Mal Bazaar - Karakol's livestock market

 


Early in the morning on my last day in Karakol, I visited the region's main livestock market, Mal Bazaar. Although most people in Kyrgyzstan are permanently settled these days, the herding culture contributes a major part to the national identity. Many who live in small towns or more rural suburbs of cities also keep animals, even larger ones such as cows and horses, but from spring to winter real herders look after them in their pasture lands. Probably keeping animals is also a way of storing and increasing wealth, and at the market serious business was evident. I have never seen so many horses before, plus the other animals, and it was also an interesting cultural experience. I was lucky to catch a glimpse of the nomad's horse-back wrestling, a traditional sport of Central Asia, in this case just a spontaneous game between two friends. After visiting the market, I headed to the bus station to catch a ride to Kochkor, where I was hoping I can actually experience the nomads' life. On the way to Kochkor, I was able to stop for a last time on the shore of Issyk-Köl. That's where I saw camel for the first time: it wasn't live, but at least had two humps. (I was told camels are not really valued, and so not kept, in Kyrgyzstan.)
























































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