'yurt' thing, but that place looks awesome. Miss you tons!
(thanks for the kitty pic, lovin it ;) )
What a beautifl trip. Did you learn anything about the Dungan people while you were there? I am writing a paper about them.
What a summer you must have had!
Marian
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