Enough of Western Europe, lets take you on one of my top 3 trips ever. It was over a three week period in September last year through 3 of the 5 Stans. (taking snaps is easy everything else is time consuming and I am doing my best to catch up here).
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is not an ancient city but one founded as recently as 1825, it was named Pishpek and built as a fortress to protect the caravan routes along the Silk Road from China to Europe. It was also a centre for tax collection.
In 1926, the city became the capital of the newly established Kirghiz Oblast of the USSR and was renamed Frunze.
The city was named Bishkek in February 1991, and then the country of Kyrgyzstan achieved independence from the USSR later that year.
Bishkek's population before 1991 were mainly ethnic Russians. It has steadily decreased. However since the illegal invasion of Ukraine numbers have risen mainly young men to escape putin's conscription legislation.
But my oh my the architecture is something to behold, everywhere you look you cannot escape the gorgeous brutalist structures, nor the wonderful Cyrillic script. Kyrgyz and Russian are the dual recognised languages .
There is an ever increasing Russian influence in the country, military, economic, financial and social.
Built in 1972, still a venue in use
Exhibits outside the National museum of fine arts.
Clarity
On the edge of Oak Park, the building now abandoned, this was the first souvenir shop in Bishkek
Constructed between 1978-1985, the seven storey presidential building, known as the White House, due to it being cladded entirely in white marble is home to Kyrgyzstan's supreme council.
The 33 ft statue of the national hero, Manas, and the independence monument which holds a huge Kyrgyz flag, permanently guarded by soldiers. Was fortunate to be there during the changing the guard ceremony.
The uniform very reminiscent of Soviet uiniforms with the leather calf boots and oversized hat brim
Conscription continues in the Kyrgyz Armed Forces, 12 months in length reduced for university graduates to 9 months.
Kyrgyzstan has an agreement with the Russian Federation, Kyrgyz soldiers undergo training in military academies in Russia.
Fountains in Oak Park, a quiet green haven in the city and a great place to snap the locals.
There were many many many more out in the evening and if you stay tuned, all will follow as we celebrate amongst them
Monument to Those Who Died for Freedom: erected to immortalise those that died in the uprisings of of 2002 and 2010. Two stones standing over 20ft tall, a group of people pushing the darkness from the light
On the white stone of the monument there are two inscriptions in gold, one on each side.
"We cherish the memory of those who had fallen in 2002 in Aksy and in April of 2010 for the sake of freedom of Kyrgyz people".
"To those who died, who immortalised themselves with their deeds, and who died for the future of own country“
The Friendship Monument: an example of monumental Soviet art from a bygone era. The monument stands from 1974 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's voluntary accession to Russia, a testament to the bond of friendship between the Russian and Kyrgyz people.
Victory Square: In the plaza stands a large yurt shaped memorial of red granite with an eternal flame at the feet of a woman waiting for her husband to return home from the war.
Dedicated to the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. It was created in 1984, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Liberation of the USSR.
Soviet machine gunners returning home after their victory
Some wonderful streetart
90% of the population of Kyrgyzstan are muslim, which surprised me. Although Kyrgyzstan is a secular country, there is growing lobbying in some political quarters to follow islamic traditions and social life. World domination by the back door, be aware people be very aware.
Bishkek Central Mosque is the largest mosque in Central Asia. Built in 2017, a Turkish-style mosque constructed largely with money,- "well knock me down with a feather",- from a Turkish foundation.
Funded by Diyanet ( A Turkish State owned religious foundation) construction of the the $25-million Mosque began in 2012, and took 5 years to complete.
It is now time for a quick shower, shit and shave as tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1991.
May your god go with you
Thanks for visiting my page, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. this is Stephen aka, @grindle, happily retired, travelling the world snapping away. My weapon of choice is currently a Nikon Z6(2).
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The photos of arts you took in the country are all superb, keeping to what is easier for us to do is great, continue to have a good time 🥰🙏
cheers @repayme4568 I always appreciate your input, thanks for the great supportive comments
You are welcome.
Thank you 🥰🙏
What a wonderful place to wander around.
Islamic, that surprises me too. Would not have thought that.
Great captures. Thanks for sharing 😊
Have a nice new week!
cheers @littlebee4
I think that the majority of muslims there are not the mad sort you hear about, it was quite relaxed and there was no ban on alcohol, so quite civilised really LOL
cheers enjoy the weekend
Sounds different indeed then.
Cheers @grindle
Have a great day!
!PIZZA
👍
The first batch of photos are so depressing, then it gets livlier, love the transition of mood.
You don't look like the package tour type of guy, how easy was it to get around by yourself?
depressing??? lol I seriously love the brutalist soviet buildings architecture and memorabilia. ( I have a serious interest in the history of the former USSR, my plan of visiting all 15 former states still remains, 4 to do).
I was not alone, I hooked up with half a dozen strangers on a "package tour" of sorts, met up with them in Bishkek, and off we went, plenty of free time for me to do my own thing. But with transport and accommodation already sorted.
Whaaaat?
Bishkek's Central Mosque is astounding 👀
I love monuments, street art and architecture. Yes, it was the same as livinguktaiwan, at first it seemed a bit depressing but after you realised you had focused on the wrong place hahaha... the mood changed. I'm teasing you!
(Espero que la fiesta retro haya sido buena)
I like being teased LOl.
Not that sort of party! soon coming to a blog near you
Many people say this country is very beautiful, even now it has become very viral on Indonesian social media. I hope I can go here next year.
cheers @aswita thanks for dropping in, it is beautiful for so many different reasons, I truly hope you get there one day and experience it
Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2327.
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😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️❤️ You are very welcome as always @grindle🐝🐝
thank you xx
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STOPNot happy to see so many Russian influences ngl, but in fact, not the country or the culture is the problem but the wrong people leading it and adding it to the blacklist of so many countries out there. I'm sure it has an incredible history though.
It was a wonderful journey, old habits die hard, having once been part of the USSR, influence remains. I do so love the soviet architecture though
This looks so weird... Like frozen in time, in a worse meaning because it would be great it something good would be so good preserved.
Once again, I am happy we got away from this ship of shit )
Have fun but be careful!! 😀
thank you @zirochka xx good to see you have got home safely. Yes I understand where you are coming from.
Kyrgyzstan is famous for it's mountains and nature, for culture it's famous for horse riding, archery, falconry, so since you are already there you should enjoy discovering these things, also you should visit the neighboring countries of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan the entire central Asia region is full of history, culture, nature that you would enjoy exploring.
cheers, I did lol
that's awesome, i'll wait for your next posts then
cheers @jackjackson2nd thanks for dropping in, glad you are enjoying my travels
Hello grindle!
It's nice to let you know that your article won 🥈 place.
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